Marking the longest night and shortest day of the year, the hibernal solstice is an astronomical event that takes place when the Earth reaches its maximum tilt on its axis away from the sun. The calendrical milestone has long shaped human activities and annual cycles. Peoples all over the world have long revered this annual astronomical occurrence as a time to bid farewell to lengthy, dark nights and to welcome the impending return of the sun.
If you’re interested in learning about how different cultures recognize the winter solstice, eHRAF is a great place to find ethnographic examples both ancient and modern.