When exactly is the winter solstice?

In the Northern Hemisphere the winter solstice falls on December 21 (occasionally December 22 in some years). This tool targets December 21 at midnight local time as an accessible approximation; the precise astronomical moment varies by a few hours each year.

Is this the same as the first day of winter?

Yes. The meteorological definition of winter starts December 1, but the astronomical definition — used most widely — begins on the winter solstice, December 21.

What happens on the winter solstice?

The winter solstice is the day when the Sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky, resulting in the fewest daylight hours of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. After this date, days gradually lengthen until the summer solstice in June.

Does the countdown use my local time?

Yes. The countdown is calculated entirely in your browser using your device's local clock, so the target is December 21 in your local timezone.

What if the winter solstice has already passed this year?

The tool automatically detects this and counts down to December 21 of the next calendar year instead.

Is this different for the Southern Hemisphere?

In the Southern Hemisphere, December 21 is actually the summer solstice. The Northern Hemisphere winter solstice and Southern Hemisphere summer solstice occur on the same day. This tool is framed for Northern Hemisphere users.

Days Until Winter Solstice

Name: Days Until Winter Solstice
Availability: InStock
Author: Nham Vu

See exactly how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds remain until the next winter solstice on December 21.

Winter Solstice Countdown

Calculating...

-- Days

-- Hours

-- Minutes

-- Seconds

Based on your local device time.

Solstice at a Glance

Target Solstice --

Today --

Total days in countdown --

Progress to solstice --%

Quick Facts

The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
After the solstice, days grow longer until the summer solstice in June.
Stonehenge and many ancient monuments were aligned to mark the solstice sunrise or sunset.
Many cultures celebrate festivals around the winter solstice, including Yule and Dongzhi.

Summary

See exactly how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds remain until the next winter solstice on December 21.

How it works

Your browser reads the current date and time using local system time.
The tool computes the winter solstice date for the current year (December 21).
If the solstice has already passed this year, the countdown targets December 21 of the next year.
A live timer refreshes every second showing days, hours, minutes, and seconds remaining.
A progress arc visualizes how far through the year you are relative to the solstice cycle.

Use cases

Track how long until the shortest day of the year.
Plan winter holiday activities around the solstice date.
Share the countdown with friends interested in astronomy or seasonal traditions.
Determine how many shopping days remain before the solstice.
Use as a classroom or educational visual about Earth's axial tilt and seasons.
Celebrate or mark Pagan, Wiccan, and other solstice-based holidays with a precise countdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-09 · Reviewed by Nham Vu