www.gandul.ro/actualitate/solstitiul-de-iarna-2026

The winter solstice in 2026 will occur on December 21 at 22:50 (Romania time), marking the start of astronomical winter in the Northern Hemisphere. This day features the shortest daylight and longest night of the year. Following this date, daylight will gradually increase until the summer solstice on June 21, 2027. The astronomical definition is based on Earth's movement around the Sun, with the axial tilt causing variations in daylight throughout the year. The term 'solstice' originates from Latin, meaning 'Sun standing still', reflecting the Sun's apparent stagnation in the sky during this phenomenon. In Romania, the Sun's midday height is about 21 degrees, resulting in approximately 8 hours and 50 minutes of daylight on this date.