It has been quite cool most of December and felt very winter-like.  But no matter how it feels the calendar still says fall.  Winter doesn’t officially begin until the 2nd to the last week of December.

This year the winter solstice occurs at 12:47 PM on Monday, December 21st.  At that time and on that day we can officially say it’s winter…

By the way, a solstice is an astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of the Earth’s axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun’s apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme.

The term solstice can also be used in a broader sense, as the date (day) when this occurs. The solstices, together with the equinoxes, are connected with the seasons. In some cultures they are considered to start or separate the seasons while in others they fall in the middle.

Below is a list of our Solstice and Equinox date and times. 

Vernal Equinox    Mar 20 2009   7:44 AM EDT
Summer Solstices   Jun 21 2009   1:45 AM EDT
Autumnal Equinox  Sep 22 2009   5:18 PM EDT
Winter Solstice   Dec 21 2009  12:47 PM EST   

Vernal Equinox    Mar 20 2010   1:32 PM EDT
Summer Solstice   Jun 21 2010   7:28 AM EDT
Autumnal Equinox  Sep 22 2010  11:09 PM EDT
Winter Solstice   Dec 21 2010   6:38 PM EST

Enjoy the rest of your fall and have a wonderful winter!