Although everyone knows that the shortest day (i.e., least number of hours of sunlight) is the winter solstice which occurs on Dec. 21, in fact, the earliest sunset happens on Dec. 7. After that, the sunset starts to get later. But the days are still shortening, because the time of sunrise is still getting later faster than the time of sunset.

After Dec. 21, the days begin to lengthen, even though the time of sunrise is still getting later. The latest sunrise happens on Jan. 4. But between Dec. 21 and Jan. 4, the time of sunset is getting later faster than the time of sunrise.

All this has to do with the tilt of the Earth’s axis. I think I understand it intuitively, but it’s hard to explain.

These dates are only true at 40º latitude in the Northern Hemisphere. For different latitudes, and in the Southern Hemisphere, the dates will be different, but the phenomenon still holds.

Move South, madame, move South.

It doesn’t get dark here in Northern Florida until 6:30ish, and it’s daylight by about 7am… not to mention the balmy 70 degrees it is outside at noon.

Thanks for this piece. This time of year is an interesting mental exercise to get ready to bear the cold and dark. For me its like mentally trading this for that. Giving up the green to get the colors and then giving up the colors to be able to see into the woods. Giving up the warmth to get the richer scents.

But there’s nothing one can trade that compensates for the loss of daylight. Gotta either begin or end your walks in the dark.

Getting the all-weather game face on is tough. The trade there is the wierd feeling of accomplishment when all but the hardcore walkers are gone until spring. One rarely meets a stranger when one is out walking in a cold, soaking rain or a blizard.

That time of year thou mayest in me behold
When yellow leaves, or none, or few do hang
Upon those boughs which shake against the cold.
Bare ruin’d choirs where late the sweet birds sang.

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