The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year and begins Australia's orbital journey back to warmer months.
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On June 21, the southern hemisphere will be at its farthest tilt from the sun at 6:50 am AEST (Queensland, NSW, ACT, Victoria and Tasmania).
Owing to its dark and wintery atmosphere, throughout history, the winter solstice has typically been shrouded in an air of mythological, macabre mystery, filled with paganism and superstition in ancient cultures.
But what's the solstice and why does it matter?
Due to the axis tilt on which the earth orbits, the world experiences two solstices and two equinoxes.
The winter solstice occurs on June 21 in the southern hemisphere, and the summer solstice occurs on December 21. It's the opposite in the northern hemisphere. Meanwhile, The equinoxes occur in March and September.
Each date heralds the official start of a new season. The winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, with the least amount of daylight and the longest night.
Meanwhile, the summer solstice is the longest day of the year with the shortest night.
From June 22, the days will start to get longer with an incremental increase in the amount of sunlight we see each day.
During the winter solstice, the sun reaches its lowest point on the skyline. On the summer solstice, the sun reaches its highest point.
Because of the sun's position, it's said that if you stand in direct sunlight at noon on the winter solstice, your shadow will be the tallest it can ever be in natural light.
Owing to the days' connection with changing seasons, throughout history, the solstices and equinoxes have been celebrated with a range of rituals and offerings to gods.
Ancient China celebrated the Dongzhi Festival between December 21 and 23. It's said to be one of the most important times on the ancient calendar and is connected to the yin and yang philosophy of balance.
The druids recognised the solstice as the start of a new year as one sun dies and another is born, just as one king succeeds another.
Scandinavians hosted the Feast of Juul for the god Thor during the December period. It's from this tradition that the burning of the Yule log at Christmas comes.
Ancient Romans marked the Saturnalia festival for Saturn, the god of harvest and agriculture.
European pagans lit bonfires to welcome the change in season.
It is said that the famed Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England may have been built to track the sun's movement during the solstices and equinoxes.
Its arrangement aligns with both the winter and summer solstices in the northern hemisphere.
Some of these ancient traditions continue to be observed, though many have fallen away over time. The solstices and equinoxes continue to be important in marking the change of seasons, weather patterns, and farming practices.
And, of course, it's a day that continues to hold its importance for those brave souls who plunge into the frozen depths on the mid-winter's day.