We explain everything about winter, its characteristics and when it occurs in each hemisphere. Also, what are the other seasons of the year.
What is winter?
Winter is the coldest season of the year, which takes place between autumn and spring. It is characterized by cold, short days, low solar radiation, with long, frosty nights, especially in the polar regions, the furthest from the equator.
This season begins with the winter solstice, when the longest night and the shortest day of the year take place, and ends three months later, with the spring equinox. This means that winter days have fewer hours of sunlight than summer days, which is why nights last longer. You must read about Mechanical Work once.
Like all seasons of the year, winter is caused by the permanent tilt of the planetary axis. This causes the Earth’s hemispheres to move away from and towards solar radiation throughout its orbit. Thus, winter occurs in the half of the planet that is furthest from the Sun, while summer occurs in the half closest to it.
Characteristics of winter
Generally speaking, winter is characterized by the following:
- It is the coldest season of the year and the nights become longer. During this period, the sun shines less directly on one of the Earth’s hemispheres, so temperatures are lower and days become shorter.
- It is located between autumn and spring. The exact dates of the beginning and end of winter vary depending on the hemisphere, but they are always between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
- Agricultural activity decreases. The decrease in solar radiation reduces the ability of plants to grow, so there is no sowing or harvesting. In some regions, the ground freezes and hardens, or is covered with snow.
- Animals change their habits. Animal life adapts to low temperatures through different mechanisms, such as hibernation or migration.
Period and duration of winter
From an astronomical point of view, winter occurs between the winter solstice (December 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere and June 20 or 21 in the southern hemisphere) and the spring equinox (March 21 or 22 in the northern hemisphere and September 20 or 21 in the southern hemisphere).
During the winter period, the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, which generates the shortest day and the longest night of the year at the winter solstice. As the season progresses, the days gradually become longer until the spring equinox, when day and night become the same length again. Maybe you should definitely read about Treaty of Tordesillas once.
Symbolism of winter
Winter is part of a balanced cycle, which combines cold and heat to achieve a relatively stable climate. The arrival of this season can be a source of challenges for the human population and a challenge for all life in general. However, the regularity of its duration allows natural cycles to occur correctly and brings a long pause to numerous chemical and biochemical circuits. It is thus a demanding season, which prepares life for the resurgence of spring.
On the other hand, winter has had an important impact on culture, as a source of metaphors and inspiration in the arts and literature. In general, it is associated with the end of a cycle and, by extension, with death: a stage that is an inevitable part of the cycle of life.
Since ancient times, human beings have sought mystical and religious explanations for the arrival of winter. The ancient Greeks, for example, related it to the myth of Persephone, daughter of the agricultural goddess Demeter, who was abducted by Hades, god of the underworld, and made queen of the world of the dead.
Her mother, heartbroken by her absence, neglected the land and let the crops die, so the father god Zeus intervened to reach an agreement: Persephone would spend six months with her husband in the underworld and six months with her mother in the world of the living. The first correspond to the six months of cold and seclusion (autumn and winter), while the second are the six months of heat, fertility and abundance (spring and summer), in which Demeter celebrates the return of her daughter.
The other seasons of the year
The seasons are the four stages into which the year is divided, each lasting three months and associated with different climatic and astronomical processes.
In addition to winter, the other seasons of the year are:
- Summer: This is the season with the most heat and the most sunlight, with long days and short nights. In most cultures, it is the time of vacation rest. It takes place in the months of June, July and August in the northern hemisphere, and in the months of December, January and February in the southern hemisphere.
- Autumn: This is the season in which the temperature begins to drop and the days become shorter. The trees lose their leaves and animal and plant life prepares for winter. It takes place in the months of September, October and November in the northern hemisphere, and in the months of March, April and May in the southern hemisphere.
Spring: This is the time when trees and plants turn green and flower. The temperature gradually rises and the length of the days and hours of sunshine increase. It takes place in the months of March, April and May in the northern hemisphere, and in the months of September, October and November in the southern hemisphere. You must read about Tower of Babel once.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is winter?
Ans: It is one of the four seasons of the year, which occurs after autumn and before spring.
When does winter start?
Ans: Conventionally, it begins on December 21 in the northern hemisphere and June 21 in the southern hemisphere. Astronomically, it begins between December 21 and 22 in the north, and between June 20 and 21 in the south.
How long does winter last?
Ans: Winter lasts between 89 and 90 days, or approximately three months.
What happens in winter?
Ans: During winter, temperatures drop considerably, the days are shorter and the nights are longer.
