Winter Solstice 2026: Date, Exact Time and Simple Rituals for Yule
The winter solstice of 2026 is on Monday 21 December, at 20:50 UTC. In the US that is 3:50 p.m. EST, 2:50 p.m. CST, 1:50 p.m. MST and 12:50 p.m. PST. On the East Coast the moment comes less than an hour before sunset; on the West Coast it lands around midday. Either way, 21 December is the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the night that follows is the longest.
For pagans and witches the solstice is Yule, one of the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year, and the point at which the sun is reborn. This guide covers the timing, the astronomy in plain terms, and how to mark it at home without turning a quiet festival into a project.
Winter solstice 2026 times across the US
| Time zone | Date | Solstice time |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern (EST) | 21 December | 3:50 p.m. |
| Central (CST) | 21 December | 2:50 p.m. |
| Mountain (MST) | 21 December | 1:50 p.m. |
| Pacific (PST) | 21 December | 12:50 p.m. |
| Full moon (Cold Moon) | 23 December | 8:28 p.m. EST |
The full moon two nights later gives Yule 2026 an unusually bright first week. On the solstice evening itself the moon is waxing gibbous and already well lit.
What the winter solstice actually is
For a solstice tree
The Earth's axis is tilted by about 23.4 degrees. As the planet goes around the sun, that tilt means each hemisphere leans toward the sun for half the year and away from it for the other half. The December solstice is the moment the North Pole is tipped furthest away. The sun stands at its lowest at noon, crosses the shortest arc of the sky, and gives the fewest hours of daylight. In New York that is a little over nine hours; in Seattle, under eight and a half.
The word comes from the Latin sol, sun, and sistere, to stand still. For a few days either side of the solstice the sun's noon height barely changes, so it seems to pause before turning back. That pause is the whole drama of the festival.
One quirk worth knowing: the earliest sunset of the year comes in early December, and the latest sunrise in early January. The solstice is the shortest day overall, but the evenings start getting longer a couple of weeks before it. If you have noticed the light lingering a little later before the 21st, you were not imagining it. Our guide to solstices and equinoxes covers the rest of the solar year.
How pagans mark the solstice
Midwinter has been marked for a very long time. Newgrange in Ireland, built around 3200 BCE, is aligned so that the rising sun shines down its passage for a few mornings around the winter solstice. Stonehenge is aligned on the midwinter sunset. Modern pagan practice draws on that long memory, along with Norse Yule and folk Christmas customs. Our comparison of winter solstice traditions across cultures goes into the history, and seven pagan winter solstice traditions gives a quick overview.
The vigil
The heart of the solstice is staying with the longest night. Some practitioners keep a candle burning from sunset to sunrise; others sit up for an hour or two and then sleep. The point is to meet the dark rather than ignore it, and to be there when the light comes back.
Candles at sunset
Lighting candles as the sun goes down on the 21st is the simplest solstice rite there is. Our guide to Yule candle magic and the solstice vigil covers colours and wording.
The Yule log
The log is burned, or a candle-studded log is lit on the table, to carry fire through the long night. A piece is often kept to light next year's. See the Yule log tradition.
Evergreens
Pine, fir, holly and ivy stay green when everything else is bare, which is why they come indoors at midwinter. They are a promise that life carries on through winter. Our article on holly, mistletoe and the tree traces how they ended up in Christmas.
A simple winter solstice ritual
This takes one evening and one morning.
On the afternoon of 21 December, before sunset, put out every light you can in one room. Leave a single unlit candle on the table, with a small bowl of evergreen sprigs beside it. Sit in the fading light and let the room go dark. Do not rush it. Think about what the dark half of the year has held for you since Samhain: what ended, what rested, what you learned in the quiet.
When it is fully dark, light the candle. Say something plain, such as: the sun is reborn, the light returns. Then light any other candles in the room from that first flame, one at a time, and turn the electric lights back on if you need them. Eat something warm.
The next morning, if you can, watch the sunrise or at least open the curtains to it. Take one sprig from the bowl and hang it over the front door until Imbolc. That is the whole ritual. Our guide to setting up a Yule altar builds on it if you want more.
Bringing the solstice into the home
A few things make the season feel like Yule rather than a generic December.
A sun on the tree. The solstice is the rebirth of the sun, so give the sun a place. A sun and moon goddess glass ornament is a good centre for the tree, and the tree of life ornament picks up the evergreen theme.
A candle that is used. One candle, lit every evening of the twelve days, does more than a mantel full of unlit ones. The Sun tarot candle is made for exactly this.
Greenery that is real. Even three cut branches of pine in a jar change the smell of a room.
Light at the window. A single candle or lamp in a window on the longest night is an old and widespread custom, a light for anyone on the road.
For dates, the twelve days and more ideas, see our full guide to Yule 2026.
One candle for the returning sun
Frequently Asked Questions About the Winter Solstice 2026
What time is the winter solstice 2026?
20:50 UTC on 21 December 2026. In the US that is 3:50 p.m. EST, 2:50 p.m. CST, 1:50 p.m. MST and 12:50 p.m. PST.
Is 21 December 2026 the shortest day of the year?
Yes, in the Northern Hemisphere. It has the fewest hours of daylight, and the night of 21 December is the longest of the year. In the Southern Hemisphere it is the longest day.
Is the winter solstice the same as Yule?
In modern paganism, yes: Yule is the sabbat held at the winter solstice. Many practitioners then keep twelve days or nights of Yule from that date.
When do the days start getting longer?
From 22 December, day length increases again, slowly at first. Evenings have been lengthening since early December; mornings keep darkening until early January.
Turn the lights off on the 21st, sit with the longest night for a while, and light one candle when it is fully dark. The sun does the rest.
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