Winter officially begins on the Winter Solstice, December 21, the shortest day, and longest night of the year. It ends March 20 with the March Equinox. When its winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s summer in the Southern Hemisphere. These are pretty standard facts most people know.
I did a little research and discovered different cultures have their own ways of measuring winter.
In Persian culture, the Winter Solstice is called Yadā.
According to an old Norwegian tradition, winter begins on the 14th of October and ends on the last day of February.
By Celtic tradition in Ireland and Scandinavia winter begins on the first day of November, the Winter Solstice is the mid-point of winter, and it ends on the February 1-2 (Imbolc or Candlemas).
Imbolc is a Celtic tradition that began in Neolithic Ireland and Scotland to celebrate the halfway point between inter Solstice and Spring Equinox. It means “in the belly” and celebrates Brigid, the pagan Celtic goddess. She is the goddess of inspiration, creativity, smith craft, poetry, and healing. In ancient times, it was a time or reaffirm life and begin thinking about the harvest season. The colors associated with Imbolc are black, white, pink, and red.
As Christianity spread from Rome to Northern Europe and the British Isles, Imbolc was adopted as Candlemas, which is still celebrated on February 2. Candlemas is the Christian feast of the presentation of Jesus at the Temple by Mary and Joseph.
According to Chinese astronomy, winter begins @ November 7 on Lidōng and ends with the arrival of spring on the 3rd or 4th of February, Lichūn. Lidōng and Lichūn are two of the twenty-four solar systems of the Chinese calendar.
Marcus Terentius Varro, the Late Roman Republic Scholar set winter between November 9th the fourth day before the Ides of November (13 November), and November 5th, the 8th day before the Ides of February (13 February).
Many European countries used to believe winter began on Martinmas (St. Martin’s Day) November 11 and ended on Valentines Day (14 February).
Most of us aren’t so exacting. We declare winter has arrived when it’s cold and snowy, and we declare spring when we see the crocus blooms breaking through the snow.
However you gauge winter, I hope you take time to appreciate nature’s beauty.