What is the winter solstice?

This Thursday is the winter solstice in Australia.

But what does the event mean and what will happen?

What is the winter solstice?

The winter solstice marks the shortest day of the year in terms of daylight hours.

In Australia, that mid-winter day is known as the winter solstice.

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This year, it is on Thursday, June 22.

Solstice comes from the Latin words sol (sun) and sistere (to stand still).

A solstice is when either of the earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt away from the sun.

The summer solstice happens at the same time in the northern hemisphere.

When will the sun rise and set this winter solstice?

Sydney: Sunrise 7am, sunset 4.53pm

Melbourne: Sunrise 7.35am, sunset 5.08pm

Adelaide: Sunrise 7.23am, sunset 5.11pm

Brisbane: Sunrise 6.37am, sunset 5.01pm

Perth: Sunrise 7.16am, sunset 5.20pm

Darwin: Sunrise 7.06am, sunset 6.30pm

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Winter solstice traditions

Hobart has its own festival to coincide with the solstice, Dark Mofo.

Some communities around Australia also hold lantern parades and bonfires.

Lismore in northern NSW has a lantern parade on June 24 and Katoomba in the Blue Mountains has a Winter Magic Festival this week.

Adelaide also has a theatrical fire show, Unsee Winter Solstice, on Friday and Saturday.

Melbourne also has a host of events, including the Docklands Firelight Festival from June 30.

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While Asia is about to mark the summer solstice with the rest of the northern hemisphere, it holds the Dongzi festival to mark the winter one.

The Mapuche people of South America mark Wiñoy Tripantu, or the "return of the sun" for the winter solstice.

The Aymara people of Peru and Bolivia celebrate new year on the winter solstice.

Scientists based near the south pole in Antarctica also mark the date - often bathing in the freezing water via a hole cut in the ice to mark the occasion.

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