As the nights get longer and the days get colder, the winter solstice slowly approaches.

While many of us might not enjoy the longer nights, the festive sparkly lights help brighten up the night sky. 

But there is one day a year that will see the lights sparkle earlier than normal as the shortest day of the year is nearly upon us. 

The shortest day will see the least amount of daylight when compared to any other during the year. 

The day also marks the winter solstice, which many mark with a special celebration. 

Find out when the winter solstice will be taking place in 2023 and what the event means. 

Bournemouth Echo: People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire.People take part in the winter solstice celebrations during sunrise at the Stonehenge prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire. (Image: PA)

When is the winter solstice in 2023?

In 2023, the winter solstice will take place on Friday, December 22 at 3.27am. 

Though it will take place in the early morning, most focus on the length of the solstice day, seeing the shortest day last just 7 hours and 49 minutes.

What is the winter solstice?

The winter solstice is also known as the shortest day of the year and takes place at the point at which the path of the sun in the sky is farthest south.

During, the winter solstice, the sun travels the shortest path through the sky resulting in the day of the year with the least sunlight and therefore, the longest night.

In the lead-up to the solstice, the days become shorter and shorter, and then on the evening of the solstice winter begins, according to NASA.  

From then onwards the days become increasingly long leading up to the summer solstice and the longest day of the year. 

As the Royal Maritime Greenwich shares: "The winter solstice occurs in December, and in the northern hemisphere the date marks the 24-hour period with the fewest daylight hours of the year.

"That is why it is known as the shortest day of the year or the longest night of the year."

What does 'solstice' mean? 

The term "solstice" derives from the Latin word "solstitium", meaning "sun standing still". 

Astrologers say the sun seems to "stand still" at the point on the horizon where it appears to rise and set, before moving off in the reverse direction.