The shortest day of the year occurs on the winter solstice, which typically falls on December 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. On that day, the Sun reaches its most southerly point in the sky for the year, resulting in the fewest daylight hours and the longest night. In the Southern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs around the same time, giving them their longest day, while the December solstice marks the shortest day there as well. For most locations north of the equator, you can expect daylight to be at its minimum around December 21–22, with daylight gradually increasing again afterward.