The Winter Solstice Is Next Week. Here Are 4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know

The start of December means winter is coming, and soon.

This year, the winter solstice will take place on Thursday, Dec. 21 for the Northern Hemisphere. The Southern Hemisphere will experience its summer solstice at the same time.

The specific time the winter solstice happens depends on which time zone you’re in, but this tool helps you check it based on your location.

Here is everything you need to know about the winter solstice.