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Seven hours, 27 minutes and 39 seconds (7:27:39)

That’s how much daylight there is on the shortest day of the year, which falls this year on Wednesday, Dec. 21. The sun will rise at 8:49 a.m. and set at 4:16 p.m. After the solstice, each day gets longer as we start inching toward spring.

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3:44 a.m.

The winter solstice refers to the point in time where the sun is at the lowest point in the sky as seen from north of the equator. This year, the sun will be at its lowest elevation of 13 degrees at 3:44 a.m. on Dec. 21.

Nine hours and 35 minutes shorter

Daylight on the winter solstice is nine hours and 35 minutes shorter than on the summer solstice, which occurred on June 20 this year. On that day, Edmonton received 17 hours of daylight.

2,000 years ago

If we go back in time, the winter solstice occurred on Dec. 25. The celebration of the birth of Christ is also symbolized in the rebirth of light in the Northern Hemisphere.

National Flashlight Day

What’s a better time to give your flashlights a good workout than the longest night of the year? Find your flashlights, check your batteries and get ready to celebrate this annual event.