Google marks winter solstice with an adorable doodle

Google's snowy doodle marks winter solstice 2018. Today is the shortest day of the year globally with the Earth being at the farthest point from the Sun.

It marks the first day of winter and the longest night of the year for the Northern Hemisphere. Winter Solstice happens only once a year and mostly falls in December.

The doodle features an animated figure ice skating above a mouse hole with what appears to be collected food for hibernation. The animation ends with the figure rolling into the hole while covered in snow.


In India, winter solstice 2018 or December Solstice will take place at 3:53 am on December 22 IST.

This day is also host to many religious observances and celebrations.

Winter solstice also known as hibernal solstice has various astronomical beliefs and stories attached to them. The day of the winter solstice was considered a host to various rituals and customs in the olden days.

What causes the solstice?
The Earth is tilted on its axis in such a way that sun appears at its lowest in the sky at noon. In the southern hemisphere it will be at its highest at noon.

In Ireland, people gather days before the solstice at Newgrange -- a massive gravesite that is more than 5,000 years old. Crowds selected by lottery wait for a chance to see the sunrise light up the ancient passage tomb.

At Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, large crowds gather to celebrate and capture the moment when the sun directly aligns with the famous stones.

In China, where they call the Winter Solstice Dongzhi Festival, people enjoy rice balls called tang yuan, which translates to "family reunion". This treat is said to bring prosperity and unity-something all of us can enjoy on this auspicious day.