Even as the bitter chill returned early this week, reminding everyone that winter is upon us, there was a light at the end of the–no, not tunnel–the light was at the end of the day.
Take a peek out the window as the clock ticks toward 5 p.m. Just a couple of weeks ago, you would have been greeted by the total darkness of night. Now, there’s a glimmer of light a little before 5 p.m., though the sun has officially set.
Minute by minute, daylight is creeping back, in a cycle that is as old as time.
On the winter solstice, Dec. 22, Chicago enjoyed just 9 hours and 9 minutes of daylight. Officially that’s the shortest day of the year, but in reality Chicago received just 9 hours and 9 minutes of daylight each day for a whole week, from Dec. 18 to 25.
That’s when the sun appears farther south in the sky than any other time of the year; then it begins its annual journey back north.
The day is now 13 minutes longer than it was during that darkest week. None of the lengthening has come in the morning. The sun rose at 7:15 a.m. Dec. 22 and two minutes later this morning. The lengthening has all come in the evening and we’re beginning to notice. It hints beguilingly at what’s to come
By the end of January, the day will begin to stretch out at both ends, with sunrise at 7:04 a.m. and sunset at 5:04 p.m. A full 10 hours of daylight.
By the summer solstice (June 20 this year), we’ll reach the maximum 15 hours and 14 minutes of sunlight. Then, continuing this age-old cycle, the sun once again will begin to sink south in the sky.
It’s a useful reminder that glimmers of more light are embedded even on these dark days, and darkness begins to fall earlier even when the days seem endless.
