Winter

A park covered in snow during winter

A cloud the snow as winter

The houses the winter

Winter is one of the four seasons and it is the coldest time of the year. The days are shorter, and the nights are longer. Winter comes after autumn and before spring.

Winter begins at the winter solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere the winter solstice is usually December 21 or December 22. In the Southern Hemisphere the winter solstice is usually June 21 or June 22.

Some animals hibernate during this season. In temperate climates there are no leaves on deciduous trees. People wear warm clothing, and eat food that was grown earlier. Many places have snow in winter, and some people use sleds or skis. Holidays in winter for many countries include Christmas and New Year's Day.

The name comes from an old Germanic word that means "time of water" and refers to the rain and snow of winter in middle and high latitudes.

Winter Media

Animation of snow cover changing with the seasons
In the mid-latitudes and polar regions, winter is associated with snow and ice.
In the Southern Hemisphere winter extends from June to September, pictured in Caxias do Sul in the southern highlands of Brazil.
Sea ice in the Port of Hamburg, Germany
The snowshoe hare, and some other animals, change color in winter.
River Thames frost fair, 1683, with Old London Bridge in the background
Period of Ice Age on Earth
People enjoying the winter weather outdoors in Helsinki, Finland
Allegory of Winter by Jerzy Siemiginowski-Eleuter with Aeolus' Kingdom of the Winds, 1683, Wilanów Palace

Spring		Winter
	The Seasons
	The Seasons
Summer		Autumn