Even without the wind, Saturday seemed cold enough to meet wishes and expectations for the day of the solstice, generally regarded as the start of winter.

Though the winter solstice marks the shortest day of each year, it also signals an increase in the amount of sunlight each day for the next six months. Similarly, the day when the Earth’s tilt is closest to the sun is called the summer solstice. It’s the longest day of the year and marks the astronomical beginning of summer.