The shortest, darkest day is now behind us, and slowly light will return

We made it.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Dec 2018, 22:25 BST
Updated 10th Jan 2019, 10:44 BST
Belfast City Hall from Donegall Square North at 4.20pm on the shortest day of the year of 2018, Friday December 21. Already it is darkBelfast City Hall from Donegall Square North at 4.20pm on the shortest day of the year of 2018, Friday December 21. Already it is dark
Belfast City Hall from Donegall Square North at 4.20pm on the shortest day of the year of 2018, Friday December 21. Already it is dark

We made it!

The long, slow, six month descent into darkness from last June is over.

The shortest day in the calendar was yesterday. Now the daylight will slowly return to our daily lives.

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From the super long nights of deep winter at our northern latitude, significantly closer to the North Pole than to the equator, we begin edging our way towards the super long days of mid summer.

The return of light will begin to be visible at the beginning and end of the day by mid January. Each day the position will slightly improve.

Yesterday I walked across to Donegall Place from our office at 4.15pm, and passed Belfast’s glowing Christmas market. There had been heavy cloud, so it already seemed dark, only minutes after sunset.

• Ben Lowry (@BenLowry2) is News Letter deputy editor

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