Hi, gang.

Let’s talk about winter. Not the weather, but the word. Winter is a word people use casually once the sweaters come out and the temperature drops. However, don’t fall for it. No matter how cold it gets in October, even November, winter doesn’t officially start until the third week of December.

So why do we wait so long? Well, it’s all about the sun. Since ancient times, our seasons have been dictated by that giant star in the sky. No, not Meredith Viera. The big ball of burning gas…no, not Matt lauer. I’m talking …the SUN!!! We call the start of winter the winter solstice. A solstice is defined as one of two points (the other being summer solstice) when the sun is furthest from the celestial equator.

In other words: the shortest day of the year.

SLIDESHOW: Winter Solstice Worldwide

Of course, we still get 24 hours in the day. It’s the sunlight that we’re short on. During the winter solstice, the earth’s position is at its maximum tilt from the sun. For the Northern Hemisphere that means the length of time between sunrise and sunset is the shortest it will be all year.

This phenomenon always happens on or around December 22nd, depending on leap year. Ready or not, this year winter officially starts Thursday, December 21st at exactly 7:22 p.m. EST.

But if you’re not a fan of Old Man Winter or without being sexist, Old Lady Winter…or Old Person Winter… here is a positive way to think about the upcoming season. The winter solstice actually signifies the return of sunlight. Each day after the solstice will have more sunlight than the previous. Your days will once again get longer and before you know it you’ll be getting ready for the Spring Equinox.

But that’s a topic for another day. We still have to get through winter…oh yeah, and the final days of fall!