What Happens During the Midwinter Solstice? The midwinter solstice, commonly known as the winter solstice, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Southern Hemisphere. This event typically occurs around June 20th or 21st. The winter solstice happens when one of Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun. During the winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sun’s path across the sky is at its lowest, leading to the least amount of daylight and the longest night. The Earth’s axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbit around the Sun, causing the South Pole to tilt away from the Sun. Historical…