Happy Winter season!

 

     It begins on the Winter Solstice and ends on

     the Vernal Equinox. During winter, places

     experience the shortest days and lowest

     temperatures. What do you know about this       season?

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• In the Northern Hemisphere, winter months include December, January, and February, while in the Southern Hemisphere, winter falls in June, July, and August.

• Equinoxes are the two days of the year when the night and day are the same length and the sun’s path crosses with the celestial equator (a projection of the Earth’s equator into the sky.) 

• Solstices are the two days of the year when the sun is at its farthest point from the celestial equator.

• Wind chill can cause problems during the winter. Wind chill is the combination of wind and temperature.

• Trees and plants stop growing during this season. Monarch butterflies migrate to Mexico or other warmer climates when the winter comes. In addition, many animals hibernate during cold weather.

• In the United States, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, New Year’s Day, Presidents’ Day, Valentine’s Day and Groundhog Day are all celebrated in the winter.

• Ice, snow, sleet, hail, and freezing rain are associated with winter. Even though snowflakes are unique, they all have six sides.

• Disney’s Frozen holds the record for highest-grossing animated musical film and 9th highest-grossing movie of all time.

• In literature, William Shakespeare wrote The Winter’s Tale.

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>> Animals 

     To survive the harshness of winter, many

     animals have developed different behavioral

     and morphological adaptations for

     overwintering:

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• Migration is a common effect of winter upon animals, notably birds. However, the majority of birds do not migrate—the cardinal and European Robin, for example. Some butterflies also migrate seasonally.

• Hibernation is a state of reduced metabolic activity during the winter. Some animals "sleep" during winter and only come out when the warm weather returns; e.g., gophers, frogs, snakes, and bats.

• Some animals store food for the winter and live on it instead of hibernating completely. This is the case for squirrels, beavers, skunks, badgers, and raccoons.

• Humans evolved in tropical climates, and met cold weather as they migrated into Eurasia, although earlier populations certainly encountered Southern Hemisphere winters in Southern Africa. Micro-evolution in Caucasian, Asiatic and Inuit people show some adaptation to the climate.

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>> Winter is full of fun facts.

      Learn some unique things that you might

      not know:

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• The term “winter” was derived from the Proto-Germanic word wentruz, that probably meant wet or wind.

• In Japan, people do the traditional hot bath with citrus fruits, known as yuzu. They believed that it is a great way to welcome the winter and protect them from colds.

• In China, Dongzhi (winter arrives) is celebrated during winter solstice. Chinese people usually cook tang yuan or glutinous rice balls in sweet broth and meat-stuffed dumplings.

• For the Zuni Indians of New Mexico, Winter Solstice signifies the beginning of the year. They do a ceremonial dance known as Shalako.

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Source: by KidsKonnect