RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- The winter solstice -- the 'shortest' day of the year, or the day with the least amount of sunlight -- falls on Sunday, Dec. 21 for those in the northern hemisphere this year. How much daylight will the Richmond area see? This phenomenon happens yearly, with the northern hemisphere seeing its 'shortest' day on Dec. 21 or 22, according to the National Park Service (NPS). It's caused by the northern half of the Earth being titled as far away from the sun as possible, meaning less light can reach it. The winter solstice holds great cultural significance. It's influenced calendars, inspired various winter customs and had a hand in how cultures created things like solar markers and structures, according to the NPS. What year was the coldest Christmas in Richmond history? Those in Richmond will see a total of nine hours and 34 minutes of sunlight on the 2024 winter solstice. The sun will rise at 7:21 a.m. and set at 4:55 p.m., according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) solar calculator.