This year the winter solstice occurred just a few hours ago. This Saturday at 1:08 a.m. ET, the Sun was at its lowest point in our sky, marking the shortest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

The winter solstice marks the official beginning of winter, as well as the point when the days are getting longer. Six months from now on, our planet will be on the other side of the Sun and the Northern Hemisphere will enjoy the shortest night of the year.

For scientists, the winter solstice means the moment when the Sun is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane as the observer. But for common people, it simply marks the beginning of the cold season, as well as the fact that there are just a few more days for Christmas shopping.

However, in ancient times, when astronomy was also very much in fashion, the winter solstice was marked by all kind of celebrations. In ancient Greece, for example, Leanaea, or the Festival of Wild Women, marked this moment. People were sacrificed, but later they were replaced with goats. In other ancient cultures, people hunted, sang, danced and sacrificed animals and sprinkled their blood on their own faces.

So, the winter solstice has been a time for celebration since ages and it still is. However, people don’t kill goats anymore; they focus on Christmas shopping instead.