Mongolia | Zaisan Tolgoi | Winter Solstice | First of the Nine-Nines

The Winter Solstice, the astronomical beginning of Winter, occurs here in Zaisan Tolgoi at 11:03 pm, December 21. The day before, December 20, the sun rose at 8:38:13 am and set at 5:01:21 pm for 8 hours, 23 minutes, and 7 seconds of daylight. On the 21st the sun rose at 8:38:48 am and set at 5:01:48 pm for 8 hours, 22 minutes, and 59 seconds of daylight. Thus the day of the 21st was eight seconds shorter than the 20th. Normally the day of the Solstice is the shortest day of the year, but this year, because the Solstice occurs so close to midnight, the shortest day of the year is actually the 22nd, when the sun rises 8:39:20 am and sets at 5:02:17 pm for 8 hours, 22 minutes, and 57 seconds of daylight, making it 2 seconds shorter than December 21. On the 23th the day is already two seconds longer—the same as on the 21st—so we are progressing toward the Spring Equinox, which will occur in Zaisan Tolgoi on March 20, 2026, at 10:46 pm. Thus Winter will last 88 days, 23 hours, and 42 minutes.

In Mongolia the Winter Solstice also marks the beginning of the so-called Nine-Nines: nine periods of nine days each, each period marked by some description of winter weather. According to One Source the tradition started in China but became popular in Mongolia during the Yuan Dynasty, founded by Chingis Khan’s grandson, Khubilai Khan:

The history of “counting the nine” can be traced back as early as the Northern and Southern dynasties (420-589). However, it wasn’t until the Yuan dynasty (1271-1368) that the “Nine Times Nine to Dispel the Cold” countdown calendar emerged.

The first of the nine nine-day periods is Nermel Arkhi Khöldönö, the time when once-distilled homemade Mongolian arkhi (vodka) freezes. The forecast for tonight calls for a low of –14ºF, cold enough, I think, to freeze once-distilled Mongolian moonshine, which is maybe half as strong as store-bought vodka. The Second Nine-Day Period starts on December 30. Stayed tuned for updates.