Midwinter’s Day celebrations are held across Antarctica

Midwinter’s Day celebrations are held across Antarctica to commemorate the winter solstice in the southern hemisphere, a milestone for those who spend the winter on the White Continent, as it is the day from which the sunlight begins to illuminate more and more the southern pole.

The custom, set by the crew of the Discovery Expedition (1901-1904), was kept during the Heroic Age of Antarctic Exploration: the Nimrod, Terra Nova, Australasic Antarctic and Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expeditions celebrated the occasion with parties, decorations and performances.

Nowadays, the Antarctic stations exchange messages and greetings, and some of them promote typical dinners, the wearing of costumes and playing of games. This year, precisely on the winter solstice, a large iceberg made a surprise visit in front of Brazil's house in Antarctica.