Paper lanterns on the longest night Dec 21, 2018

Paper lanterns on the longest night

For the winter solstice today, we’re in Santa Fe, where residents celebrate the holidays with lovely paper lanterns known as farolitos, or luminarias. The annual Farolito Walk takes place each Christmas Eve in the city’s Canyon Road arts district, but the farolitos are often on display much earlier, lighting the way among the pueblo-style architecture that this region is known for. Winter solstice marks both the official start of winter, and the longest night of the year—meaning these paper lanterns will be put to good use tonight.

© Julien McRoberts/Danita Delimont

palette

Today in History

Dec 21, 2019Seventeen arches at sunset
Dec 21, 2020Shadows on the solstice
Dec 21, 2021Winter solstice
Dec 21, 2022Winter solstice
Dec 21, 2023Winter solstice
Dec 21, 2024Happy winter solstice!
Dec 21, 2025Winter solstice

More Desktop Wallpapers:

May 27, 2020Clouds over the River of Grass
Jan 17, 2024Bavarian Forest National Park, Germany
Mar 14, 2026Celebrating Pi Day
Aug 21, 2023Discovery Day in Yukon, Canada
Jun 2, 2023Gemsbok in Namibian sand dunes
May 5, 2020A courtyard scene from Spain
Jul 16, 2020Summertime in Alaska
Oct 10, 2024Kochia, Hitachi, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan
Dec 12, 2025National Poinsettia Day
Mar 31, 2026Paradise Cave, Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, Vietnam
Sep 27, 2022Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone National Park
Jun 23, 2024Dhaka, Bangladesh
Oct 21, 2023International Archaeology Day
May 4, 2018May the Fourth be with you…
Apr 21, 2022First day of summer
Nov 30, 2022Old Town of Rovinj, Croatia
May 24, 2018East River crossing
Jul 23, 2023Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka
Jan 3, 2026J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Aug 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Nov 18, 2021Bohemian Switzerland
Nov 18, 2023Polar bear season in Manitoba
Jul 3, 2024World Meerkat Day
Jan 14, 2022Road to Sa Calobra, Majorca, Spain
Jun 24, 2025Delicate Arch, Arches National Park, Utah
Apr 25, 2025World Penguin Day
Apr 24, 2019Cool water in the Quinault
Oct 19, 2018Portland celebrates its bounty
Nov 12, 2018Honoring those who served
Sep 5, 2025Pacific Park, Santa Monica State Beach, California