As we approach June 21, those in the Northern hemisphere ready themselves for the Summer Solstice – the longest period of daylight of the year. But on the other side of the world, things could not feel more different. In Antarctica, June 21 marks midwinter. When polar night falls over much of the continent. When cold winds and perpetual gloom make summer feel like a distant memory.
But for the people living and working on the frozen continent, June 21 also marks the hopeful halfway point of winter – when the days begin their slow turn towards light. For Robert Falcon Scott and his expedition team, that called for a midwinter celebration – firstly during the Discovery Expedition in 1902, and then again in 1911, during Scott’s last and fateful Terra Nova expedition. In his diary, he writes about the festivities:
“In preparation for the evening our Union Jacks and sledge flags were hung about the large table, which itself was laid with glass and a plentiful supply of champagne bottles instead of the customary mugs and enamel lime juice jugs. At seven o’clock we sat down to an extravagant bill of fare as compared with our usual simple diet.”
The celebrations were complete with a flaming plum pudding and mince pies, speeches from each member of the team, and the giving of hand-crafted gifts. At the end of the festivities, Scott was treated to a dazzling display of aurora. When he stepped back inside the expedition’s hut – one of the last to sleep that night – he noted the effect the day’s celebrations had on morale. A cheerful spirit prevailed, and moods had been lifted, despite the conditions they endured.
It is for that reason that the tradition of Midwinter’s day lived on – through subsequent expeditions, through Operation Tabarin during the Second World War, and through the years of British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) rich history. Today, Midwinter is still celebrated by our teams on Rothera, King Edward Point, and Bird Island research stations, and celebrated in spirit by the crew of the RRS Sir David Attenborough and by staff across our Cambridge site. The festivities are a time for comradery, joy, and quiet reflection in the dark of Antarctic winter.
Though the celebrations have evolved since Scott’s days, many traditions have endured. A staple is the festive dinner cooked up by the fantastic station chefs. Always an impressive feat considering there are no local shops for fresh ingredients – all food for the season is planned and delivered to the stations well in advance of Midwinter’s Day.
Midwinter gifting is another long-standing tradition at each station. In the absence of next-day delivery, winterers use their creative talents to craft thoughtful, handmade gifts for one another with the resources they have available – often an excellent opportunity for our stations’ carpenters to pass on their expertise.
For Midwinter entertainment, there’s never a shortage of things going on. Plays have been organised complete with custom-made fancy dress costumes, screenings of John Carpenter’s The Thing has become a yearly occurrence, and there’s always the BBC World Service’s Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast to look forward to. First aired in 1955, this is a special service for our Antarctic winterers, packed with messages from loved ones and tailored music requests that bring a much-needed connection to friends and family on the other side of the world.
The challenges of living and working in Antarctica over winter are not lost on those of us back at home. A number of prominent figures have sent messages of thanks to the stations. This includes a yearly letter from the Prime Minster, a special recording from King Charles last year to mark the 70th anniversary of the midwinter broadcast, and in 1961, even President John F. Kennedy sent a letter to staff on every Antarctic station to salute their perseverance.
This year, the celebrations continue as they always have – with feasting, gifting, laughing, and sharing genuine moments of connection. Some of our winterers have also recorded a special Midwinter episode of our Iceworld podcast. They discuss what it’s like to celebrate on station, and talk about creating new traditions, such as a secret cinema around the new Discovery Building at Rothera.
Meanwhile at the BAS Cambridge site, staff will be celebrating Midwinter with a variety of activities such as the annual Midwinter 10km run and live chats with colleagues in Antarctica. This year, staff will also be assembling decorative mementos containing a small piece of wood from Rothera’s historic Fuchs House, which was deconstructed last year – a tangible symbol of Rothera’s past, and reminder of winters spent South.
Though the world has changed since Robert Falcon Scott’s first Midwinter celebrations – diary entries have been replaced by pictures on Instagram, and letters to loved ones are now video calls – the festivities still allow those in Antarctica to feel a little closer to home. It’s a time to celebrate the people who make our work possible, and to look forward to the lighter days to come. Happy Midwinter from everyone at British Antarctic Survey.
You can tune into BBC World Service’s Antarctic Midwinter Broadcast on Sunday 21 June at 10.32pm. A longer programme will be available on BBC Sounds. The Midwinter edition of the Iceworld podcast can be found wherever you get your podcasts.