Winter Solstice Countdown Calendar

My kids loooove countdown calendars. They have a Lego countdown calendar every year, individual countdown calendars for their respective birthdays and this one to countdown to winter solstice. It starts with all of the sections folded in– dark like the longest night. As you open each section the sun is slowly revealed symbolizing the return of the light the days slowly getting longer after the solstice. Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year with the most hours of darkness. Every night after the Winter Solstice is just a little less dark. Ancient people believed it was the rebirth of the sun, so much of the symbolism around this holiday involves the sun and light. They wanted to encourage it to come back!

Solstice Countdown Calendar

This calendar is pretty simple to make with basic woodworking skills and if you are intimated by wood you could use stiff paper or cardboard instead to the same effect. You can either use small hinges to join the sections or drill holes and connect them with twine. I have written this directions for a decagon because it’s easier to make, but there is not reason why you couldn’t make this a Icosagon (20 sided shape) and do an all month countdown.

Materials:

• 2 pieces of thin wood (no more than a 1/4″ thick) OR stiff paper or cardboard
• jigsaw (if using wood)
• ruler
• paint
• paintbrush
• hinges OR a drill and twine or wire

Method:

The hardest part of this project honestly is drafting the decagon– although my aptitude at geometry might be at fault. Here is a drawing with the angles if you are better at math than me, I just winged it. You could also print out a clip art decagon and use it as a template if that’s more comfortable for you. First you’ll cut out two decagons. Next use a ruler to divide the second decagon into ten triangles and then cut them apart

After everything is cut out, paint your calendar. The inside of all the pieces should be orange-y red like a sun. Allow it to dry and the attach the triangles to the decagon. You can use either small hinges or, if you prefer you can drill two small holes in each triangle and two mathing holes in each face of the decagon. Thread them together with twine or wire and ensure that there is enough wire/ twine for the pieces to fold over.

The outside of all the pieces should be painted a dark blue/ black to represent the night sky. Flick white paint over the surface for stars! Use white paint to write the numbers on each section.

Begin with all of the triangles folded closed and then open one each night as you count down to Winter Solstice. You will slowly reveal the sun! You can place a candle or other special object in teh center of teh sun once it’s been revealed!