We love to celebrate the changing of the seasons and the longest night! Looking for some fun and easy ways to celebrate with friends and family? Check out some of our favorite parties and celebrations! Fun for all ages!
Winter Solstice Bonfire Party
A warm bonfire is always welcome on a cold winter day and the perfect way to have fun with friends outside for the Winter Solstice. Ancient people traditionally burned huge bonfires on the Solstice to welcome back the sun. So invite some friends over to welcome back the sun and keep toasty warm while celebrating! Make sure you have plenty of chairs and warm blankets to keep everyone cozy. Hot chocolate is always a good choice this time of year, you can even make it over the fire with the same method as my campfire cider. A warm soup made beforehand or over the fire is another welcome treat.
Crafts for your Winter Solstice Bonfire Party:
- Start the fire with a Yule Log or people can craft them to take home
- Throw some Aurora Borealis Pinecones on the fire for extra magic!
- If you are hosting this party for older kids or adults try campfire pewter casting– it’s completely magical. Make molds from oil based clay and natural items (preferable inside so the clay the is easier to work.) Melt your pewter in a crucible over the hot coals of the fire. You will need gloves, tongs and a crucible as well as pewter pellets to melt.
Winter Walk & Winter Solstice Wreath Making Party
This is one of my favorite parties– a “craftbrunch!” Craftbrunches began as a way to get together with girlfriends (or whoever friends!) during the busy holiday season. They are during the day, everyone brings an easy dish to share and there are distractions for the kids. The Winter Solstice craftbrunch is my favorite, and a welcome respite from the craziness of the holidays. Gather your crew together and take a walk in the woods. Gather evergreens and nature treasures as you explore the frosty woods taking your time and enjoying the outdoors. Then come back inside to warm up and make wreathes with your finds. Set the kids up making spice mosaic ornaments or winter playdoh!
Throw a Winter Solstice craftbruch:
- Read more about the Winter Solstice Craftbrunch
- Talk a winter walk
- Learn how to make Spice Mosaic Ornaments
- Winter Playdoh recipe
Cookies & Crafts Winter Solstice Party
Cookies and crafts are two of my favorite things and they make for a perfect Winter Solstice party! Bake up a few favorite cookies, or have everyone bring their favorites to share. Then get to work crafting! You can make ornaments, decorations or even presents! Decorate a tree together with your new ornaments or take them home to decorate your own trees. Most importantly, have fun and spend time togther!
Winter Solstice Cookies:
- Longest Night Cookies
- Raspberry Rose Moons
- Orange, Rosemary, Tahini & Honey Cookies
- Winter Walk Gingerbread
Winter Solstice Ornaments & Crafts:
- Make sun ornaments for a Winter Solstice tree
- Make Spice Mosaic ornaments
- Make twig stars
- Make mushrooms ornaments
- Dried orange garlands
Winter Solstice Candlelit Supper Party
Every year, no matter what else we do, we have a special dinner in front of the fire with no electric lights. We light candles and the boys carry lanterns around. This is a cozy party to have with your family and could be an elegant grown up party too. We always have swedish meatballs with mashed potatoes and green beans (otherwise known as ikea meatballs) at our celebration. Before I had kids it was tarte flambee, chicken tartiflette or soemthing fancier. “Roast Figs, Sugar Snow” by Diana Henry is one of my all time favorite cozy winter cookbooks if you are looking for inspiration. Last, we always make a bouche de Noel cake to finish the evening!
Candlelit Supper Recipes:
- Get the recipes for a Sweet Dreams Picnic (title image) in my Winter Solstice book
- Read about our candlelit supper traditions & Bouche de Noel
- Cook up a fireplace picnic
Winter Solstice Spiral Party
You can make a Winter Solstice spiral as a family or celebrate with friends! This is such a simple and festive way to celebrate, and you cab make it as complicated or simple as you want. Include nature finds and LED candles to celebrate teh return of the sun. You can make a spiral in conjunction with a bonfire or on its own. And at the risk of sounding like a broken record, hot chocolate and or cookies are always a good idea!
Winter Solstice Spiral Ideas:
- Learn how to make a Solstice Spiral in my Winter Solstice book
- Make ice candles for your spiral we always have on in the middle!
- Make treats for the birds to invite them into your spiral
Winter Solstice Lantern Walk
Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, but every day after the Solstice their is just a little more light to look forward to. Ancient people thought the sun was dying and being reborn on this day, so many of the customs we associate with winter holidays across the Northern hemisphere involve light. They felt that lighting up the night with bonfires and lanterns would coax the sun back. In fairness, it’s also just practical on a long dark night. A lantern walk is therefore a perfect way to celebrate the Winter Solstice! Get everyone together to make lanterns together and then take them for a spin around the neighborhood or park. Walk quietly and observe nature, can you spot any nocturnal animals? Can you hear any owl calls? If you’re walking through a neighborhood rather than a natural area try singing some festive Yule songs! When everyone has suitably encouraged the sun to return, head back home for some hot chocolate and sun bread of course! (Scroll to the end of this post for my easy crockpot hot chocolate recipe.)
Lantern crafts to make for your Lantern Walk:
