The Winter Solstice is the day that the earth is tilted the furthest away from the sun and consequently has more hours of darkness and less hours of light than any other day of the year. Every day after the Winter Solstice there is gradually a little more light until the Summer Solstice. Ancient people thought that the sun was dying and being reborn on this day. The Winter Solstice most often falls on December 21st and has long been a day of celebration. In fact, it was a whole season of celebration in ancient times. The sun is at its lowest point in the sky on the Winter Solstice and shadows become stretched out and longer than usual. The word solstice comes from the Latin, sol means sun and stitium means still. The sun on the Solstices seems to pause, leading our ancestors to surmise that it was standing still for a time. The time between Winter Solstice and the Twelfth Night was once considered outside of the normal year. The reason for this is thought to be because there is a twelve day discrepancy between the solar and lunar calendars so there are twelve days that exist in one, but not the other.
Both the Summer and Winter Solstices celebrate the sun and make note of its position. In winter, we make images of the sun because it is the darkest day of the year and we want to welcome the sun back. Most of the traditional winter holidays (in temperate climates) celebrate light in the darkness this time of year. Check some ideas for sunny Summer Solstice here!
Celebrate the Night:
Stargaze– bundle up and check out the night sky!
Learn about Nocturnal Animals– how better to celebrate the dark?
Make a Star Lantern– a beautiful way to celebrate the night
Take a Night Hike– an easy way to get outside on the longest night.
Enjoy Galaxy Smoothie Bowls– a delicious way to celebrate the night!
Lore & Ritual:
Create a Solstice Spiral– a timeless family tradition
Make a Yule Log– a perfect way to plan for the new year
Have a Cozy Fireplace Picnic– this is teh one tradition we make sure to do every single year!
Wintersow Seeds– a physical act to show that spring will come again
Collect Evergreens– the perpetual symbol of the season
Make Pomander Bath Bombs– east meets west in this cozy tradition
Welcoming Back the Sun:
Sun Bread– bring back the sun!
Sun Ornaments– the sunniest solstice tree
Orange Garlands– oranges represent the sun!
Countdown to the Solstice– reveal a sun as it gets closer!
Sun Tarts– sun tarts with a sunny lemon curd!
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