Six Activities to Honor the Winter Solstice
What is the Winter Solstice?
The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun, creating the longest night, and the shortest day, of the year. It is also the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere (in the southern hemisphere it is the first day of summer).
Winter Solstice has been, and continues to be, celebrated across the world in many different ways. This article on the History Channel website provides a great overview of the history and variety of cultures that have honored this important day and the return of the sun that follows.
What does the Winter Solstice teach us?
At the emotional and spiritual levels, on this darkest day of the year it is extra important to slow down and go inward because there is so much to learn from the lessons this time of year brings. particularly about stillness and darkness. It shows us that there is nothing to fear in the dark and that the light we seek always returns.
Connecting with the natural cycles of the Earth help us to be in tune with our intuition, which in turn guides us to deeper and more profound healing. Even if you have never honored this time of year formally, there are many ways you can connect with its meaning and purpose for your personal healing journey.
How can we honor the Winter Solstice?
The following are six easy ways to implement Winter Solstice activities into your home that will delight all of your senses and inspire inward reflection. Choose the elements that feel cozy and nurturing to you or put them all together for an amazing solstice day rhythm :
Prepare your home with yule time symbols such as candles, pine, holly, mistletoe, and rosemary. (Tip: Christmas tree lots will often give away pine tree scraps for free. Stores often sell rosemary trees around solstice time.) Make spiral patterns to reflect the journey of going inward, decorate a yule log or wreathe, or simply adorn your home intuitively in a way that feels beautiful, cozy, and relaxed for you.
Hike to see the sunrise with a mug of solstice tea or hot cocoa. Not a morning person or hate the cold? You can also or livestream sunrise at Stonehenge here.
Listen to Winter Solstice inspired music. Some of my favorites are: The Furrow Collective, “The Longest Night,” Loreena McKennitt “A Midwinter Night’s Dream,” and Windham Hill Artists, “A Winter’s Solstice V.”
To symbolize the sun, make orange and clove pomanders. This is a great activity for adults and kids to do together. Pre-punch holes with a toothpick and create a pattern in the orange peel. Then stick whole cloves into each whole. This is a fun tactile experience for kids of all ages (and adults too!). Not to mention, the smell is Divine! Tie a ribbon around the finished product and hang it by your fireplace.
Enjoy a day of darkness. Leave the lights and electronics off all day and night with just candlelight and firelight to illuminate your home. Prepare soup in a crock pot or on the stove the day before to eat throughout the day. Follow the natural rhythm of the darkness. You might want to grab your favorite book by the fire all day, work on a puzzle or lego project, play music, write, or take-a-nap.
Finally, create a special and simple ritual to release the stagnant energies of the year and set intentions for the coming year. After the Winter Solstice the light returns a little each day until we reach the longest day of sunlight on Summer Solstice around June 21. Set a simple ritual space using candles and any of the solstice nature items mentioned above. Start by meditating on what you wish to release from the past year and write it down. Then meditate on your intentions for the coming year. Write those down. When you feel ready, place both lists in the fire. Use the energy of the returning sun to illuminate your path! Celebrate with food, music, and dancing!
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