In 2025, the winter solstice will occur at 15:03 UTC on Sunday, December 21. This means that people in the Northern Hemisphere, on the East Coast, welcome winter on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 10:03 AM EST. At the same time, the West Coast celebrates winter at 7:03 AM PST.
Winter solstice, Midwinter, the Hibernate Solstice, Alban Arthan, or Yule, is the astronomical first day of winter and one of eight sabbat festivals in The Wheel of the Year. It is when the battle between the dark and light halves of the year is at its peak, and the rebirth of the light (or birth of the sun) is celebrated. Several similar cultural celebrations occur on or near the December solstice. These winter solstice celebrations share common themes and spiritual elements and are often celebrated in similar ways. Several winter solstice traditions, rituals, and celebration ideas from around the world are discussed below. This helps create a more comprehensive picture of this worldwide celebration of light.
First published on December 21, 2014, this informative guide to the winter solstice and its celebration is regularly updated to enhance its content and keep it current. The ideas below make planning a winter solstice party or celebration in your home or community center easy. Whether you are celebrating the winter solstice with kids, adults, or both, you will learn interesting details and discover fun ways to celebrate the change of seasons in this informative guide. You might also enjoy our Winter Bucket List. It offers a variety of winter activities for children and adults, including arts and crafts and outdoor fun.
What is the Winter Solstice?
The winter solstice occurs at the exact moment worldwide, but is displayed in local time. It marks the part of the year when the sun is at its maximum southern descent or northern ascent, depending on which hemisphere you reside in, North or South. (This concept is explained in greater detail below.) The word solstice means ‘standstill.’ On the solstice, time seems to stand still for several days. The even sun appears to rise and set in the same place.
However, after the longest night on the winter solstice, the sun slowly returns, and the Earth continues its journey around the sun to complete the solar year. It is time to celebrate the sun’s rebirth, the growing sunlight, and the dawning of the New Year. After the winter solstice, each day grows a little longer. The sunlight shines a bit stronger and brighter with each passing day.
One of the most interesting facts about the solstice is that those in the Southern Hemisphere welcome the summer. At the same time, those in the Northern Hemisphere celebrate winter on December 21st or 22nd. Are you confused yet? Not to worry! First, we answer your frequently asked questions (FAQs) about the winter solstice. Then, for those wondering how to honor the winter solstice, what they can do, or how to celebrate, we share a list of traditional winter solstice celebration ideas you can enjoy as a part of your winter solstice celebrations. Scroll down to learn more!
What Happens on the Solstice?
There are two solstices every calendar year: one in December and the other in June. The solstice happens simultaneously worldwide. The season you welcome depends on which side of the equator you reside on. Or the hemisphere in which you live. The reason is a great science lesson for kids. It’s all about the sun’s tilt.
Planet Earth sits at an angle of about 23.5 degrees. So, at different times of the year, the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are more or less tilted toward the sun. So, each will experience the long, warm days and short nights characteristic of the summer or short, dark winter days and long, cold nights familiar in winter, depending on which side is tilted toward the sun.
In other words, the solstice marks the moment in time that one of Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt toward the sun. While the other is at its maximum tilt away from the sun. The pole that shifts away from the sun will experience colder, shorter days and longer nights, characteristic of winter. In contrast, the pole shifted towards the sun will welcome summer’s longer, warmer days.
Related: Family Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday
What is the Solstice?
The solstice is when one of Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt, and the sun reaches its southernmost declination. The sun travels its shortest path through the sky on the winter solstice. As a result, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun has cooler winter temperatures. In contrast, the hemisphere tilted toward the sun experiences warmer summer temperatures. In other words, the seasons on the opposite side of the globe are reversed and switch on the solstices and equinoxes. The diagram below illustrates Earth’s tilt at the summer and winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
December Solstice:
On the December Solstice, the South Pole tilts towards the sun, and the sun’s rays are directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn. Thus, those in the Northern Hemisphere welcome the winter, while those in the Southern Hemisphere welcome the summer. In June, these reverse. In other words, the December Solstice marks the astronomical end of fall, the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, the December solstice is the astronomical end of spring and summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The graphic diagram above illustrates Earth’s tilt at the June (summer) and December (winter) solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
When is the Winter Solstice?
The winter solstice happens when the sun’s path is at its southernmost point in the sky. It typically falls between December 21 and 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. However, the solstice can sometimes happen outside those date ranges. Conversely, the summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its northernmost position in the sky. Which typically falls between June 20 and 21 in the Northern Hemisphere. A Leap Day is added to the calendar every four years (an extra day on February 29) to keep the equinox and solstice dates lined up with the seasons.
The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. After the winter solstice, the days begin to get longer and the nights shorter until the year’s longest day and shortest night on the summer solstice. In contrast, the spring and fall equinoxes occur between the winter and summer solstices when day and night are equal. Learn more about the spring and fall equinoxes at the links below:
When is the Winter Solstice in 2025?
The winter solstice will occur on Sunday, December 21, 2025, at 15:03 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). This means the solstice will happen on the East Coast at 10:03 AM EST on Sunday, December 21. At the same time, the solstice occurs on the West Coast at 7:03 AM PST on Saturday, December 21, 2025, in the Northern Hemisphere. (source)
Related: Winter Tree Art
Winter Solstice Yule Traditions:
Humans have likely celebrated the sun’s return at the solstice with reverence and ritual since the Stone Age. Possibly even before then. The sun made life possible for all. Without the sun, there would be nothing to celebrate. In ancient times, people probably grew afraid as the winter days dwindled to what seemed like almost nothing. When they noticed that each day had less sunlight than the day before, they grew fearful that it would be lost forever.
As the days grew shorter and the nights longer (as the season shifted from fall to winter), people likely worried that there would eventually be no daylight left. When the sun is at its southernmost point on the December solstice, it seems almost as if it is about to disappear beyond the horizon forever!
As you can imagine, this was more than likely a time of dread for ancient people. With each passing day, the sunlight grew dimmer, and the days were shorter and shorter. So, they performed various rituals and spiritual ceremonies to reverse the sun’s course. Hoping that their actions would bring the sunlight back and the sun would be reborn.
However, once these ancient civilizations began measuring the hours of sunlight as the year passed. They realized that after the winter solstice, the seasons’ rhythm shifted again, and the sun slowly began to return. Each day after that, they noticed the sun slowly rising higher in the sky. So, they rejoiced and celebrated its rebirth. The sun was reborn, which was, and still is, the most glorious celebration!
The Gentle Shifting of the Seasons at Christmastime:
The returning sun held great significance for the ancient peoples who first celebrated its rebirth. It meant the return of life, food, and the abundance they bring. Christmas marks the return of the sun’s light. Symbolized by the shining star rising over the evergreen treetops (symbols of light and eternal life) earlier than it did the day before. This is likely a reason most winter solstice traditions and Yule celebrations celebrate the ‘birth of the sun’ or the ‘birth of the Son’ at Christmastime. The light returning was, indeed, something to celebrate. However, each year there was no promise that the seasons would shift and bring back the sun until the day they did. The winter solstice, Christmas, and most other cultural celebrations at this time of year are thus “Celebrations of light.”
The Mythology Behind the Winter Solstice:
The mythology and traditions surrounding the winter solstice vary widely across different cultures worldwide. However, these winter solstice traditions, while diverse, often share a common theme of light’s victory over darkness, rebirth, the triumph of good over evil, and the promise of life and warmth returning after the darkest period of the year. For example, in some ancient northern European earth-based traditions, it marks the time of year when the Summer Oak King defeats the Winter Holly King in a battle that brings light and life back in the New Year. The following section shares several more specific examples of cultural celebrations and traditions celebrated on or near the winter solstice around the world:
How Different Cultures Around the World Celebrate the Winter Solstice:
Here’s a summary of several different festivals and winter solstice celebrations from around the world:
1. Dongzhi Festival | Chinese Culture:
Dongzhi, the winter solstice festival in China, is a time for family gatherings and eating dumplings and other foods with special significance. It is rooted in the philosophy of yin and yang, with the solstice marking the moment when the balance shifts toward more light and positive energy. The winter solstice marks the expansion of yin (darkness/coldness), turning toward greater yang (lightness/warmth), making it a time to seek balance and harmony. Families reunite, visit relatives, and enjoy traditional foods like tangyuan (glutinous rice balls) as symbols of family, togetherness, and unity. In northern regions, dumplings (jiaozi) are eaten to ward off the cold.
2. Yule | Pagan, Norse and Germanic Peoples of Northern Europe:
Yule is a celebration of the return of light after the longest night and honors the cycles of death and rebirth in nature. Many Norse, British, and Germanic cultures celebrate Yule at the Winter Solstice in mid-to late December. It’s a time of feasting, merriment, and the burning of the Yule log. The Norse believed that the sun was a wheel (houl) that changed its course, and Yule celebrated the sun’s turning point. It’s also associated with the God Odin and the Wild Hunt. Traditions include Yule Logs, bonfires, feasting, and welcoming the return of the sun. Many modern winter holiday customs derive from these old practices.
3. Shab-e Yalda (Yalda Night) | Persian Culture in Iran and Central Asia:
Yalda Night, or Shab-e Yalda, is an Iranian festival celebrated on the Winter Solstice, the year’s longest night. Families celebrate late into the night by eating, reading poetry, and warding off evil spirits, marking the triumph of Mithra, the sun god, over darkness. Yalda marks the longest night of the year and celebrates the imminent return of longer days. People gather with loved ones to feast on pomegranates, nuts, watermelon, and red fruits to symbolize the sun and represent warmth and life in the cold season. Poetry, most notably Hafez, is read, stories are shared, and people stay awake together to greet the dawn, symbolizing light overcoming darkness.
4. St. Lucia’s Day | Scandinavia:
Typically celebrated on December 13th in Scandinavian countries, this Christian feast day is marked by processions of light led by young girls dressed in white, wearing crowns of candles, and singing traditional songs. The candle wreaths or Lucia crowns symbolize the triumph of light over darkness during the darkest time of the year. This traditional winter solstice celebration merges Christian remembrance of St. Lucia (a martyr associated with light) with the older Norse rituals celebrating the return of longer days.
5. Saturnalia | Ancient Rome:
This ancient Roman festival honored Saturn, the god of agriculture and time. Saturnalia was celebrated for several weeks around the winter solstice. It was a time of feasting, gift-giving, decorating homes with greenery, and social reversal, during which societal roles were temporarily reversed. This festival honored Saturn, the god of agriculture, and symbolized a break from winter’s harshness through community, feasting, and revelry. Many Christmas customs can be traced back to this ancient festival.
6. Chawmos | Kalash People (Pakistan)
Chawmos is a two-week festival held at the end of the agricultural season, around the winter solstice, in the Lalash valleys of northern Pakistan. The community stores food for winter and celebrates the rebirth of light through rituals, songs, dancing, and seasonal fasting. The first week is for the Kalash people internally, with public festivities later.
7. Inti Raymi | Incan Tradition:
In the Southern Hemisphere, where winter occurs in June, the Incas celebrated Inti Raymi, the sun festival. It was a time to celebrate by making offerings to the sun god Inti to ensure a bountiful harvest.
8. Soyal or Soyaluna | Hopi and Pueblo Peoples:
The Hopi, Zuni, and other Pueblo tribes of North America celebrate Soyal, or Soyaluna, during the winter solstice. These ceremonies typically occur in underground kivas and feature rituals, chants, and dances to bring back the sun. Guardians and spirit figures, such as kachinas (protective spirits from the mountains), are central.
9. Alban Arthan | Celtic Traditions:
The Druids, the priestly class in ancient British, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish Celtic societies (and today), celebrate the winter solstice as Alban Arthan. Alban Arthan is translated to mean ‘The Light of Arthur’ (or ‘The light of Winter’), and is when the rebirth of the light is celebrated. Druids believe the seed of light is born within the dark womb of midwinter. The sun’s death is mourned, a fire is lit to re-ignite the sun, and the sun’s birth (or rebirth) is celebrated.
For many Druids, however, Arthur is reborn to return as the savior. Many scholars today believe the Christian nativity story is a modern version of this ancient winter solstice tale. The church eventually changed the date of Jesus’ birth to coincide with the December solstice and referred to the Lord and Savior as Christ. At that time, the Church Fathers had to continually remind their Pagan congregants to celebrate the Birth of Christ, not the birth of the Sun. This likely explains why many religious traditions call Christ the ‘Son of God’ today.)
What do Pagans celebrate on the Winter Solstice?
The rebirth of light and the return of the sun were likely among the primary concerns of these ancient people, as they relied on them for their survival and well-being. Not only did the sun provide the warmth and the sunlight they needed to live and grow food, but it also happily sustained them throughout the warmer months of the year. Often celebrated as “Yule” or “Alban Arthan,” the winter solstice is one of the eight Sabbat Festivals within The Wheel of the Year and is one of the world’s oldest winter celebrations.
On the winter solstice, Pagans celebrate the “rebirth of the sun” and the blessings that the returning light brings, along with the lengthening days that follow the shortest day of the year. In other words, the winter solstice marks the sun’s return after the year’s longest night. The sun’s rebirth at midwinter brings warmth, joy, and merriment. Activities often include feasting and drinking, burning a Yule Log, decorating with evergreen plants and traditional seasonal colors (green, red, white, silver, gold), building a winter solstice or Yule altar, burning candles and incense, and various other rituals described in the Winter Solstice celebration ideas below. Many contemporary winter holiday traditions have their roots in some of these early Pagan rituals and ancient earth-based winter solstice celebrations. As do several of the folktales:
Traditional Winter Solstice Folktales:
Many people tell children the tales of Santa and his flying reindeer in the wintertime. But why not share the stories that influenced these modern-day tales? The legend of Santa Claus and his reindeer originates in ancient folktales. The two most notable are the legend of “Saint Nicolas” and the winter solstice, “Deer Mother.”
Saint Nicholas was a bishop who helped the needy and gave gifts to young orphans. After his death, the legend of his gift-giving grew into the legendary character we know as Santa Claus. The jolly fellow with a long white beard, clad in red, who lives at the North Pole and delivers Christmas presents to children across the globe. Learn about Saint Nicolas and more in our post about Christmas Traditions.
The Legend of the Deer Mother:
Before the legend of Santa Claus began, people believed that the Deer Mother took flight on the longest, darkest night of the year (the winter solstice). She safely carries the sun’s life-giving light in her antlers and into the new year. And, wait for it, she draws the sleigh of the Sun Goddess behind her. (source) The Deer Mother is associated with the gifts of fertility, regeneration, and the sun’s rebirth. Her antlers are often depicted in ancient drawings and pictographs as the Tree of Life, carrying the sun, moon, and stars. After learning these ancient folktales, I understood why Rudolf had the brightest light in the sky!
Since early Neolithic times, the Deer Mother has guided us through the long winter nights. She is still revered as the “Life-Giving Mother” by many earth-based northern cultures. Today, northern people still depend on her for survival because the milk she carries sustains them during the cold winter months. So, let us not forget that the solstice is the time to remember the stories and legends of the Deer Mother. And the life-giving blessings she continues to bring us during the dark winter days—fertility, health, wealth, good fortune, love, and light.
The Spiritual Meaning of Winter Solstice:
The primary intention of most Alban Arthan or Yule traditions and winter solstice celebration ideas is to release the dark in favor of the light, literally and metaphorically. The spiritual meaning of the solstice is also about welcoming back the sun (light) as each new day grows longer, both within ourselves and outside. Because we are each a reflection of the universe surrounding us, a microcosm within the macrocosm. So, the winter solstice represents the soul’s seasonal “dark night.”
In other words, what occurs outside of ourselves in the macrocosm also occurs within us in the microcosm. Winter is the season of life in which Mother Earth and her children are forced to face the darkness to prepare for the sun’s return on the Spring Vernal Equinox. This is why so many spiritual and religious traditions see winter as a time of contemplation and rebirth.
On the Alban Arthan, please take a moment to spiral within to acknowledge your shadow self and the wisdom it shares with you. Let go of what no longer serves you by releasing it into the light. Then, spiral the light of your awareness back into the darkness to illuminate the shadows and bring light within. Several of the winter solstice rituals, traditions, and celebration ideas below are perfect for this purpose. Use them to step into the flow of what is, cast light upon the darkness, practice gratitude, release what is no longer needed, and allow acceptance and a state of presence to lead you back onto the path of your soul’s journey.
How to Celebrate Winter Solstice: 34 Winter Solstice Rituals and Celebration Ideas:
Ever asked, “How should I celebrate the winter solstice? Here’s a mix of modern ideas and traditional ways to celebrate the winter solstice. However, please remember that these winter solstice traditions and celebration ideas are merely suggestions of things to do on the solstice. This is not a mandatory list of winter solstice rituals that must be performed in celebration. Nor is it filled with solstice activities you must do or accomplish. We don’t do everything on this list of winter solstice celebration ideas, and you shouldn’t have to either.
Besides, it would be almost impossible to do everything on this list in a single day. But you can spread your celebrations throughout the winter if you desire. Or, create a few family winter solstice traditions and come back to this guide to try a new winter solstice activity each year. In other words, use the ideas below to create a winter solstice ritual or celebration tailored to you, your family, or your community in any way you desire. Happy Solstice! You may also enjoy our Summer Solstice Celebration Ideas.
1. Light Candles at Sunset:
Light a candle at sunset on the night of the winter solstice to welcome the return of the light. You can light a special candle, a central candle to represent the sun as a reflection of divine light, or light a candle for each person present. Sit quietly in meditation for a few minutes to reflect on the past year. As the candles burn, speak intentions or hopes for the coming months. Lighting candles on the longest night of the year symbolically invites the sun back and welcomes the return of longer, brighter days.
2. Decorate a Winter Solstice Tree:
Decorating a tree for the winter solstice is a popular tradition for many families during the winter season. In ancient times, winter solstice trees were decorated with candles, known as Yule tree lights, and adorned with ornaments symbolizing the sun, moon, and stars. Sound familiar? Decorate an indoor or outdoor Yule tree to celebrate the solstice for Yuletide or Christmastide!
The Christmas tree is just one of the many ancient traditions scholars believe were borrowed from early Pagan earth-based solstice rituals. In the past, evergreen trees called Yule Trees were brought into the home and decorated with symbols of the light. Because evergreen trees were considered eternal symbols of life, they were brought into the home and decorated with oranges, apples, candles, suns, and stars to symbolize life and new beginnings at the darkest time of the year.
Today, there are a few modern versions of a Yule tree: the outdoor winter solstice tree described below, or the decorated indoor evergreen counterparts most people commonly call Christmas trees (or a Hanukkah Bush) today. My daughter and I love to decorate an outdoor winter solstice tree to feed the animals when their food runs low. My family also enjoys decorating our home’s Christmas tree with homemade ornaments made from natural materials, just as they did in the past. Follow the instructions below to learn how to create an outdoor solstice tree to feed winter birds and other animals:
How to Make an Outdoor Winter Solstice Tree to Feed the Animals:
Making homemade bird feeders and decorating an outdoor winter solstice tree are fun winter solstice activities for kids from toddlers to teens. Even adults love making homemade ornaments for the birds and animals around their homes at Christmastime. Homemade bird feeder ornaments and popcorn garlands make excellent solstice tree decorations! Ready to decorate a living tree with food for the animals on the winter solstice, like the family in the Night Tree? Please read the book with your children, or learn how to decorate an outdoor edible Yule tree for the animals with Nicolette and her family at Wilder Child.
3. Visit Stonehenge, New Grange, Goseck Circle, or another Megalithic Monument:
Megalithic monuments are structures made of several large stones. The word “megalithic” originates from the Greek words “mega” (meaning “great”) and “lithos” (meaning “stone”). These giant stone structures were often erected directly over the power points along Earth’s meridian lines. These ancient megalithic monuments are oriented towards (or structured to showcase) the sunset or sunrise at the solstices and equinoxes, or seem to mark them somehow. Most scholars today believe they were built to mark the passage of time during the solar year and measure the “Procession of the Equinoxes.”
These monuments include Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, Newgrange in Ireland, and the Goseck Circle in Goseck, Germany. Many of these ancient structures were likely used as giant outdoor ceremonial locations to honor the passing of the seasons at the solstices and equinoxes. Stonehenge is aligned with a line of sight that points to the sunset of the winter solstice. Conversely, Newgrange aligns with the winter solstice sunrise. However, the Goseck circle is aligned with the sun at sunrise and sunset on the solstice. Learn more about these ancient megalithic monuments and how the winter solstice is celebrated within them below:
How to Watch the Sunset at Stonehenge on the Winter Solstice:
Celebrate as our ancestors have done for thousands of years inside the megaliths of Avebury Stone Circle. Witness the sun setting at Stonehenge on this auspicious day in the Celtic calendar. Traditionally, hundreds of visitors travel to Wiltshire, England, on the solstice to witness this magnificent event. Each year, in December, visitors from around the world gather at Stonehenge, Newgrange, and other prehistoric monuments to mark the winter solstice and watch the sunset among the stones.
Today, various organizations offer Stonehenge tours, including ones that coincide with the winter solstice. You can also observe the sunset over the stones at the Stonehenge monument from the comfort of your couch via the Winter Solstice Lifestream event. Observe Stonehenge live on the solstice via English Heritage’s social media channels. Learn more about Stonehenge and the stones at Solstice HERE–> English Heritage.
How to Watch the Sunrise at Newgrange on the Winter Solstice:
Newgrange is a large circular mound with an inner stone passageway and cruciform chamber that majestically overlooks the heart of the Boyne Valley in County Meath, Ireland. This auspicious Stone Age (Neolithic) monument was built by farmers approximately 5,200 years ago, around 3,200 BCE. Thus, it predates Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza and is one of Europe’s most significant Neolithic sites. The sunrise on the solstice illuminates the inner chambers of the passage tomb at Newgrange. Ancient people gathered to observe this phenomenon, and today, visitors still come each year to witness the sunrise.
The meticulous construction of the mound and its alignment with celestial events provide scholars today with invaluable insights into the ancient Stone Age peoples’ views on astronomy, architecture, spirituality, and knowledge. It is two hundred and seventy-nine feet (eighty-five meters) in diameter and forty-three feet (thirteen meters) high, encompassing an area of about one acre. The passageway measures sixty-two feet (nineteen meters) and leads into an inner chamber with three alcoves that align with the rising sun on the winter solstice.
The Winter Solstice Sunrise is live-streamed from within the ancient passage tomb at Newgrange, County Meath, Ireland. Access the Newgrange monument on the winter solstice via the Brú na Bóinne Visitor Center. For more details, please visit Heritage Ireland.
Watch the Sunrise or Sunset at Goseck Circle on the Winter Solstice:
The Goseck Circle is an ancient solar observatory in Germany aligned with the winter solstice. Originally built almost 7,000 years ago, it is Germany’s oldest known Stone Age structure. On the winter solstice, the sun rises in alignment with the southeast gate and sets behind the southwest gate of the Goseck Circle. The Goseck Circle also has smaller entrances aligned with the summer solstice. The circle consists of a concentric ditch two hundred and forty-six feet (seventy-five meters) across. Palisade rings surround this circular enclosure and were likely used for observing the sky, as the three gates are astronomically aligned. Thus, similar to Newgrange and Stonehenge, the Goseck Circle allows people to observe the sun’s path throughout the year.
It was discovered in 1991, when a season of drought brought this ancient circle back to life. It became visible in a wheat field as water became increasingly scarce. The Goseck Circle was then reconstructed with wooden stakes to form a fence around the original structure, and the site opened to the public in 2005. State archaeologists and the local association that cares for this ancient site continue to present it as a ritual or cult structure. The Goseck Circle is open to the public, and admission is free. A nearby information center offers details about the site’s history and ancient Neolithic culture.
4. Make Winter Solstice Lanterns:
A Winter Solstice Lantern symbolizes that our light can continue to shine even as the sun’s light and warmth wane. Winter solstice lantern crafts symbolize hope and light during the year’s longest night. Like the Yule Lantern, light emanates from our hearts, homes, and the fellowship of friends, family, and community. Traditionally, candles and Yule Lanterns are lit to symbolize the anticipated return of the sunlight at Yuletide, the shortest day of the year and the year’s longest darkest night. Here’s a list of gorgeous winter solstice lantern crafts you can make to light your way through the dark days of winter:
- Glowing Leaf Lanterns and Luminary Crafts | Rhythms of Play
- Heart Leaf Lanterns | Rhythms of Play
- Ice Lanterns | Kiwi Crate
- Winter Solstice Star Lantern | Wineberry Wood Press
- Recycled Winter Solstice Lanterns | Glazer Children’s Museum
- Hand-Painted Yule Candle Holders | Make solstice candle holders. A hand-painted sun would be fun!
- DIY Winter Solstice Lanterns | Fill paper bag lanterns
with sand and beeswax tealights or flameless tealight candles.
with 
and beeswax tealights
or 
Related: Lantern Walk Tradition
5. Host or Attend an Advent Spiral Walk:
A winter solstice, or Advent spiral walk, provides a lovely way to honor the light. An Advent spiral walk is a common feature at Waldorf winter festivals worldwide. Host or attend an Advent spiral walk this winter to participate in this sacred meditative ritual. We walk the spiral to honor the return of the light. Candles are lit along the spiral as a reflection of the sun’s light (macrocosm) and the light that burns brightly within us (microcosm), even during the year’s darkest days. And carry the knowledge that the light within and surrounding us is the same. We are that light, as within, so without. Like Christmas and many other winter holidays, Yule, Alban Arthan, and the winter solstice are celebrations of light. Have a Happy Solstice and Merry Yuletide!
6. Countdown to the Solstice:
My daughter and I enjoy Advent spiral walks so much that we’ve created a simple daily ritual you can do in December to spiral inward and celebrate the rebirth of light. Countdown to Yule, the winter solstice, Christmas Day, or another winter holiday with a homemade stone advent spiral. Making a stone advent spiral is a simple way to honor this sacred winter solstice tradition in your home, classroom, or community center.
7. Craft and Gift Orange Pomanders for Winter Solstice or Yule:
In many earth-based solstice traditions, the orange symbolizes the sun. Have you ever noticed that oranges look like bright, round suns on a cold and dark winter day? Could you imagine how an orange would appear to you in the dead of winter if you were a hunter-gatherer living off the land as our early ancestors did? What a bright gift of juicy sustenance and blessing it must have been!
Several varieties of oranges ripen in December, so oranges and orange crafts are made to symbolize the sun’s return in many winter solstice traditions. This is why orange pomanders are a traditional gift for the winter solstice, Yule, and Christmas. Craft orange pomanders to symbolize the sun and the return of the light on the winter solstice. Use the step-by-step instructions below to decorate oranges with cloves and make orange pomanders. When finished, decorate and freshen the home for the holidays with your homemade pomanders, and give them away as gifts to family, friends, and extended relatives to celebrate the solstice. Learn how to make an orange pomander for the solstice with this simple DIY tutorial:
How to Make Orange Pomanders:
Orange pomanders are easy to make. Follow the easy step-by-step instructions below:
- Use a nail or a toothpick to puncture the skin of an orange.
- Push a clove into the puncture to decorate the orange.
- Continue to puncture the orange and push cloves into the skin to decorate it with various swirls, lines, symbols, and creative designs, or place them randomly around the orange.
- Finally, tie a red or green ribbon around the orange to finish the pomander craft.
Give orange pomanders and other orange crafts to family and friends as holiday gifts to bring the light back into their lives during the late winter months. Making sun wheels with citrus fruits is another simple, sweet, and fragrant way to celebrate the sun’s return on the solstice. These sweet, fragrant nature crafts are seen as symbols of the sun and the returning light. They each symbolize nature, love, prosperity, and abundance, and are believed to represent “A sweet and happy life.”
8. Soak in a Traditional Japanese Yuzu Bath or Cleansing Wash on the Winter Solstice:
Enjoy a traditional cleansing citrus bath for this winter solstice tradition. In Japan, many people mark the changing seasons with a traditional Yuzu bath. This ritual bath is a hot cleansing wash infused with the citrusy aroma of yuzu. These citrus dips are believed to ward off evil and bring good fortune for the year ahead. Yuzu is a citrus plant native to East Asia that ripens to a bright yellow. This citrus fruit produces a fresh, citrusy aroma that helps relieve sore muscles, relax the senses, and ease the body and mind. Bathing with this Nomilin and vitamin C-rich fruit is also said to promote better circulation and help prevent colds and viruses.
If you cannot find Yuzu fruit, add a few drops of Yuzu, lemon, grapefruit, orange, or citrus essential oil to a hot bath, with or without Epsom salts, to soak in. Bathe slowly and intentionally while visualizing any dark or negative energy washing away. You might also enjoy making Scented Bath Salts for this purpose. (Scented bath salts are an excellent homemade gift for the Winter Solstice, Yule, or Christmas!) When you are finished with your cleansing soak, dry off and put on clean, dry clothing.
9. Set up a Winter Solstice Altar:
First, choose a space in the home to set up an altar to decorate for the winter solstice or Yule. Then, use your winter solstice altar to bless the new season and the coming year. A shelf, small table, dresser top, or nature table makes an excellent choice for displaying your collection. Adorn your altar with beeswax candles, fresh evergreen decorations like holly and fir boughs, citrus fruits, and seasonal crafts featuring star and sun motifs. A few of the other winter solstice crafts recommended in this post make excellent decorations for your Yule altar.
Reindeer candle holders, which symbolize the Deer Mother and the blessing of the life-giving light she continues to bring us during the dark days of winter, are equally lovely. Any other items that are meaningful to you and symbolize the light, the birth of the sun, seasonal cycles, or represent the longest night of the year are also good choices. (Learn more about building a Yule Altar HERE.) Finally, set intentions for the new year as you light the candles on the solstice to bring abundance and blessings into the Year Ahead! (See #18 for more information about setting intentions on the solstice for the New Year.)
10. Make Reindeer Cookies for the Deer Mother:
Bake and decorate reindeer cookies to honor the Deer Mother on the Winter Solstice. Offering cookies to nourish the Deer Mother on her journey into the New Year with her life-giving light is fun for kids, but please don’t feed real deer cookies. Instead, think of it like putting out cookies for Santa. He’s not really going to eat them any more than the deer mother will.
To make reindeer cookies to honor this solstice ritual, follow these simple instructions:
- First, use a reindeer cookie cutter and our cake mix sugar cookie recipe to make reindeer cookies. (Or, use one of your family’s favorite sugar cookie recipes to make reindeer cookies.)
- Next, set them by a window on the night of the winter solstice as a gift for the Deer Mother, and she will bestow you with the blessings of fertility, health, wealth, good fortune, and light.
11. Enjoy a Yule log:
A traditional Yule Log is a unique ceremonial log lit on the night of the winter solstice or Yule, hence the name. However, several other Yulelog alternatives are available today. Burning a yule log on the winter solstice is a ritual to help re-ignite the sun. Traditionally, and in some places still today, a Yule log fire is kept burning all night as a symbol of light on the year’s darkest night. The yule log represented the sun’s power. Burning it symbolized burning away misfortune and ensuring warmth, fertility, and protection for the coming year. In ancient times, yule logs were burned in fireplaces or at large bonfires to celebrate Yuletide or Christmastide and the return of the light. Traditionally, people kept a piece of the yule log to help ignite the next winter’s yule log.
The Yule Log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony.
source
How to Burn a Yule Log:
- Choose a large log or a symbolic wooden stick.
- Safely burn the log in a fireplace or fire pit. (Use these instructions to build a campfire and keep everyone safe if you choose to burn the yule log outdoors.)
- Save a small piece of charcoal (or portion of ash) as a symbol of protection and continuity, and to use to light the following year’s yule log.
- Learn how to burn a traditional Yule log to cleanse sins and decorate solstice tables this midwinter HERE.
- Or, try the alternative Yule log ideas below:
Yule Log Cake Recipes:
Yule Log cakes are commonly made by those who do not have a hearth or fireplace to burn one. Here are a few yule log cake recipes:
- Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake) | Delish
- Gluten-Free Yule Log | Christina’s Cucina
- Nutmeg Yule Log Cookies | Woman’s Day
Modern-Day Yule Log Alternatives:
- Yule Log Video: This modern Yule Log option is ideal for anyone who doesn’t have a fireplace to burn an actual Yule Log. Here is an example of a Yule Log Video you can use to enjoy a virtual fire.
- I realize these Yule Log options are not ideal, but they are much nicer than you think! Fire up a merry Yule Log HERE.
- Yule Log Stuffed Animal Plush Toy: Here’s a modern Yule Log alternative for children (and the young at heart). This cute Yule Log alternative is available for purchase at Target.
12. Share Myths and Stories about the Sun:
The December solstice is a great time of year to tell traditional myths and stories about the sun. For generations, myths, tales, and stories have been passed down and shared as an oral tradition by mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles, bards, druids, medicine people, teachers, shamans, spiritual leaders, and wise older individuals from cultures all over the world since the beginning of time.
To do this winter solstice activity, gather friends and family around the fire, or sit in candlelight. Once everyone is cozy with blankets, warm drinks, and simple snacks like popcorn, share stories you know about the sun, the theme of rebirth, or winter. Choose a myth about the sun or the changing seasons to share orally, or read from one of the winter solstice books recommended below aloud.
13. Read Books About the Winter Solstice:
Read winter solstice books with your kids to learn more about Yule and the cyclical nature of the seasons throughout The Wheel of the Year. I recently updated this excellent list of winter books for kids, available here: Winter Solstice Books.
14. Make Sun and Star Crafts and Ornaments:
The sun and stars are common symbols of light. Because they symbolize the return of the sun’s light. Sun and star crafts are the perfect decorations for Christmas and Winter Yule Trees. Use the fun star and sun craft ideas below for winter solstice crafts, such as these dried-orange-slice ornaments. Or any other fun sun or star ornaments on the solstice. You may also enjoy this list of DIY Christmas ornaments.
Sun and Star Ornament Ideas for the Yule, Winter Solstice, or Christmas tree:
- An angel holding a star.
- Wishing Star Ornaments (Great for making New Year’s wishes.)
- Christmas Tree Twig Ornaments with a wooden star on top (This post also links to more twig ornaments, including DIY twig star ornaments.)
- Walnut Shell Baby Jesus with a star rising above him.
- Make beaded snowflake ornaments with silver or gold faceted glass, or clear Swarovski Crystal beads that sparkle like the sun and stars.
- Invite children and adults to use paint pens to decorate wooden star ornaments or hang them on the tree without painting them for a simple, natural look!
- Dehydrated Orange Sun Wheel Ornaments by Rhythms of Play. (Photo below)
- How to Sew a Mini Felt Sun by Bugs and Fishes.
faceted glass, or clear Swarovski 
that sparkle like the sun and stars.
More Sun and Star Crafts for Yule:
Here are some simple sun crafts (that also make great homemade gift ideas) for kids and adults. Invite children to help you create any of these cute sun crafts, and then hand them out to friends, family, and neighbors as Solstice gifts!
15. Spend the Night by Candlelight:
Many people choose not to use electricity on the solstice and enjoy the darkest night of the year by candlelight alone. If you decide to try this winter solstice celebration activity, I recommend burning beeswax candles
in votives, candle holders, or lanterns
lit on the evening of the solstice.
What do beeswax candles symbolize?
A beeswax candle symbolizes light. When a beeswax candle is lit, it symbolizes that light and love are eternally present. Best of all, the smoke of a beeswax candle is much more pleasant and healthier for our lungs and bodies than paraffin wax. Because they also emit negative ions, which are being researched for their health benefits!
16. Share a Winter Solstice Feast:
In modern times, Thanksgiving and Christmas are often viewed as occasions for overindulgence in food and drink. In ancient times, pagans and ancient cultures across the globe overindulged in celebrating “the return of the light” and the food it would bring, even though their food supplies had become scarce. Feasting was a symbol of survival during the darkest part of the year. Across cultures, communal meals strengthened bonds and celebrated abundance even in times of scarcity. After all, gratitude brings abundance.
Invite friends and family over for a candlelight feast to celebrate the rebirth of the sun, just as they did in ancient times. Eat, drink, and be merry! Visit your farmer’s market to find locally grown and raised seasonal foods to prepare. Or invite guests to bring a homemade or traditional dish to share. Express gratitude before the meal, and eat together intentionally.
Serve warming seasonal foods such as root vegetables, grains, and soups. Include symbolic foods such as round foods to represent the sun, wholeness, and prosperity, and red food to represent vitality and the blood of life. Make the traditional winter solstice drink, wassail (see recipe below), to serve with your meal, or enjoy hot cocoa with marshmallows.
Candlelight Solstice Dinner Tip: If you plan to spend the night by candlelight, eat your solstice meal an hour or two before sundown, and make sure you have plenty of easy snacks ready to serve when bellies get hungry after dark. Washing dishes and preparing food can be challenging after sunset if you plan to keep the lights off.
17. Enjoy a Cup of Wassail:
Make the traditional winter solstice drink, Wassail (spiked or unspiked), to spread warmth throughout the body on the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Wassail is a beverage commonly made from a blend of apples and spices, served with or without alcohol. Many spices used to make Wassail — such as cinnamon, orange, nutmeg, ginger, and allspice — are believed to have magical associations with the sun and fire.
Wassail is a hot mulled cider traditionally made with apples and spiked with bourbon, brandy, wine, or ale with spices added to it–but you can also enjoy it without any alcohol included. It is a winter drink traditionally shared at Yule to invoke the sun and bring good cheer as we face the darkness and the long, cold winter ahead. Enjoy a glass of hot Wassail with your solstice feast as you sit by the Yule log fire and throughout the holiday season. Try the Wassail recipes below to make this traditional winter solstice brew.
Wassail Recipes for Yule:
- Winter Wassail Recipe (spiked or unspiked) | Raising Generation Nourished
- Here We Come A-Wassail-ing: a Yuletide Drink of Good Cheer | Witch Fire
18. Stay Up All Night to Welcome the Return of the Light:
Stay up all night during the winter solstice to welcome back the light. In ancient times, people stayed awake to ensure the sun would return. Staying awake was a defiance of darkness and a protection against evil or misfortune, which was believed to be strongest on the longest night. Today, many still stay awake on the longest night of the year to celebrate, hold reverence, and watch the light return.
To try this winter solstice activity, gather with friends after sunset, or plan a solo stakeout. Read or share stories, poetry, music, or myths until midnight or dawn. Alternatively, you can sit in quiet contemplation or alternate between each of these activities throughout the night. Avoid sleeping until at least midnight to symbolically “outlast” the darkness. After the solstice, each day will grow a little longer, and each night will get a little shorter until they are about equal on the spring equinox. Once the equinox has passed, the days get longer, and the nights continue to get shorter until the summer solstice.
19. Reflect, Release, and Renew: Transform Darkness into Light:
As mentioned above, the winter solstice is considered the seasonal “dark night of the soul” for Mother Earth and ourselves at the macrocosmic and microcosmic levels. Thus, spiritually, it is a time to turn inward and cast light upon the darkness within. The death of winter brings new life so that a new dawn can be born within the darkest night. Celebrate this new beginning by letting go of attachments and releasing anything that no longer serves you, such as negative thoughts, judgments, and limiting beliefs. Be present to what is so you can strive into the light with renewed purpose, and manifest your dreams.
Write Down Everything You Want to Let Go:
First, write down everything you want to release and let go of onto a single sheet of paper, or on several tiny scraps of paper. Continue to write down every hurt, every perceived injustice, and judgment against self or others, no matter how big or small they may seem. Let it all go. Get it all out. Can you hear Elsa singing? “Let it go, let it go, don’t hold it back anymore…”
Keep writing until you begin to feel a bit ‘lighter.’ Take a moment to honor the messages that the darkness shares with you, and allow this awareness to shed light upon the darkest parts of yourself. Find forgiveness for others and, even more importantly, yourself. Look for the lessons, and take a moment to be grateful for everything you have learned through the challenging moments of the year. Remember, without darkness, there would be no awareness of the light.
Release to Transform Darkness into Light:
When finished, throw the paper with everything you wrote down into the yule log fire, bonfire, fireplace, or burning bowl or cauldron, and let the flames transform the darkness into light. Fire is a symbol of transformation. The action of burning everything you want to release or let go of creates a conscious transition from old to new. If you’re hosting a winter solstice party, celebration, or gathering, invite your guests to join you in this transformational activity. Please use safety precautions and have a fire extinguisher standing nearby if you choose to do this winter solstice activity.
20. Set Intentions for the New Year:
After you release and let go of the darkness no longer serving you, it is time to write down your intentions. In other words, write what you want to invite or bring in. An intention is a thing, idea, habit, etc., that you want to manifest or make a part of your life in the New Year. Once you have written down your intentions, it’s time to create a plan to manifest them. Set specific goals and design an action plan to achieve them for optimal results. It’s also a good idea to ensure you create space to be present within the rhythm of your day and the New Year. Click the links to learn how. After you have written down a few goals and intentions, learn how to turn your intentions (or goals) into positive affirmations–and why!
21. Practice Yoga or Meditate:
The winter solstice is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. As such, it serves as a pause point or a natural moment for introspection before forward movement begins again. Meditate and practice yoga to bring light to the darkest day of the year. We are a reflection of the universe around us, and the winter solstice represents the seasonal “dark night of the soul.” Therefore, what occurs outside of us (in the macrocosm) must also occur within us (in the microcosm). In other words, the winter solstice is a time to celebrate the balance of light and darkness within and around us. Taking the time to practice yoga or meditate on the light within and acknowledging the shadow self can help bring the light of awareness into the darkness for the greater good.
22. Shine Your Light:
Shine bright! “On the shortest day and the longest night, keep your inner light shining bright.” (by Nell Regan Kartychok–creator and founder of Rhythms of Play.) Keep your light bright on the shortest day and the longest night to celebrate the sun’s rebirth and return on the winter solstice. Share your love and shine light upon everyone you share space with, cross paths with, or have contracts with. And once the solstice has passed, keep shining through all the days of the year ahead. It’s good for your soul and everyone you meet!
23. Watch the Sunrise:
Watch the sunrise to greet the sun and welcome back the light. Stay up all night or wake before dawn on the morning of the solstice. Go outdoors or look out a window facing east to watch the sunrise. Sit in reverence and watch silently as the sun rises. Write down your intentions or whisper positive affirmations in the light of the new day.
24. Decorate with Evergreens to Add Natural Festive Winter Decor to Your Home or Workplace:
Make solstice evergreen decorations. In ancient times, people brought fresh evergreen bows, holly
, mistletoe, or an entire fir tree
inside the house to decorate for the solstice. This ancient, earth-based winter solstice tradition is another ritual incorporated into many of today’s Christmas traditions. Evergreens are eternal symbols of life. These eternally green plants remind us that nature survives, even in darkness, and serve as a symbol of life enduring even through the hardest of winters.
Gather evergreen branches, pinecones, or holly. Then bring these green evergreen plants inside from the outdoors to decorate your home for Yuletide, just as they did in the old days. In case you’re wondering, evergreen boughs are branches from evergreen trees used to make holiday decorations. These classic winter decorations are still made to decorate for Christmas and celebrate the winter solstice (or Yule) and the promise of spring today. Craft homemade wreaths, garlands, centerpieces, and more with these beautiful eternal symbols of life.
Cut fresh holly to make a homemade holly berry wreath, and lay evergreen boughs above doorways and across mantles and banisters. It’s also fun to obtain a permit to cut down a Christmas tree, visit a Christmas tree farm to select one, or purchase a cut or fresh tree from a local lot. Another fun way to celebrate the solstice and decorate your home for winter is to create a winter solstice altar or a winter nature table. A nature table makes a great place to set up a Yule altar for the solstice. (Scroll up to #9 to learn more about building a solstice altar.)
25. Incorporate the Magical Colors of Yule into Your Solstice Celebrations:
Decorate with seasonal colors and burn candles in these traditional colors to celebrate the solstice. White, yellow (beeswax), gold, silver, green, and red candles are traditionally burned on the winter solstice, Yule, and Christmas. In other words, the traditional seasonal Christmas colors still used today — red, green, white, silver, and gold — are rooted in the age-old Pagan customs, rituals, and traditions. Learn more about the magical colors of winter and how to incorporate these traditional color customs into your Yule celebrations on Learn Religions.
26. Enjoy Winter Arts, Crafts, and Activities:
Creating winter arts, crafts, and activities is a great way to welcome the season. Some of our favorite winter crafts and winter art ideas are below!
- Make paper snowflakes and window stars to decorate your windows.
- Create Christmas art.
- Craft homemade ornaments.
- Paint a colorful Winter Tree Silhouette.
- Create other types of gorgeous Winter Art.
- Craft Rhinestone Pinecones.
- Make Acorn Marble Ornaments.
- Craft Beaded Snowflakes.
- Make Snowpeople Ornaments and figurines.
- Create a Four-Seasons Handprint Tree — This four-seasons handprint tree (pictured below) is an excellent activity for children to explore seasonal changes. Feel free to do all seasons or just a winter tree.
- For more ideas, check out our Winter Bucket List of fun winter activities for kids!
27. Practice Gratitude:
Gratitude brings abundance. Just because Thanksgiving has passed, it does not mean the time to give thanks has passed. Use gratitude prompts and the “I am Grateful” Printable to start gratitude journaling. Holding gratitude in our hearts during the winter months can ultimately help us live the life of our dreams. “When we are thankful for what we have, we are given more of what we are grateful for and can find greater happiness in life.” Try gratitude activities with your kids and family to stay “in gratitude” throughout the long winter nights.
28. Radiate Peace and Share Love:
Radiate peace and share love with anyone you meet on the solstice and into the New Year. Peaceful people create a peaceful world. Be the change you wish to see and radiate that state of being to the world around you. Pass the peace, please! Every thought, word, and smile matters. Please pass it on!
29. Choose a Word for the New Year:
Samhain marks the beginning of the New Year in the Celtic Tradition, while January 1st (the start of the year on the Gregorian Calendar) is right around the corner. So, another fun idea for the winter solstice is to choose a word for the new year. Feel free to browse through these inspirational word ideas and choose a motivational “word” for 2026. After I choose my word for the year ahead, I like to spend the winter holiday season creating intentions and goals for the new year to help manifest my dreams. Feel free to join me in this activity!
30. Set Goals and Make a Plan to Accomplish Them:
Because they divide the year into four equal 90-day (ish) quarters, the equinoxes and solstices (or the cross-quarter days) serve as a great reminder that it’s time to do a goal review and set new goals when needed. Have a look at either of the resources below to get started:
- How to Set SMART Goals
- Create a life you LOVE with our Dream Life Tool Kit
31. Try a New Winter Activity:
The winter solstice is a great time of year to let go of the past and start anew. Follow the steps below to get started:
- Make a list of things you’d like to try or do.
- Limit your list to winter activities, such as trying a new art project, sewing a softie, or giving snowshoeing a go!
- Make a plan to start one new thing this winter.
a go!Related: How to Change Your Life with the Power of Habit
32. Establish a New Daily Rhythm or Routine:
Establish a daily routine or adjust your current one to align with the seasonal needs of your household, helping to keep everything in order and running smoothly into the new year. Both children and adults thrive when regular household rhythms are a part of their lives.
Related: 10 Reasons to Make Rhythm a Habit in the Home
33. Get Outside and Connect:
Get outside and connect with what matters on the solstice. Spending time outdoors can help bring us back into rhythm with the natural world during the darkest time of the year. Getting outside can also help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and improve overall well-being. Go for a walk, enjoy a sit spot in nature, meditate, or search for the signs of winter with the instructions below. For more fun outdoor activity ideas, please visit this list of nature activities. It includes several outdoor activities for kids and adults to enjoy!
34. Search for signs of Winter!
Get outside to search for the first signs of winter in the days leading up to and following the winter solstice. This winter activity is an excellent educational nature scavenger hunt idea for kids and adults. Or, if you have toddlers and preschoolers at home, this winter scavenger hunt has pictures to make it easier for young children to participate.
2025 Winter Solstice Activities and Celebration Ideas: Fun Ways to Celebrate the Changing Seasons
Remember, this is NOT a must-do list or a should-do list, but a fun-do list. Try any of the winter solstice activity ideas on the list above, or take a moment to teach children a bit about the solstice and the changing seasons. But only if you’d like to, not because you feel you must.
The solstice is a time to celebrate the light and enjoy rituals that inspire peace and joy. Choose the winter solstice activities you or your loved ones will enjoy, if any, and ditch the rest. Check out our Winter Bucket List for more fun seasonal arts and crafts.
You may also enjoy Meaningful Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday. In it, we continue exploring the influence of these ancient winter solstice rituals on how people around the globe celebrate Christmas today. Happy Yule!
Learn more about Nell Regan Kartychok, author of these winter solstice celebration ideas HERE, and Rhythms of Play HERE!
If you liked these Winter Solstice 2025 Ideas, you might also enjoy learning about the other Quarter Day and Cross Quarter Day Festivals in The Wheel of the Year:
If you’re curious about the Wheel of the Year, the list below shares the solar quarter-day and lunar cross-quarter-day or midpoint festivals on the Celtic Calendar. It begins with Samhain because it is considered the New Year of this ancient Celtic Calendar.
- Samhain -Hallows, Hallows Eve, or Halloween
- Yule – Winter Solstice
- Imbolc – Candlemas
- Ostara – Spring Vernal Equinox
- Beltaine – May Eve or May Day
- Litha – Summer Solstice
- Lughnasadh – Lammas
- Mabon – Fall Autumnal Equinox
Love this! Sharing!
Thank you! So glad you like it 🙂
Are you a pagan blogger? I have been looking so hard to find others!! Love these, such great suggestions! I was writing a pretty similar post earlier today lol. All about the Winter Solstice, you have some great ideas on here.
I’m so glad you found this post useful! My family is filled with nature-loving outdoor types that choose to celebrate the solstice. It’s also a great way to teach my daughter about the cyclical interrelationship of all things. Blessings to you and your family!
I love this! As a a mum to an almost three year old, I was wondering how to capture the true spirit & wonder of the season that I love so much without the commercialized aspects. Before now, I didn’t have to consider it since my daughter was too little to notice that we only hung snowflakes in the window and didn’t have a Christmas tree. I love the idea of the outdoor Yule tree for the animals. I didn’t want her to feel like she was missing out as the holidays approached. Thank you for sharing!
Yuletide greetings Jenn,
I am so glad that you like this post about the winter solstice and fun ways to celebrate the magic of this glorious season. Honoring the seasonal changes that occur throughout the year is one of my family’s favorite ways to keep the magic alive in our home. We too have tried to stay away from the commercialized aspects of the season, and we never feel like we are missing out on a single thing! Happy solstice to you and yours. I hope you enjoy decorating an outdoor yule tree for your animal friends–we always do!
Nice post. I like the ideas for celebrating as well as the science. You might consider rewording the opening paragraph which states that the solstice occurs when we are “furthest from the sun’s light”. The winter solstice occurs about two weeks from when we are at perihelion – out closest distant to the sun.
Thank you, Hugh! You are absolutely correct and I have edited my error. Thank you so much for pointing it out so that I could fix it. Happy winter solstice!!
Love these ideas.
Thanks, Ann! I always appreciate hearing that my ideas are useful. Have a Happy Winter Solstice!
So beautiful
Thanks Caron! So glad you enjoyed our Winter Solstice article 🙂
Loved your ideas. Practical, lighthearted and doable. We are having a party tonight and I will use your tree painting idea and try to get all the people to participate. Thank you for for this sunny page.
Thank you, Rox! So glad you liked this page and found it full of light and usefulness. Happy Solstice!
Looking forward to trying some of these amazing ways to celebrate the winter solstice. Thank you for all the interesting information about the winter solstice.
You’re very welcome, Alexander! I hope you enjoy celebrating the winter solstice!
At#6, the second “day” should be changed to night:
After the solstice, each day will grow a little longer, and each day will get a little shorter until they are about equal on the spring equinox
Yes, you are correct! Thank you for catching that typo… it has been corrected. 🙂
Really great article! Love all your ideas.
Thank you, Valerie-Anne! I appreciate your vote of approval. May your winter solstice celebration be filled with light. Happy Yule!
Thank you Nell for such a great site. I like to share it with as many people I can. It explains many traditions that are done today, but many don’t know why or where they came from.
Thank you, Riverfurm. I have been curious all my life about the reasons we do the things we do and why. Putting this article about winter solstice traditions together was eye-opening for me; it helped me shed light into the darkness and understand things in a new way. I’m glad that it can do the same for others. Blessings to you!
Just did this in school, really cool keep it up
Hi Hunter! I’m so glad that you did something, or learned something about the winter solstice in school. Happy New Year!
ty so much. very helpful!
You’re very welcome, Karen. So glad you found this article about winter solstice traditions and celebration ideas helpful. 🙂
Thanks so much for all these lovely ideas & info! My beloved husband and I are visiting with the daughter who I gave up for adoption 60 years ago (we were reunited more than 30 years ago), and it saddens me to see how her life is shadowed by insecurity & self-doubt, despite having a loving husband, a good life, 3 handsome, healthy grown sons and oodles of creative energy. I’m going to craft a Solstice ritual for us, and maybe she can “burn away” some of that negativity and be ready for the Christmas season and the New Year with new life. I gave her life once, and gave her away so that she could be raised by people who needed her, but I have regrets that I must release, myself. Thanks for the creative guidance. Blessed be!
Hello Susan, I am so glad that you found the information about the Winter Solstice, and the celebration ideas suggested helpful. I am so glad that you will be sharing some of these Winter Solstice rituals with your daughter. Wishing you love, light, and a blessed holiday!