Here in the Northern Hemisphere we have arrived at the time of year where the days are cold and the nights are freezing. The sunlight is limited and one’s energy can feel depleted. A feeling of transition is present as we countdown the days till the shortest day of the year…
It’s true, Winter Solstice is upon us!
“Maybe you have to know the darkness to appreciate the light.” Madeleine L’Engle
What is Winter Solstice?
Many of us know that the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, but why is that? Let’s get science-y about this!
According to this informative article from National Geographic Kids https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/article/winter-solstice :
“The winter solstice marks the exact moment when half of Earth is tilted the farthest away from the sun. It usually happens on December 21 or 22, at the exact same second around the world. Because less sunlight reaches Earth, the winter solstice is also the day of the year with the least amount of daytime, known as the shortest day of the year.”
The shortest day of the year also signifies the return of the sun in the form of longer days. Ancient people have been celebrating this return, or rebirth, of the sun for centuries. Some examples of ancient solstice sites include:
- Stonehenge in the UK
- Newgrange in Ireland
- Nazca Lines in Peru
- Karnak Temple in ancient Egypt
- Chichen Itza in Mexico and
- Chaco Canyon in the US
The Origins of the Celebration of Winter Solstice
There is evidence that the Winter Solstice was recognized as a significant annual event as far back as the Neolithic period. This can be seen with the aforementioned ancient sites built across the world that are associated with the solstices and equinoxes. The return of the sun was revered across the world.
Additionally, winter solstice was a significant event for our ancient ancestors because it helped them mark the agricultural seasons and know when to slaughter the livestock. Livestock were sacrificed at this time of year because many ancient cultures could not feed them during the harsh winters. The meat would be fed to the villagers along with root vegetables and fermented beverages – much to celebrate indeed!
Many ancient cultures across the globe celebrated the winter solstice with their own unique (and sometimes similar) traditions and festivals. The Celtic, Norse, Roman, Germanic, Inuit, Aztec and Mayan people all celebrate(d) this special day where the sun is reborn.
What is Yule?
This article will mention the word Yule almost as much as an old-timey Christmas song! But what exactly does Yule mean? I got you covered, weary winter reader!
Yule is the ancient Pagan winter festival that was incorporated by Christians when creating their own winter holiday, Christmas. While Christmas is one (or two) days, Yule is a celebration of twelve days spanning from the eve of Winter Solstice (referred to as Mother’s Night) to the New Year.
There are a myriad of wonderful traditions celebrated on all 12 days of Yule, but for this article we will focus on simple practices to celebrate the shortest day of the year, Winter Solstice. Let’s get into it!
Take a Mindful Winter Walk
Most of us know that walking is a wonderful way to improve your mood and health, but did you know you can celebrate Winter Solstice this way as well?
On this shortest day of the year take a thoughtful walk some place tranquil. You can think about all of the changes you have been through so far in the year, and what intentions you hold for the winter season ahead.
Notice the living beings around you- the animals (that aren’t hibernating), the trees, and the plants. Think about what winter means to them, and note how they look in their winter form so you can compare later when spring arrives.
Bring a notebook to jot down ideas or drawings. You can also bring a friend to discuss your musings with. The main idea is to be slow and mindful – remember, winter is a time for being restful!
Burn a Yule Log
Whether you do this next activity inside or outside, burning a yule log makes for a wonderful way to celebrate Winter Solstice.
Burning a yule log is a tradition originating from pre-Christian Europe (in particular Celtic, Slavic, Baltic and Germanic pagan religions). The yule log is a log selected especially to be used during the winter season. The log would be burnt a bit each night during the 12 days of Yule. The ashes from this log were thought to be extra special and would be used in planting soil, and even stored away for next Yule’s celebration!
Note: Some families traditionally used whole trees as their yule log. We sure don’t have any trees to spare for that kind of a yule log here in Baja!
To create your own yule log, pick out a special log to make a fire with. Traditionally the largest log is chosen to be the Yule log, but you can make up your own rules! The Outdoor Apothecary has a wonderful step by step blog post on How to Make a Seasonally Decorated Yule Log.
Make a Seasonal Feast
Speaking of yule logs, did you know you can make a dish celebrating the winter solstice called a Yule Log? Also referred to as Buche de Noel, this seasonal dessert is a wonderful addition to any winter solstice feast!
Some other winter solstice-y dishes can involve hearty meat, local nuts and seasonally grown veggies. Beef stew, acorn bread, squash soup, Shepard’s pie, and roasted brussels sprouts are all delicious options for a yule time feast. Don’t forget the drinks! Wassail punch is a classic warm drink that uses delicious winter fruits.
Light Candles
For many of our ancient ancestors, the arrival of the first day of winter signified the rebirth of the sun. As the days become longer again, the sun is reborn. What better way to represent this rebirth of the sun than with the light of a candle.
Furthermore, candles are known to provide warmth, vision and energy to any area they’re in. Winter is the perfect season to incorporate all of these much needed attributes to daily life.
Note: your candles do not need to be fancy if you are strapped for cash! Dollar tree/Waldo’s (the Dollar Tree of Mexico is called Waldo’s) carries perfectly useful candles at an affordable price.
Decorate a Yule Tree
Yule trees are the OG Christmas trees! Although Germanic people popularized the modern idea of the Christmas tree, the origins of the yule tree also come from the ancient druids (Celts) and the Norse people. The Celts, Norse and Germanic people considered evergreen trees (such as holly, ivy and fir) to be sacred because of their ability to stay alive and green year after year.
You can continue this tradition of honoring evergreen trees by decorating your own yule tree at home. Many people like to buy or cut down their own evergreen tree (pine or fir), but in our family we use unusual trees for our yule tree. We take a family hike and try to find a fallen tree to use as a yule tree. Most of the time it ends up being a manzanita as we live in a chaparral ecosystem, but one year we used a potted cactus we had on our porch!
As far as decorations, natural is best. Since winter solstice is a day to honor the natural rhythms and transitions of the earth, it is fitting to decorate with natural products. You can decorate with:
- strings of popcorn and cranberries
- acorns
- bells
- clay ornaments
- pinecones
- dried orange slices
- paper snowflakes
- electric lights (not natural, but please don’t put candles on your tree 0:)
Observe the Sun Placement and Motion
This practice can be as simple or hard as you make it. If you happen to know someone with a telescope that has the special filter to block the sun, then check it out (and report back to me, because I don’t have those kinds of friends).
If you don’t have access to a telescope then you can simply notice the sun going across the sky a few weeks leading up to the solstice (or after). Watch the sun rise and set. Which direction is it gradually moving towards in both the sunrise and sunset? You can time the sunset as well to see that the winter solstice really is the shortest day of the year.
Having this simple, yet powerful insight, helps me feel connected to our ancestors who tracked the solstices and equinoxes without any technology. Sun placement and motion knowledge will help with your gardening too, as you can know which part of your garden stays the sunniest!
Note: Don’t stare at the sun directly, just like Mama said!
Make a Winter Mandala
Mandalas are geometric figures that represent the universe (in Hinduism/Buddhism). Although mandalas are most often seen in drawn form, there has been a rising trend of making them out of nature’s products. Popular nature mandalas include using flower petals, tree leaves, shells and twigs.
You make a mandala by creating a pattern that is usually in the shape of a spiral or circle. I like the start in the middle and add on using stars, triangles and diamonds to create a geometric shape. There are no set rules to making mandalas – think of this as a freeing art project to ease and please soul!
Even though you may live somewhere where there is not much in bloom in the natural world, you can still make a winter nature mandala to honor the winter solstice! Some lovely objects to use include:
- pinecones
- winter berries (holly berry, cranberry, toyon berry, etc.)
- bird feathers
- shells
- twigs
- evergreen leaves
- rocks
- moss
- dried leaves
The best part is that you can make nature mandalas year round! I plan to honor both solstices and equinoxes this year with beautiful handmade nature mandalas.
There you have it – seven simple practices to celebrate the winter solstice. Well, perhaps cooking a feast isn’t the simplest feat, but with friends, family or neighbors it could be easier. Cheers to longer days and more light in our lives!
