Six Activities to Honor the Winter Solstice
What Is the Winter Solstice?
The Winter Solstice marks the exact moment when one half of the Earth tilts farthest away from the sun, creating the longest night and shortest day of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it signifies the first day of winter, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the beginning of summer.
Throughout history, cultures around the world have honored this sacred day as a celebration of light returning after darkness. Ancient civilizations—from the Celts and Norse to the Chinese and Indigenous peoples—recognized it as a time for renewal, gratitude, and hope.
✨ If you’d like to explore its historical roots, the History Channel has an excellent overview of Winter Solstice traditions across cultures.
What Does the Winter Solstice Teach Us Spiritually?
At its core, the Winter Solstice is a time of stillness, reflection, and rebirth. On this darkest day of the year, we are invited to slow down, go inward, and honor the wisdom that lives in the quiet.
Spiritually, the solstice reminds us that:
Darkness is not something to fear—it’s fertile ground for healing and transformation.
The light we seek always returns, both in nature and within ourselves.
When we align with the natural cycles of the Earth, we deepen our intuition and connection to our inner truth.
Even if you’ve never celebrated the Winter Solstice before, this season offers a beautiful opportunity to reconnect with nature’s rhythms and your own inner light.
🔥 Six Simple Winter Solstice Activities to Nourish Your Spirit
These Winter Solstice rituals and activities invite warmth, reflection, and joy into your home. You can do one or weave them together into a day of intentional celebration.
1. 🕯️ Prepare Your Home with Yule-Time Symbols
Honor the season by decorating your space with traditional solstice symbols such as candles, pine, holly, mistletoe, and rosemary.
✨ Tip: Christmas tree lots often give away pine scraps for free, and many stores sell small rosemary trees near solstice time.
You might:
Create spiral patterns to symbolize the journey inward.
Decorate a Yule log or wreath.
Adorn your home with natural elements that feel beautiful, cozy, and intentional.
2. 🌅 Witness the Sunrise
Welcome the return of the light by watching the sunrise on Solstice morning. Bundle up with a mug of hot cocoa or solstice tea and step outside to greet the day.
Not a morning person or dislike the cold? You can livestream the Stonehenge sunrise celebration instead—an ancient and powerful tradition honoring the sun’s rebirth.
3. 🎶 Listen to Winter Solstice-Inspired Music
Music helps us connect emotionally to the energy of the season. Try creating a Winter Solstice playlist with songs that evoke peace and renewal.
Some favorites:
The Longest Night by The Furrow Collective
A Midwinter Night’s Dream by Loreena McKennitt
A Winter’s Solstice V by Windham Hill Artists
4. 🍊 Create Orange and Clove Pomanders
Symbolizing the sun and warmth, orange and clove pomanders make a beautiful sensory craft for adults and children alike.
To make them:
Use a toothpick to pre-punch small holes in an orange peel.
Insert whole cloves into the holes to create a pattern.
Tie a ribbon around your finished pomander and hang it near a window or fireplace.
Not only do they smell divine, but they also represent light, life, and abundance returning to the Earth.
5. 🌌 Enjoy a Day of Darkness
Disconnect from screens and artificial light for a day. Spend the Solstice in candlelight and firelight, following the natural rhythm of darkness and stillness.
Prepare a comforting soup or stew ahead of time, and spend the day reading by the fire, playing music, journaling, or simply resting.
This practice mirrors nature’s quiet pause—a powerful act of rest and renewal for your nervous system.
6. 🔥 Create a Winter Solstice Release & Renewal Ritual
The Solstice is a potent time to release the old and welcome the new. Here’s how to create a simple ritual:
Set a sacred space with candles, pine, and other natural elements.
Reflect on what you wish to release from the past year—write it down.
Write down your intentions for the year ahead.
When you’re ready, safely burn both papers in the fire as a symbolic act of transformation.
Celebrate with food, music, and movement to welcome the returning sun. 🌞
As light grows stronger each day, let it remind you of your own resilience and renewal.
