How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
Happy winter solstice everyone! Today marks the official start of astronomical winter and the shortest day of the year. As the sun travels its shortest path in the sky through the Northern hemisphere, we’ll experience just under 9 hours of daylight here in Maine, with the sun setting just before 4pm. That’s far better than in Nome, Alaska where the sun will grace the skies for just under 4 hours! These dark, cold winter days can feel relentlessly dismal, but at Nature Links we focused on the winter solstice as a cause for celebration. In our most recent class on the solstice, we learned about the science behind the winter solstice and explored winter solstice celebrations around the world. We then came up with our own unique ideas for how this special day could receive the attention it truly deserves. Here are some ways you may choose to celebrate the solstice this year…
Rest and Reflect- Among the Cree, a tribe of Indigenous people native to what is now Canada, the winter solstice marks a time of rest and reflection. Animals and plants are thought of as having a time to rest their bodies and humans may enjoy time replenish their spirits and dream. Cree people look to the stars on the solstice, especially the constellation we know as Pleiades or “the seven sisters”. Known as Pakone Kisik in Cree, this constellation is known as the hole in the sky from where we all originated. While you may choose to look up at the stars and reflect on human existence tonight, you may simply decide to reflect on the past and appreciate the people and experiences that have brought you to where you are today.
Build a fire or light a candle- For six months, the sun has been traveling farther and farther south in the sky, giving us less and less light each evening. But the winter solstice marks the return of the sun and longer days to come, which is truly a thing to celebrate! Countless winter solstice rituals involve fire to welcome in the light. Scandinavian people celebrated St. Lucia’s Day by lighting bonfires to ward off evil spirits and the pagan Yule ritual involves lighting an altar of candles. My family plans to eat dinner by candlelight tonight. We’ll turn off our lights (and our devices!) to celebrate this year’s solstice.
Take care of yourself- In Japan, many choose to celebrate the evening of the winter solstice by taking a hot bath accompanied by yuzu fruit. This sour citrus is known for its ability to fight colds and improve circulation. The yuzu fruit is even known for bringing good fortune for the year ahead and warding off evil spirits. Japanese people toss whole fruits into hot springs or public baths and enjoy the physical and spiritual benefits. Maybe you’ll choose to treat yourself to a hot bath or a just a soothing cup of tea tonight.
Celebrate what brings you light- Winter can be tough. At Nature Links, we’ve been reflecting on how the resurgence of COVID and the cold weather have made things especially disheartening for participants lately. But the darkest day of the year can be an opportunity to celebrate the light within all of us. In our class we worked collaboratively on a sun spiral. The spiral on the inside represents the return to light and the constant changing of the seasons. All things change and evolve—an important thing to remember during these times! On the outside, each ray is labeled with something that brings light and joy to our participants. From pancakes to laughter to the ocean and of course friends and family, we have a lot to celebrate.
Let us know how you plan to celebrate the winter solstice!
Our collaborative sun spiral filled with things that bring Nature Links participants light and joy
