How To Celebrate The Winter Solstice
What is the winter solstice?
Winter solstice is on or around 12/21, a time when the day is its shortest when concerning daylight. This is when one of the Earth’s poles is farthest away from the sun. At this time, we usher in the beginning of Winter. A time for a pause, inner reflection, rest, and creating plans for the new season. This is a turning point during the year, a time of rebirth, as this marks the start of a new solar year. This event is widely celebrated across the globe in many different ways.
Celebrate Solstice Around The World
Krampus anyone? Well, if you want to scare that pants off some little tikes, then head over to Austria, where they celebrate the Winter solstice. Krampus is designed to be the opposite of Santa and does the bidding when it comes to punishing naughty little girls and boys. Head to Austria if you want to participate in their many festivals.
Now Japan is where it’s at. To celebrate the Winter solstice, they like to take fruit baths, yuzu citrus fruit, to be exact. This is thought to help ward off the common cold. Even their zoo animals join in on the fun some years.
Travel to Korea if you like porridge. They like to cook red bean porridge both to eat and to spread around the house; this is believed to ward off any evil spirits.
One of the most famous and well-known celebrations happens at Stonehenge, not just during the winter solstice but also during the summer solstice. Lots of singing, dancing, yoga, and loving energy are done during the cover of the night as they are awaiting the first rays of sunrise. There is a lot of history, and believe that Stonehenge was a place of worship for thousands of years, so this is a hugely popular spot to celebrate the solstice.
This is the first year I will be celebrating the Winter Solstice. I am so appreciative of where my spiritual journey has brought me and how much I have learned along the way. Knowing that you have a way to communicate and honor the universal energy that is all around us helps to keep me grounded and know that everything has a path and what is meant to be will be.
How Can You Celebrate The Winter Solstice
Here are a few things we will be doing this year:
Pinecone manifestation – I saw this floating around this year and absolutely loved the idea. Go out and gather a pinecone. Then on small pieces of paper, write a quick one or two-word intention or something you want to manifest for the new year. Roll the pieces of paper up, insert them into the pinecone, and then burn them the night of the Winter solstice.
Create a fest of Earth’s offerings – use food that is grown close to Mother Earth: nuts, berries, potatoes, and meat. Think of creating a hearty meal.
Burning a Yule log – Unfortunately, we don’t have a fireplace inside, so when we burn our pinecones, we will use that as our time. You’re supposed to keep it lit all night, but you gotta work with what you have!
Meditation – take time to sit with yourself. Think about the year past and everything that was accomplished and possibly not. Then take time to visualize what your next year will look like. What do you want to bring in? What do you need to let go of? What is no longer serving you in your journey? After this meditation, it’s a great time to create your pinecone offering. Your mind is open and clear. Things that you genuinely need will appear clear and strong.
I hope each one of you takes a few moments to reflect on this year and be thankful for what you have overcome and what was not meant to be. I hope the days ahead of increasing light bring in the loving light and energy you need and are longing for.
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Happy Solstice!
Wishing you love, light and inner peace babes ✌🌈✨💜
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19 Comments
Sydney Delong-Eat Simply Sweet
I like the idea of the pinecone manifistation! It is really cool how places all over the world celebrate the Winter Solstice!
Holly B
Amazing ideas to celebrate my favorite time of the year! Thank you for sharing your insight!
Suzan | It’s My Sustainable Life
I celebrate the “hibernal solstice” aka when the “sun stands still” every year. Typically with a ceremonial fire outside with a few fun activity thrown in. It’s such a magical day, celebrating the light and the sun. So happy to hear you will be enjoying this auspicious day as well!
Debbie
And so Winter really begins!!
lisa manderino
I have never celebrated the winter solsitace before but I like how all of these countries celebrate! Make me want to do something!
Roselyn Franke
Enjoyed your article, especially the ways other cultures celebrate today – so interesting! I look forward to this evening when I can view the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter!
While some believe this may be the Bethlehem Star, while many Christians believe the star was a miraculous sign God used to guide the Wise Men to the Manger. Regardless, it’s God’s creation and will be exciting to see.
Keirsten
I love this. I just heard on the radio today that tonight will be what is known as a Christmas Star, something we have only experienced 800 years ago. It’s where Jupiter & Saturn align in the winter solstice sky. I’m hoping it’s not too overcast so I can try & catch a glimpse.
Happy Solstice <3
Alexis Farmer
I’m a big fan of the Krampus! Haha. I definitely want to celebrate the Wimter Solstice next year,
Barbara
Thank you for sharing your ideas!
Ayesha Siddiqui
What a wonderful time of year to celebrate! It’s always nice to learn about difference celebrations from around the world.
Tiffany
I love the Pinecone celebration! It is amazing how many different ways there are to celebrate 🙂
Kendra
Wow! What great traditions and celebrations for the Winter Solstice! I have never celebrated before last night, but I got invited to a Zoom call Winter Solstice Celebration last night with some amazing ladies and we had a wonderful conversation together about letting go of what didn’t serve us this past year and then setting intentions for the upcoming year. It was beautiful to have a supportive conversation with 10 amazing women to send some positivity out to the universe!
Lisa, Casey, Barrett Dog
Excellent ideas! Thank you for sharing your insights!
Chelsea
Great ideas! We celebrated with a fire in our fire pit and stargazing at the Christmas star! Such a rare sight to see. It was a wonderful evening.
Sabrina DeWalt
I know it was coincidental, but the grand conjunction coinciding with the solstice made it pure magic this year.
Marianne
We have never really celebrated the winter solstice. I am just happy knowing the days are getting longer. The cold I can deal with (I’m Canadian after all!), but the amount of darkness is hard.
Melissa Jones
Good info! I’ve not heard much about this!
Cindy Moore
Wouldn’t it be magical to be at Stonehenge on the Winter Solstice?? I’d love that. I also love the pinecone idea. I’ll tuck that idea away until next year!
Danielle Ardizzone
I never thought to celebrate the winter solstice before, but it’s such a great idea! And the cheat sheet is gorgeous.