Winter Solstice

This Monday morning, December 21 (at 5:02 AM EST), is Winter Solstice in the Northern hemisphere (and Summer Solstice in the Southern hemisphere). Winter solstice is the day with the least amount of daylight and the longest night of the year. It's the turning point before the sun's strength builds again and days grow longer. Winter solstice can be a good time to rest and reflect, knowing that brighter days are ahead (hopefully in so many ways in 2021!).

​

For a more scientific explanation of winter solstice, this might help: Our earth's changing seasons are dictated by the planet's tilt in relation to the sun. The planet's axis is tilted at a 23.5-degree angle and always points in the same direction. As the planet races around the sun, the north pole points toward or away from the sun at different times of the year. Every year around December 21-22, the north pole is most tilted away from the sun and there's continuous darkness at the north pole. This is winter solstice.

​

In ancient times, people became afraid when the winter days had less sunlight than the day before. As the days continued to get shorter and the nights longer, they feared that eventually there would be no daylight left. Once these ancient civilizations began measuring the hours of daylight through the passing of the year, they realized that after the winter solstice, the seasons’ rhythm shifted once more, and the sun made its return. Winter solstice traditions were created to celebrate the “birth of the sun."

​
Below are some ways for you to celebrate winter solstice. While it might sound hokey to celebrate winter solstice, I have found that doing so grounds me and connects me with nature's seasonal cycles. It might be worth a try. You don't have to tell anyone about your solstice celebration.

​

Watch the Stonehenge 2020 live stream event. In a more normal year, Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England, would get visited on the day of solstice by thousands of people who watch the sunrise over the stones. This year, the event is canceled. But even better, you'll be able to watch it for free via English Heritage social media channels. For those of us in the US, it requires getting up in the middle of the night though. Here is the link to the free live-stream.

​

Spend the evening by candlelight. You could choose not to use electricity this Sunday night and, instead, enjoy the longest night of the year by candlelight. Or simply light a candle for a little while and spend a few moments reflecting on the past year and setting intentions for the new one. Please remember to never leave a lit candle unattended; you wouldn't want to accidentally "light up" your entire house.

​

Release thoughts and patterns that don't serve you anymore.The winter solstice is considered the seasonal “dark night” of the soul. Spiritually, it is a time to look inwards to honor the light and the darkness that resides within each of us. Take a moment to write down onto a piece of paper everything you would like to release and let go of. Keep writing until you begin to feel a bit "lighter". Then crumble up that piece of paper and throw it into a fire, allowing the flames to symbolicly transform darkness into light.

​

Get rid of stuff that doesn't serve you anymore. The winter solstice is also a wonderful time to let go of physical items you've accumulated and don't need anymore. I always feel a huge weight being lifted when I declutter my home. You might want to watch the documentary Minimalism or the soon-to-be-released The Minimalists: Less is Now and read Marie Kondo’s book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Take a cue from Marie Kondo and do not keep any items that don't bring you joy. Decluttering your home is also a great way to give back to those in need this time of year. Find local charities that can use coats, canned goods, or books!

​

Spend time in nature. Bundle up and enjoy a walk out in nature. Take a stroll through the local park or nearby woods and feel nature’s dormant energy around you. Recognize that you too are a part of nature and are a part of its seasonal cycles. Embrace the cold by building a snowman, making snow angels, go snowboarding, or ice skating.

​

Plan to try something new this winter. As you already know, solstices are a great time to let go of the old and begin something new. You could make a list of new things you'd like to try or do. Think about winter activities, such as cross-country skiing or giving snowshoeing a try. Plan to start one new thing this winter.

​

There are lots of ways to celebrate the winter solstice. Are you planning to celebrate it?

​

Best,

Christine

P.S. If you enjoyed this article and want to get practical tips and tools about wellness directly in your inbox every Saturday morning, I invite you to sign up for my wellness newsletter:

Wellness & Yoga with Christine

Inspiring you to bring wellness into your life and providing you with tools to do so. ​ ​