In 2021, the winter solstice will occur at 15:59 UTC on December 21. This means that those of us in the Northern Hemisphere will welcome winter on Monday, December 21, 2021, at 12:59 PM PST, 3:59 PM EST. Have all your questions answered below!
Winter solstice, also known as midwinter, the hibernate solstice, and Yule, is the astronomical first day of winter. The winter solstice occurs at the exact moment worldwide–but is converted to local time. One of the most interesting facts about the solstice is that those in the Southern Hemisphere welcome the summer solstice when the Northern Hemisphere celebrates winter on December 21.
Are you confused yet? Not to worry–we answer all of your FAQs (frequently asked questions) about the winter solstice and share a list of traditional winter solstice celebration ideas towards the bottom of this article. You may also enjoy our Winter Bucket List filled with winter activities for children and adults, including arts, crafts, and outdoor fun!
What is Solstice?
There are two solstices every calendar year; one is in December while the other is in June. So the solstice happens simultaneously worldwide, but the season you welcome depends on the side of the equator you live on or the hemisphere with which you live.
The reason is a great science lesson for kids–it’s all about the tilt of the sun. Planet Earth sits at an angle of about 23.5 degrees. So at different times of the year, either the northern or southern hemisphere tilts toward the sun.
In other words, the solstice marks the moment in time that one of the Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt toward the sun–while the other pole shifts away from the sun.
Related: Family Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday
What is Winter Solstice?
The solstice is the moment in time that one of Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt. Thus, when the winter solstice occurs, the sun travels its shortest path through the sky. As a result, the hemisphere tilted away from the sun experiences the cooler temperatures of winter, while the hemisphere tilted towards the sun experiences the warmer summer temperatures.
The summer solstice occurs when the sun reaches its northernmost position in the sky between June 20 and 21. The winter solstice is thus when the sun’s path is at its southernmost descent in the sky and usually happens between December 21 and 22. The diagram below illustrates Earth’s tilt at the summer and winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere.
December Solstice
On the December Solstice, the South Pole tilts towards the sun, and the sun’s rays are directly overhead at the Tropic of Capricorn. Thus, those in the Nothern Hemisphere welcome the winter, while those in the Southern Hemisphere welcome the summer. In June, these reverse.
In other words, the December Solstice marks the astronomical end of the fall and the astronomical beginning of the winter for the Northern Hemisphere, and the astronomical end of spring and the beginning of summer for the Southern Hemisphere.
When is Winter Solstice?
The winter solstice typically falls between December 21 – 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and occurs in the Southern Hemisphere between June 21 – 22. However, on rare occasions, the solstice can happen just outside of those date ranges. For example, leap Day keeps the equinox, and solstice dates are lined up with the seasons.
The day that winter solstice occurs is the shortest day and the longest night of the calendar year. After the winter solstice, the days get longer, the nights get shorter until the longest day, and the year’s shortest night occurs on the summer solstice.
The spring and fall equinoxes occur between the winter and summer solstices when day and night are equal. Learn more about the spring and fall equinox at the links below!
When is Winter Solstice 2021?
In 2021, the winter solstice will occur on Monday, December 21 at 15:59 UTC (Coordinated Universal Time). In other words, the solstice will occur at 12:59 PM PST, or 3:59 PM EST, in the Northern Hemisphere. (source)
Related: Winter Tree Art
Winter Solstice Yule Traditions
In ancient times, people grew afraid when the winter days held less sunlight than the day before. As the days continued to get shorter and the nights longer, they feared that no daylight would be left eventually. Once these ancient civilizations began measuring the hours of sunlight 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.
Christmas marks the sun’s returning light, marked by the shining star rising over the evergreen treetops earlier than it did before the day before. The light returning was, indeed, something to celebrate. However, each year held no promise that the sun would return until the day that it did. Christmas is thus a celebration of light.
Winter solstice traditions and yule celebrations celebrate the “birth of the sun.” And, many contemporary holiday or Christmas traditions originate from ancient pagan winter solstice celebrations.
Traditional Solstice Folktales
During winter, we begin to tell children the tales of Santa and his flying reindeer. But why not also share the stories that influenced these modern-day tales? The legend of Santa Clause and his reindeer have origins in folktales from around the world. The two most notable are the legend of Saint Nicolas and the winter solstice “Deer Mother.”
In ancient times, people believed that the Deer Mother took flight on the darkest night of the year, carrying the sun’s life-giving light in her antlers and into the new year. (source) After learning about these ancient folktales, I’m pretty sure I know why Rudolf had the brightest light in the sky!
The Spiritual Meaning of Winter Solstice
The primary intention of most Yule traditions and winter solstice celebration ideas is to release the dark in favor of the light–both literally and metaphorically–and to welcome back the sun (light) as each new day begins to grow longer and longer.
As we celebrate the light, we must also take the time to spiral within to acknowledge our shadow self and the wisdom that it shares with us to bring the light of awareness into the darkness.
We are a reflection of the universe that surrounds us. The winter solstice represents the seasonal “dark night” of the soul. What takes place outside of us must also take place within us. Winter is the season of life that we must face our inner darkness to make way for the sun’s return on the Spring Vernal Equinox.
How to Celebrate Winter Solstice: 23 Winter Solstice Rituals & Celebration Ideas
Below you will find a list of modern ideas and traditional ways to celebrate the winter solstice. You may also enjoy Summer Solstice Celebration Ideas. These winter solstice traditions are merely suggestions of things to do on the solstice. It is not a mandatory list of winter solstice rituals that one must accomplish or something one must do.
We don’t do everything on this list of winter solstice celebration ideas, and you shouldn’t have to either. Instead, create something meaningful for you and your family, and you can’t go wrong. Happy solstice!
Related: Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday Season
1. Decorate a Winter Solstice Yule Tree
Decorate an indoor or outdoor yule tree to celebrate the solstice this winter. In ancient times, solstice trees were decorated with candles, known as yule tree lights, and adorned with ornaments that symbolized the sun, moon, and stars. Sound familiar?
The Christmas tree is just one of the many traditions borrowed from pagan solstice rituals. For example, live evergreen trees called Yule Trees or winter solstice trees were brought into the home and decorated because they are considered eternal symbols of life.
The modern-day version of a Yule tree is an outdoor winter solstice tree, or the decorated indoor evergreen counterpart known today as Christmas Trees. Decorating an outdoor winter solstice tree is fun to feed the animals when their food supplies become scarce.
Making a winter solstice tree outside is a fun activity to do with kids. Homemade bird feeders and garlands made of popcorn make excellent solstice tree decorations! All you need to do is decorate a living tree with food for the animals.
- How to Make a Winter Solstice Tree | 95 Acres of Sky for Playful Learning
- Decorating an Outdoor Edible Yule Tree for the Animals | Wilder Child
2. Visit Stonehenge
Celebrate as our ancestors have done for thousands of years inside the Megaliths of Avebury Stone Circle. Some consider sunset at Stonehenge to be more critical than the sunrise over the stones on the summer solstice because it aligns with a sight-line that points to the winter solstice sunset on December 21.
Experience up close one of the wonders of the world’s most well-known Stone Circles. Witness the sun setting at Stonehenge from the ceremonial Avenue on the most important day of the Celtic Calander. Traditionally, hundreds of visitors travel to Wiltshire, England, on the solstice to witness this magnificent event.
Unfortunately, there was no 2020 solstice celebration at Stonehenge. Instead, the Winter Solstice was live-streamed from the stones on December 21, 2020. And, In 2021, the status at Stonehenge remains uncertain as lockdown mandates continue to shift.
However, there are rumors of groups leading tours of the stones. And, Last year it was both easy and free to observe Stonehenge on the solstice on the English Heritage social media channels, which is likely to be the same this year. Learn more about Stonehenge and the stones at solstice HERE–> English Heritage.
3. Make Winter Solstice Lanterns
A Winter Solstice Lantern is a symbol that our light can continue to shine even as the light and warmth of the sun are waning. Like the Yule Lantern, light emanates from our hearts, homes, and the fellowship of friends, family, and community.
Traditionally, candles and Yule Lanterns symbolize the light on the darkest night of the year. Here’s a list of winter solstice lantern crafts:
- Heart Leaf Lanterns | Rhythms of Play
- DIY Winter Solstice Lanterns | eHow
- Ice Lanterns | Kiwi Crate
- Hand Painted Yule Candle Holders | Make your own solstice candle holders. A hand-painted sun would be fun!
- Fill paper bag lanterns
with sand and beeswax tealights, or flameless tealight candles
with 
and 
, or 
Related: Lantern Walk Tradition
4. Host or Attend an Advent Spiral Walk
A winter solstice, or advent spiral walk, provides a lovely way to pay homage to the light and is a common feature at many winter solstice festivals worldwide. Host or attend an advent spiral in 2021! It is a meditative ritual that honors the sun’s light as a reflection of the light that burns brightly within each one of us, even during the darkest days of the year.
Unfortunately, many winter advent spiral festivals did not happen in 2020. So we created another way to spiral inwards to celebrate the rebirth of the light. Click the link to learn how! Make a simple advent spiral with natural materials as a way to quickly honor this sacred tradition in your home or classroom.
5. Craft Orange Pomanders for Yule
The orange is a common symbol for the return of the sun. Orange pomanders are traditionally given as gifts on the solstice to symbolize nature and the returning light. Make orange pomanders to celebrate the solstice, give as gifts, and decorate and freshen the home for the holidays.
- How to Make Orange Pomanders | Homemade Gifts Made Easy
- Make an Orange Pomander Centerpiece that Lasts! | Eclectically Vintage
6. Set up a Yule Altar
Choose a space in the home to set up a yule or winter solstice altar. A shelf, small table, dresser top, or nature table make excellent choices. Use beeswax candles, holly, evergreen, and seasonal crafts to decorate your Yule altar. Items that are meaningful to you and symbolize the light, birth of the sun, or represent the longest night of the year are also good choices. Learn more about building a Yule Altar HERE and HERE.
7. Enjoy a Yule Log
A Yule Log is a unique log lit on the night of the winter solstice or Yule, hence Yule Log. It is a ritual performed to help re-ignite the sun. The fire burns all night as a symbol of light on the darkest night of the year.
The Yule Log was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony.
source
In ancient times, the burning of the yule log would take place in a fireplace or at a large bonfire to celebrate Yule; and the return of the light. Traditionally, people kept a piece of the yule log to help ignite the next winters’ yule log.
Learn how to burn a traditional Yule log to cleanse sins and decorate solstice tables this midwinter HERE. You may also enjoy How to Build a Campfire and Keep Everyone Safe.
Yule Log Cake Recipies
Yule log cakes are commonly made by those that do not have a hearth or fireplace to burn one. (source) Here are a few yule log cake recipes:
- Bûche de Noël (Yule Log Cake) | Delish
- Gluten-Free Yule Log | Gluten Free and More
- Nutmeg Yule Log Cookies | Woman’s Day
Modern-Day Yule Log Alternative
Another modern yule log option for those that don’t have a fireplace is a Yule Log Video! I realize that these Yule log options are not ideal, but they are a lot nicer than you think! If you are an Amazon Prime member, fire up a merry yule log HERE.
8. Read Books about the Winter Solstice
Read winter solstice books with your kids to learn more about yule and the seasons’ cyclical nature.
9. Make Sun and Star Crafts and Ornaments
Stars and oranges are symbols of the light of the sun. Make sun or star crafts to symbolize the birth of the sun on the winter solstice. And, invite children to make sun and star crafts for the Christmas tree (or Yule tree). Have a look at the list of DIY Christmas ornaments and other fun crafts to decorate for Yule.
Sun and Star Ornaments for the yule or Christmas Tree
- Angel Holding a Star
- Wishing Star Ornaments
- Christmas Tree Twig Ornaments with a Wooden Star on Top (Contains links to more twig ornaments, including DIY twig star ornaments.)
- Baby Jesus in Walnut Shell with a Star
- Make beaded snowflake ornaments with clear, gold faceted glass or silver Swarovski Crystal beads that sparkle like the sun and stars.
- Invite children to use paint pens to decorate wooden star ornaments, or hang them on the tree as-is for a beautiful natural look!
- Dehydrated Orange Sun Wheel Ornaments | The Ditzy Druid
- How to Sew a Mini Felt Sun | Bugs and Fishes
, gold
faceted glass or 
that sparkle like the sun and stars.
to decorate More Sun and Star Crafts for Yule
A few of these simple sun crafts are great homemade gift ideas that kids can make. Invite children to help you make any of these cute sun crafts and hand them out to friends, family, and neighbors as gifts!
- Waldorf Window Stars Craft
- Fingerprint Sun Magnets
- Easy DIY Fingerprint Sun Necklaces
- Fingerprint Art Sun Keychain or Backpack Charms
10. Spend the Night by Candlelight
Many people choose not to use electricity on the solstice and instead enjoy the darkest night of the year by candlelight. We recommend beeswax candles
placed in votives or lanterns
lit on the solstice evening if you decide to try this.
A beeswax candle symbolizes that light and love are eternally present, and their smoke is much more pleasant for our lungs and bodies than paraffin wax. And, they also emit negative ions researched to improve health!
11. Have a Candlelight Winter Solstice Feast
In modern times, Thanksgiving and Christmas are seen as a time of overindulgence in food and drink; however, this is another tradition borrowed from pagan equinox and solstice rituals. In ancient times the pagans would overindulge to celebrate “the return of the light” and the food it would bring even though their food supplies had become scarce.
Invite friends and family over for a candlelight feast! Eat, drink, and be merry! Visit your farmer’s market to find locally grown and raised seasonal foods to prepare. Make the traditional winter solstice drink known as wassail (spiked or unspiked) to serve with your meal.
Candlelight Solstice Dinner Tip: Eat an hour or two before sundown if you plan to spend the night by candlelight. Ensure you have plenty of easy snacks ready and available to serve when bellies get hungry after dark! It’s not easy dealing with the dishes when the lights are off.
12. Stay Up All Night to Welcome the Return of the Light
Stay up all night on the night of the winter solstice to welcome back the light. In ancient days, people stayed awake to make sure the sun was coming back, while today, many people stay awake on the darkest night of the year to celebrate, hold reverence, and watch the light return.
After the solstice, each day will grow a little longer, and each night will get a little shorter until they are about equal on the spring equinox. Once the equinox has passed, the days get longer, and the nights continue to get shorter until the summer solstice.
13. Reflect, Release and Transform Darkness into Light
As mentioned above, the winter solstice is considered the seasonal “dark night” of the soul. Thus, spiritually, it is a time to circle within to honor the light and darkness within each of us.
Write down everything you would like to release, and let go of, onto a piece of paper or several tiny scraps of paper. Please continue to write down every hurt, every perceived injustice, all judgments against self or others, no matter how big or small it may seem. Let it all go.
Get it all out. Keep writing until you begin to feel a bit “lighter.” Take a moment to honor the messages that the darkness shares with you, and allow these awarenesses to shed light upon the darkest parts of yourself.
Once you feel finished, throw the paper in the yule log fire (or bonfire), and allow the flames to transform darkness into light. If you have a solstice gathering, invite guests to join you in this activity.
14. Set Intentions
After you release and let go of the darkness no longer serving you, write down your intentions. An intention is a thing, idea, habit, etc., that you would like to make a part of your life; once you have a few written down, head over to learn how to turn your intentions (or goals) into affirmations and why!
Related: Why I Turn My Goals into Positive Affirmations
15. Practice Yoga and/or Meditate
The day that the Winter Solstice happens is the shortest day and the longest night of the year. So, spend time meditating and practicing yoga to bring light to the darkest day of the year!
We are a reflection of the universe that surrounds us, and the winter solstice represents the seasonal “dark night of the soul.” Therefore, what takes place outside of us must also take place within us.
In other words, yule is a time to celebrate the light and darkness both within us and surrounding us. And, taking the time to practice yoga or meditate on the light within and acknowledging the shadow self can help bring the light of awareness into the darkness.
16. Add Natural Winter Decor to your Home
People brought evergreen
, holly
, and mistletoe
inside the house to decorate for the solstice in ancient times. This age-old winter solstice tradition is yet another solstice ritual incorporated into many of today’s Christmas traditions.
Bring plants indoors from the outdoors to decorate your home for the winter solstice. Cut fresh holly to make a homemade holly berry wreath, or head out to a Christmas tree farm to cut down your tree this year!
Another fun way to decorate the home for the winter is to make a winter nature table. A nature table makes a great place to set up a yule altar. (Scroll up to #6 to learn more about building a solstice alter.)
17. Incorporate The Magical Colors of the Yule Season
Many of the traditional Christmas colors of the season have their roots in age-old customs and traditions. Learn more about the magical colors of the season, traditional color customs, and how to incorporate them into your yule celebrations on Learn Religions.
18. Enjoy Winter Arts, Crafts & Activities
Creating winter arts, crafts, and activities is a great way to welcome the season. Some of our favorite winter crafts and winter art ideas are below!
- Colorful Winter Tree Silhouette Art
- Best Winter Art Projects
- Rhinestone Pinecones
- Acorn Marble Ornaments
- Beaded Snowflakes
- Four Seasons Hand Print Tree – This four seasons hand and fingerprint tree is a great activity to do with your child to introduce the idea of seasonal changes. Feel free to do all seasons or just a winter tree.
- for more ideas check out our Winter Bucket List filled with Fun Winter Activities for Kids!
19. Practice Gratitude
Gratitude brings abundance. Just because Thanksgiving has passed does not mean that the time to give thanks has. Use gratitude prompts and the “I am Grateful” Printable to get started with gratitude journaling.
Holding gratitude in our hearts during the winter months can ultimately help us live the life of our dreams. “When we are thankful for what we have, we are given more of what we are grateful for and can find greater happiness in life.” Try any of these fun gratitude activities with your kids and family to stay “in gratitude” throughout the long nights of winter.
20. Choose A Word for the New Year
Another fun idea is to choose a word for the new year. Feel free to look at our inspirational word ideas and decide on a “word” to use for 2021. After I choose my word, I like to spend the winter holiday season creating intentions and resolutions in the form of goals for the new year. Feel free to join me in this activity!
21. Plan to Try Something New this Winter
Solstices and equinoxes are a great time to let go of the old and begin fresh.
- Make a list of things you’d like to try or do.
- Limit your list to winter activities, such as trying a new art project, sewing a softie, or giving snowshoeing a go!
- Plan to start one new thing this winter.
a go!Related: How to Change Your Life with the Power of Habit
22. Establish a Daily Rhythm or Routine
Establish a daily routine to help keep your household in order into the new year! Both children and adults thrive on regular household rhythms.
Related: 10 Reasons to Make Rhythm a Habit in the Home
23. Get Outside & Connect
Get outside and connect with what matters on the solstice. You can start by searching for signs of winter–a fun scavenger hunt for kids.
You might also enjoy this list of fun outdoor learning and nature activities for kids–it contains even more outside activities for kids (and adults)!
Winter Solstice 2021 Celebration Ideas
Remember, this is NOT a must-do list. Instead, try any one of these winter solstice activities, or take a moment to teach children a bit of the solstice and the changing seasons only if you wish. And, don’t forget to check out our Winter Bucket List for more fun seasonal arts and crafts.
You may also enjoy Meaningful Christmas Traditions for a Magical Holiday. In it, we continue to share the influence these ancient winter solstice rituals have on how people across the globe celebrate Christmas today.
Learn more about Rhythms of Play HERE!
More Information about the Solstices and Equinoxes:
- Celebrate the Summer Solstice
- Fun Ways to Celebrate the Fall Autumnal Equinox
- 7 Ideas to Celebrate the Spring Equinox
Love this! Sharing!
Thank you! So glad you like it 🙂
Are you a pagan blogger? I have been looking so hard to find others!! Love these, such great suggestions! I was writing a pretty similar post earlier today lol. All about the Winter Solstice, you have some great ideas on here.
I’m so glad you found this post useful! My family is filled with nature-loving outdoor types that choose to celebrate the solstice. It’s also a great way to teach my daughter about the cyclical interrelationship of all things. Blessings to you and your family!
I love this! As a a mum to an almost three year old, I was wondering how to capture the true spirit & wonder of the season that I love so much without the commercialized aspects. Before now, I didn’t have to consider it since my daughter was too little to notice that we only hung snowflakes in the window and didn’t have a Christmas tree. I love the idea of the outdoor Yule tree for the animals. I didn’t want her to feel like she was missing out as the holidays approached. Thank you for sharing!
Yuletide greetings Jenn,
I am so glad that you like this post about the winter solstice and fun ways to celebrate the magic of this glorious season. Honoring the seasonal changes that occur throughout the year is one of my family’s favorite ways to keep the magic alive in our home. We too have tried to stay away from the commercialized aspects of the season, and we never feel like we are missing out on a single thing! Happy solstice to you and yours. I hope you enjoy decorating an outdoor yule tree for your animal friends–we always do!
Nice post. I like the ideas for celebrating as well as the science. You might consider rewording the opening paragraph which states that the solstice occurs when we are “furthest from the sun’s light”. The winter solstice occurs about two weeks from when we are at perihelion – out closest distant to the sun.
Thank you, Hugh! You are absolutely correct and I have edited my error. Thank you so much for pointing it out so that I could fix it. Happy winter solstice!!
Love these ideas.
Thanks, Ann! I always appreciate hearing that my ideas are useful. Have a Happy Winter Solstice!
So beautiful
Thanks Caron! So glad you enjoyed our Winter Solstice article 🙂
Loved your ideas. Practical, lighthearted and doable. We are having a party tonight and I will use your tree painting idea and try to get all the people to participate. Thank you for for this sunny page.
Thank you, Rox! So glad you liked this page and found it full of light and usefulness. Happy Solstice!
Looking forward to trying some of these amazing ways to celebrate the winter solstice. Thank you for all the interesting information about the winter solstice.
You’re very welcome, Alexander! I hope you enjoy celebrating the winter solstice!
At#6, the second “day” should be changed to night:
After the solstice, each day will grow a little longer, and each day will get a little shorter until they are about equal on the spring equinox
Yes, you are correct! Thank you for catching that typo… it has been corrected. 🙂
Really great article! Love all your ideas.
Thank you, Valerie-Anne! I appreciate your vote of approval. May your winter solstice celebration be filled with light. Happy Yule!