Winter Solstice Rituals
As a child, I never considered winter more than a nuisance: either standing in the cold waiting for the bus to arrive or watching the television, fingers crossed hoping for a snow day, waiting, inevitably for that long winter break over the holidays. Yet these days, I find that, like nature, which has ceased outward appearances of growth, the quiet and internal work that appears within us oftentimes leads to the most fulfilling shifts of our lives. “It’s always darkest before the dawn,” takes on a deeper meaning as the light shifts and fades, plunging us into our shadows until we have no choice but to confront them head on. And on the other side of the shadow work is the solstice: the rebirth of light, the return of longer days, and the hope for a brighter tomorrow.
Winter Solstice Ritual Ideas
01. Brighten Your Space
With the sun setting earlier and earlier until the Solstice, it’s the perfect time to add twinkle lights and candles to brighten your space on the dark nights ahead. I’m partial to the soft glow of incandescent white lights vs LED which I find too bright; and I love draping them through evergreen garlands, using them on our trees, and clustering candles together as a table centerpiece.
02. Decorate with Evergreens
Similarly, with all of nature hibernating, I love decking our halls with evergreen.
03. Make Simmer Pots
I find simmer pots do two things: 1. they lightly scent the air and 2. they add much needed moisture to our dry interiors. Why not create a signature seasonal scent for the home using
04. Watch the Sunrise
Currently, I live in a place where DST exists which means by the time the Winter Solstice comes around, the sunrise occurs sometime around 7:45 in the morning. While I’m not as likely to take my coffee outside, I do enjoy sitting at our kitchen table and watching as the first morning rays break upon the horizon and dance across our kitchen floor. Or, if you’re closer or also have visiting Stonehenge on a solstice as a bucket list item, you can always attend the ceremony. Or, do as I do: watch it live here.
05. Gather Round the Fire
This time of year, our fireplace is in use more than ever. I love spending my evenings curled up with a glass of wine, a show, a good book or craft and watch the firelight flicker.
06. Bake a Bûche de Noël
I love baking, and this year, I’m going to try my hand at making a bûche de Noël, or Yule Log Cake. Traditionally, the yule log was a large log that was burned over a course of days during the Winter Solstice, symbolizing warm and the return of the light. The ashes were then collected and spread in the fields to help fertilize the soil for the following spring planting. Bits of charcoal were kept and used throughout the year as means of protection against evil. The Yule Log Cake emerged sometime in the 19th century and is a nod to the traditional log that was burned.
07. Walk in the Woods
Is there any sweeter sound than the crunch of fallen snow in winter?
08. Rest & Reconnect
With the sun setting earlier and earlier, it’s also a wonderful time to lean into your circadian rhythm and sleep as well as to spend your mornings hurkle-durklin’.
09. Advent Calendars
For several years, my partner and I have celebrated throughout the month of December, using an Advent calendar gifted to us by my mother. We split the days (odds or evens) and then leave each other little treats: candies, lip balms, or little personalized gifts that fit. It’s a fun way to extend the magic of the season a bit longer than just rushing through to open gifts on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning.
10. Cherish the Nostalgia
This is, undoubtedly, a difficult season for some, including myself. My mother adored Christmas, decorating every square inch of her home and oftentimes left trees up well into the new year. It can be tricky to navigate the season all-the-while missing the ones who are no longer here. Since her passing, I’ve learned to lean into the nostalgia & tradition of the season. For me, this looks like decking our trees with ornaments that hold special meaning to us rather than color-coordinating with plastic baubles and placing sentimental pieces around our space. There’s a bittersweetness in creating new memories while celebrating the nostalgia of tradition.
11. Find the Sparkle
Spend an evening (or two or three!) gazing at stars or looking at Christmas lights. Last year, my partner surprised me one evening by driving us through a local light fair at the lake near our house. It was so magical that this year, I plan to make an evening of it by bringing along peppermint hot chocolate and our favorite holiday cookies.
12. Manifest Your Greatest Wishes
Just like nature has gone internal, so should we. I love this time of year for sitting with the shadows of all that challenges me, acknowledging all that I’ve accomplished this year, celebrating all my works-in-progress and forever learning to release perfectionism. celebrate the shadow; release perfectionism; acknowledge achievements; celebrate your works-in-progress. While I don’t typically set intentions until the Vernal Equinox—which I consider the start of the new year—I do like taking this time to winter my thoughts and start dreaming of the goals in the year to come. It’s a great time to start plotting your vision for the year to come.
13. Play Soft Carols
Nothing sets the mood quite like a seasonal playlist. This time of year, I love playing soft instrumentals or classic crooners on our sound system. Nat King Cole singing about his favorite things? Bing Crosby dreaming of a White Christmas? I’m in literal heaven.
14. Concoct A Signature Seasonal Cocktail
Try an Apple Cider Ginger Fizz or mulled wine
15. Host a Candlelit Dinner
For the hosts & hostesses,
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And, if you’d like to bring a touch of the season into your home, I’ve gathered a collection of winter-inspired pieces in The Shoppe. They’re nostalgic, natural, and timeless decor that feels more soulful than spooky, and are a lovely way to create your own atmosphere for the season. You can explore the collection in full here.
here’s to finding magic in the liminal
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