THE Winter Solstice occurs between December 20 and 23.
It’s when the earth's axis tilts away from the sun, making it the shortest day and longest night of the year for those living in the Northern Hemisphere.
Why do we celebrate Winter Solstice?
The winter solstice marks the onset of winter – the shortest day in the calendar year.
The earth’s tilted axis (23.5º relative to the ecliptic plane) directly impacts the amount of sunlight we do or don’t get throughout the year.
This tilt, along with our planet’s orbit, creates both astronomical and meteorological seasons.
According to the National Centers for Environmental Information, “…astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the sun, whereas the meteorological seasons are based on the annual temperature cycle.”
The Winter Solstice is a reminder to honour our connection to the natural world.
We celebrate the change in seasons through rituals and self-care, rather than through traditional holidays, gifts, or decorations.
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You can try a few ideas to get you ready for winter solstice.
Consider practicing a pagan yule candle tradition (a tradition with European roots). Create an altar with items that bring you joy and peace, and surround it with candles.
Lighting candles is a symbol of the sun’s ability to give us both life and light.
Waking up early on the day of the winter solstice to watch the sunrise and appreciate how the sun lights up the world around you.
Eat warming foods in a traditional winter feast on the night of December 21, producing a meal that warms and nourishes the body.
Or even draw a winter solstice bath, adding citrus essential oils to symbolise the energy of the sun.
Five Winter Solstice quotes and messages
People can greet others on winter solstice by saying “Happy Solstice,” “Merry Yuletide,” and “Happy Yule”.
Here are some inspirational messages to get you in the spirit for winter solstice.
"The Winter Solstice is the time of ending and beginning, a powerful time – a time to contemplate your immortality."
– Frederick Lenz
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."
– Charles Dickens
“Winter forms our character and brings out our best.”
– Tim Allen
"Kindness is like snow. It beautifies everything it covers."
– Khalil Gibran
"The winter solstice has always been special to me as a barren darkness that gives birth to a verdant future beyond imagination, a time of pain and withdrawal that produces something joyfully inconceivable, like a monarch butterfly masterfully extracting itself from the confines of its cocoon."
– Gary Zukav
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