Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice is one of the world’s most ancient and enduring holidays. Steeped in traditions rich with appreciation for nature and the cycle of the seasons, Winter Solstice simultaneously celebrates the return of the sun while embracing the darkness of winter. It is the shortest day of the year and astronomically marks the beginning of lengthening days and waning nights. All over the world, Winter Solstice is celebrated by gathering with loved ones, feasting, singing, giving back to nature, and burning fires. Many are more familiar with solstice by another name: Yule. However, Yule and Winter Solstice are not one and the same.
A BRIEF HISTORY
The celebration of Yule dates back thousands of years and predates Christianity. A mid-winter holiday was widely celebrated by Nordic, Germanic, Celtic and Roman cultures across Europe in varying degrees of tradition.
Ancient cultures had a great reverence for the sun; as their lives were predominantly spent farming outdoors, the sun and changing seasons greatly influenced their vitality. Ancient Norse cultures viewed the sun as a great wheel that changed the seasons. The word for wheel in the old tongue was “hjól”, and many argue that this is where Yule’s semantic origin lies. However, there is also source material that suggests “Yule” is derived from the Old Norse word “jól”, which meant “party”. Both theories carry merit, but it is far beyond my scope to validate one over the other.
According to folklore, long ago the Nordic countries would celebrate Yule by lighting large bonfires, making offerings to the gods, telling stories, and drinking long into the night. Over the centuries, customs included decorating trees with food, bits of clothing, and small statues of their gods in the hope of enticing the tree spirits of the forest to return with spring. (This later inspired the tradition of decorating Christmas trees that we enjoy today!) Some peoples in Northern Europe would forge wheels and set on them fire as they rolled down a hill to tempt the sun to return to them. Others would burn a special tree within the home over a long period of time, thus creating the tradition of the “Yule log”. Mistletoe is also believed to be a common feature in Nordic Yule traditions. Mistletoe held mythical significance for the Norse people; Balder (the god of light ) was slain by an arrow of mistletoe, but was returned to life when his mother’s tears turned the berries to red. Mistletoe thus became a symbol of resurrection and hope for the end of winter.
Mistletoe similarly played a role in the mid-winter celebration of the Celts. The Celts would cut mistletoe to give to others as a blessing. The Celts believed that the sun stood still for twelve days during mid-winter, and would light a log to overcome the darkness. Many of the ancient customs have been incorporated into Christian celebrations of Christmas and are celebrated in both traditional and reinvented forms today.
CELEBRATINg winter solstice AND YULE TODAY
Winter Solstice usually takes place on December 21st, but the spirit of the holiday may be celebrated at any time throughout the midwinter. The Norse people are believed to have celebrated Yule from some time several weeks before the solstice, to several weeks after the solstice. Their celebrations likely included observing the Winter Solstice, but were not limited to it. In modern times, the observations of the solstice and Yule have largely been consolidated. The common themes of observance for Yule and Winter Solstice involve togetherness, time spent in nature, light, mindfulness, and expressions of gratitude. Here are a few tried and true ways you may celebrate Winter Solstice this year, and for all the years to come:
Spend time outside - go for a walk outdoors and appreciate the beauty of the winter season.
Decorate your home with natural symbols of winter: mistletoe, spruce, fir, cypress, pine, holly, and ivy.
*Be mindful if you have pets or small children. Certain plants can be toxic when consumed.Make stovetop potpourri using orange slices, cranberries, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and pine.
Light candles, or have a bonfire.
Make a Yule log- traditional or confectionary!
Decorate an outdoor tree with natural, edible ornaments that are safe for local wildlife.
Spread birdseed on your lawn.
Make a dried orange garland or an evergreen wreath.
Spend time with loved ones.
Recite and share a Yule blessing.
Meditate and practice gratitude.
Drink Wassail, mulled wine, or cider.
Have a feast showcasing the bounties of winter. Prepare foods containing cranberries, apples, squash, pears, oranges, parsnips, sweet potatoes, yams, chestnuts, or walnuts.
Make edible gifts to share.
Set your intentions for the new season: what would you like to release and what would you like to call forward?
Listen to Yule playlist or sing folk songs with friends and family.
Donate to charity or volunteer within your community.
Ring bells to ward off evil spirits.
Create an altar of seasonal natural elements.
Search for winter constellations.
how we celebrated WINTER SOLSTICE AND yule 2021
Our 2021 Winter Solstice celebration will be joyfully remembered for years to come. I am sharing all the details of our latest Yule soirée below, and hope that you will find inspiration for your own winter traditions!
Natural Party Favors
Keeping with the natural spirit of the holiday, I filled compostable paper packets with birdseed to serve as party favors. I used my Cricut machine to decorate the packets with pre-made designs, and adorned them with ribbon and dried citrus slices. (The ribbon and citrus slices are able to be repurposed as a Christmas tree ornament!) Each guest was given a birdseed packet as a party favor and were encouraged to spread the seeds outdoors at home as a way to give back to nature. The favors were simple to create and perfectly reflect the spirit of Yule!
On the night of December 21st, we spread birdseed on our lawn while drinking wassail and taking in the crisp winter air and starry skies. The next morning we were rewarded by seeing our feathered friends enjoying their unexpected feast!
HOLDING SPACE FOR GRATITUDE
Winter Solstice celebrations provide opportunity to reflect and hold space for gratitude. Colder days and longer nights serve as a reminder for the importance of practicing pause and appreciating the here and now.
Using recycled paper, I made Winter Solstice Intentions cards for each guest to reflect on what they are grateful for, along with what they wish to bring forward in the new season and what they hope to release and leave behind. I’ve included a free downloadable 4x6 Intentions card for you to share with your loved ones this Solstice! Answers can be shared or kept private.
As you enter the new year, return to your notecard and call forward your intentions with purpose.
SETTING THE TABLE
Highlighting the beautiful bounty of the winter season was at the center of our design inspiration for our Yule table. Local tree trimmings were laced down the table to create a natural runner. At the center we placed an altar bowl filled with pinecones and dried citrus slices. Trunk slabs served as chargers for the table settings, on which each person was presented with a Winter Solstice Blessing. I selected a heartfelt blessing that was written by Sophie Fletcher from the United Kingdom. “The day is short, the night is long. Find peace in the dark, the light has not gone.” Her words elegantly summarize the heart of Winter Solstice celebrations: accepting the cycle of the changing seasons and appreciating the comforts that can be found within the darker months. You can download a free 5x7 Winter Solstice Blessings card to share below! I encourage you to share them at your next winter gathering, or mail them with your holiday cards this season.
The night was spent with laughter as we shared stories with loved ones, filling ourselves with seasonal fare, homemade wassail, and intentional gratitude. Winter Solstice takes place on Wednesday, December 21st this year and I hope you will adopt some of these traditions and make them your own all throughout the winter season! I’ve included a special Winter Solstice playlist below to set the mood for your next solstice soirée. Please let us know your favorite way to celebrate this ancient and beautiful holiday in the comments!
Merry Yule, Everyone!
Best,
Tara Dwyer