How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
There is something terribly romantic to me about winter. It’s quiet and peaceful. We seek comfort by the fire, warm clothes and the company of loved ones. There is a stillness and state of hibernation, within our homes and in the natural world around us.
I like to recognise the seasons to stay connected to nature and to live slowly, with intention. The winter solstice occurs once a year and it is an opportunity to reflect and appreciate the need for winter in our lives. Seasons of darkness and rest are necessary.
Read on for more about the winter solstice.
Seasonal Living in Winter
Seasonal living is living in alignment with nature. Our seasons are governed by the sun and it is observing the sun in your daily life that aligns you seasonally. Flowers won’t bloom constantly, they bloom in seasons. Humans are the same. Life is not a continual spring or summer.
Honouring the seasons is something I am passionate about in my own life and through encouraging others. We have modern convenience and comforts, things like technology and phones. But these things have taken our lives indoors and too much of these things can lead us to disconnect from nature.
Celebrating the winter solstice is one way to connect to nature and the cyclical nature of earth’s seasons. We can cherish God’s design and appreciate that we need the season of winter.
Winter is a time for rest. Winter is the season for working away on plans for when there will be the increase of light and return of the sun's warmth. Just like a seedling germinates in the darkness of soil, this is symbolic of winter for us. We are germinating in the darkness.
Winter is about going inward, you may find yourself sleeping more in the season. Depending on how far you live from the equator, there are less light hours from the sun and more natural darkness. We enter periods of deep reflection.
Winter is a time dedicated to spiritual learning. There may be some healing that your body or soul requires in the quieter days.
Look at what many animals do, some are in complete hibernation. Birds have migrated. Some trees are bare.
There is promise that the light and the warmth will return, and we as part of nature will reach full bloom again. But in the meantime, it is time to slow down.
When is the 2026 Winter Solstice
I’m based in Australia, so the 2026 Winter Solstice here will fall on Sunday 21 June 2026.
For those living north of the equator such as the USA and UK, your Winter Solstice date is Monday, 21 December 2026.
What is the Winter Solstice
Solstice means “Sun standing still”.
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year, or the longest night. This is due to the earth’s axis tilted the furthest away from the sun that it will be for the entire solar year.
I watch the sunrise each morning, as my morning routine. And at this time of the year from my place, it’s the further north the sun appears and we get sunlight straight into our family room. It’s delightful.
The Winter Solstice in History
Many cultures and human civilizations have celebrated the winter solstice including the Romans, Celtic Druids, Persians. There is even some evidence of the Neolithic (new stone age era) celebrating the winter solstice some 9000 years ago!
This long history of celebrating the winter solstice, shares the significance of seasonal living.
Humans have long watched the sunrise and set, tracking the hours of the day and the earth’s relationship to the sun. The sun and the seasons we experience are an amazing creation that should be celebrated.
How to Celebrate the Winter Solstice
My husband was born right around the winter solstice, so we naturally celebrate that time of year. He also tends to like cool weather, definitely one that was born in the dark of winter.
Food and Drinks to Enjoy
Let’s talk about some food you may like to enjoy for the solstice.
Gatherings with friends and family around the table are a great way to celebrate the solstice. Bake or cook a special winter recipe with your kids
You may like to have a day of baking winter solstice treats to enjoy on your own or even with a special feast. Some winter solstice food and drink ideas include:
Roasts, soups and stews
Slow cooked meats
Bake cinnamon scrolls
Baked cookies
Make mulled wine
Eggnog
Brewing hot chocolate. I have been making a nightly cacao, chocolate and turmeric drink and it is just so delicious for the cooler and darker nights.
A warming drink for winter.
Winter-inspired Tea and Herbs
As for Winter Solstice plants and herbs.
Traditional winter celebrations included a yule log, and during the time of celebration, homes were decorated with ivy, mistletoe, and holly. Here in Australia we are able to get pine, mistletoe and rosemary to use.
Use rosemary in your baking and honey in your tea.
For a warming drink you could enjoy a turmeric and chai latte. For tea, ablack tea with cinnamon or ginger would be a solstice treat!
Winter solstice homemade tea blends are also a fun activity. You might like to try herb blends of turmeric, lemon, ginger, orange, vanilla, apple, cinnamon, chamomile and licorice. Of course you may like to add these flavours to your baking.
Decorating
You may wish to decorate your house with branches, the pine or mistletoe. If you have young children, take them for a nature walk and see what they can find.
Waterpaint with winter colours and hang up winter inspired artwork.
Brave some outside time to observe the season.
Slow Living Winter Solstice
A few more celebration ideas you can enjoy:
Since it’s cold, it’s winter. Draw a hot bath with only candle lights on to honor the darkness.
You may enjoy a quieter activity such as crossstitch. Stitching your intentions into something, that could be a little embroidery project.
Reading books by candlelight is an absolute must for me!
Wear cosy knitted socks.
On or around the solstice date, you may like to have a gathering with friends and family to mark the occasion.
You may wish to have a bonfire or lighting a candle.
In Closing
Wishing you a special winter solstice! Enjoy slowing down and recognising the changing seasons.
While the light will increase again, we know we are in for a few cold months once the winter solstice occurs. Enjoy this time for retreating, renewing, honoring the dark, turn your attention to work around the home, put on layers for winter walks and hold then hope and celebration for the return of the sun and light.
Thank you for reading!
Stick around and see my post on myslow living evening routine for your winter nights.
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Rachael x
Hi, I’m Rachael.
I write about slow and seasonal living to inspire you to slow down. Read more about me.
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There is something terribly romantic to me about winter. It’s quiet and peaceful. We seek comfort by the fire, warm clothes and the company of loved ones. There is a stillness and state of hibernation, within our homes and in the natural world around us. Read on for how to celebrate the winter solstice.