LIFESTYLE
December 2024

Orienting to nature’s rhythms is a powerful way to reclaim your ancestral connection to this holy time of the year and receive the inner gifts inherent in this season. This time can be made more meaningful by slowing down your pace and stepping back from outward activities and social obligations. - Way of Belonging

The end of the year is a time of endings and new beginnings, marked by the annual cosmic event of the winter solstice. On Saturday, December 21, the sun will be at its furthest point south in the sky, resulting in the longest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. The winter solstice seeks joy and renewal in the depths of quiet and darkness, and falling in the midst of the bustling holiday season, is Mother Nature's cyclical cue to remember to rest ourselves.

“Solstice” comes from two Latin words: sol meaning “sun” and sistere meaning “to stand still” because it appeared to our ancestors as though the sun and moon had stopped moving across the sky. Solstice rituals centered around rest, nurture, and contemplation date back to the dawn of civilization, and celebrating the solstice can be a beautiful reminder that our lives are part of a larger system, always changing, always renewing. Orienting ourselves to the slower, quieter rhythms of nature can provide sacred moments of pause that carry us through the season. Here are some relaxing rituals and activities to enjoy solo, or along with family and friends as we transition into winter.

 

Bring Nature Inside

Bring nature inside to represent the symbols of the season: pine (healing), holly (The God), mistletoe (The Goddess), a yule tree (renewal), and evergreens (continuity of life, protection, and prosperity) are all symbols rooted in the winter solstice.

Burn a yule log, which in the Nordic tradition symbolizes the sun, moon, stars, and remembrance of loved ones lost this year.

Create a yule altar with one large candle (symbolizing the sun) in the center, placing smaller candles around it. Decorate the altar with winter herbs like rosemary, sage, and sweetgrass, and light the candles to mark the night of winter solstice.

Place a jar on the altar to add written prayers, dreams, and wishes for yourself, friends and family for the year ahead. On the night of solstice, take time to sit and speak them aloud before lighting the candle.

Host a Solstice Gathering

Many modern holiday traditions are rooted in ancient solstice rituals, where global celebrations centered around food, music, dance, light, and fire. In families and friend groups with mixed spiritual beliefs and cultural backgrounds, everyone can agree that the return of the sun is a wonderful thing to celebrate. A warm, cozy, nourishing menu for a winter solstice gathering might include:

Hot mulled cider

Warm winter salads featuring roasted beets, toasted squash seeds, and hearty kale

Wild mushroom risotto

Lamb stew

Wassail (spiced citrus drink with or without alcohol)

Warm, spiced gingerbread

A classic chocolate Yule Log

Make the menu your own, according to what you and your guests prefer. Serving dishes with seasonal fruits and vegetables like broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, citrus fruits, cranberries, dates, escarole, fennel, parsnips, pears, pomegranates, sweet potatoes, and winter squashes will all taste delicious at the height of their harvest season.

 

After dinner, participate in some of the above solstice rituals together as a group, or take turns reading from a winter solstice book like Newbery Medal-winner The Shortest Day or the winter solstice poem Snowy Night by Mary Oliver. Most importantly, be present, relax, and enjoy the company of the people you love.

Outdoor Activities Honoring the Solstice

The morning of December 22nd is the official start of winter and the increasing return of daylight. Go for a quiet walk on the beach or take a sunrise hike in the cooler temperatures to enjoy clearer skies and sweeping views. Take a day trip to the desert, the mountains, or the beach, somewhere different yet close to where you live, to enjoy a refreshing change in vegetation and scenery. Joshua Tree National Park, the Sierras, Sedona, and Flagstaff are all stunningly beautiful in December. In your own backyard, decorate a tree with edible seed ornaments for birds and squirrels beginning to stock up for the winter.

REflect, Release, and Set Intentions For The New Season

The winter solstice is considered the seasonal "dark night of the soul", a time to honor both the light and the darkness that resides within each of us. As we reflect and wind down from the year behind us, a wonderful exercise is to take small pieces of paper and write down the things you would like to release and leave behind you. When you've finished, throw the papers into the yule log fire, symbolizing the transformation of darkness into light. After this symbolic "letting go,” set one or two meaningful intentions for the new season ahead—whether an idea, a habit, or a practice you would like to bring into your life in 2025. We each hold so much potential, and setting those intentions, or even speaking them aloud from time to time, keeps us on track toward realizing them.

 

So whether you go "wassailing" with friends, host a cozy solstice dinner party, or just spend time in quiet reflection at home or on a hiking trail, the winter solstice is a natural, gentle reminder that we must replenish ourselves on a regular basis. Creating a one-time gathering or a new, annual solstice tradition of intentional rest and restoration will be a welcome practice for friends and family from any tradition.


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