6 Ways To Celebrate Winter Solstice This Year

Turns out the word “solstice” comes from a Latin term meaning “to stand still”. In the actual moment of the solstice, the sun lies exactly over the Tropic of Capricorn and appears to stall in the sky.

This event has been celebrated for thousands of years. Even the word “Yule,” which is used interchangeably with “Christmas” in many countries, has its origins in Jol, a pre-Christian solstice celebration held across northern Europe and Scandinavia.

Royal Museums Greenwich said that this year in the UK, the event will happen at roughly 93:03pm, December 21.

But the solstice sunrise is going to start between 8am and 9am in the UK, depending on your location. This is the event many won’t want to miss.

Here, we shared some ways to mark the occasion:

This year, parking spaces for the real-life Stonehenge have already sold out, though the stones are open to the public.

But if you’re not in the area, you can stream the moment the sun rises behind the monument’s “heel stone” and reaches into the centre of the ancient structure.

These are set to go live on December 21, with the YouTube one scheduled for 7:30am onwards.

Newgrange in the Republic of Ireland is an ancient burial tomb. Light hits the back of its passage every winter solstice, and while only those who win a lottery can see it in person on the day, the rest of us can watch the livestream on Heritage Ireland’s site.

Avebury, Glastonbury Tor, and the Calanais Standing Stones are also stunning sunrise locations for this time of year.

The festival of Juul, which we mentioned earlier, used to involve the burning of an entire tree. That’s why we call it a “Yule log”.

If that seems a bit dramatic, though, try burning a log in your fireplace instead. And to truly stick to tradition, try keeping the log burning all day ― and use the ashes for your garden to encourage a bumper crop.

The glutinous rice-covered dumpling is traditionally eaten at China’s Dōngzhì Festival, which celebrates the solstice.

It symbolises family togetherness.

One of the reasons people have celebrated the winter solstice for so long is because it signals the end of the darkest parts of winter. As a result, lights and fire are associated with multiple solstice celebrations.

Take part in the tradition by lighting a candle, if you like.

Another common thread throughout traditional solstice celebrations? Feasting (and gifting).

And while this later became linked to decadent Christmas dinners, I reckon it’s as good a reason as any to tuck into that delicious fare early.