6 Creative Ways to Welcome the Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice – the shortest day, and longest night of the year – is coming up this weekend. The days after the solstice will steadily become longer and lighter, which means it’s only up from here!

I love the cozy darkness of winter but we are definitely ready for the sun to come back; complete darkness at 5pm is rough!

If you’re looking for some ways to celebrate the returning of the light, keep reading.

Winter Solstice Unit

1. Make an Edible Tree for the Animals

Have you ever read “Night Tree,” by Eve Bunting? We were inspired to make a Night Tree for the animals in our area after reading this delightful book. We chose a fir tree on my parents’ property and adorned it with edible ornaments. We used:

• Apples
• Cranberries
• Apple slices coated with peanut butter and birdseed
• Orange slices
• Natural Twine

Then we watched their trail cam as the deer and birds came and devoured it! Providing for the animals in winter is a great way to usher in the longer days.

2. Make Sun Bread

Why not bake up a delicious bread on the solstice, in honor of the sun’s return? We like this sun bread recipe.

3. Make a Simmer Pot

A simmer pot is simply a simple way to make your house smell warm and amazing. Just throw everything into a pot of water and keep it simmering on the stovetop for as long as you want. We used:

• Orange scraps and peels
• Grapefruit peels
• Fir Tree Twigs
• 3 Cinnamon sticks
• A Handful of Wrinkly Cranberries
• A Few Star Anise

We were amazed at how yummy it smelled. Trust me, your house will smell lovely as you celebrate the Solstice!

4. Make Dried Orange Slice Ornaments

We make dried oranges every year around this time, but this time we made some into little suns, to welcome its return. Just slice your oranges, poke toothpicks around the edge of the peel, and lay them out on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 200F for several hours until dry, carefully turning every 30 minutes or so.

5. Measure Shadows

On the shortest day of the year, the angle of the sun will be uniquely different than any other day. For this little activity, grab an object from your home (a toy works well) and place in the sun on a hard surface, like concrete. Trace the object’s shadow on a piece of paper and write the time next to it. It’s best to begin in the morning. Return to your object at noon (when the sun is directly overhead), retrace its shadow and record the time again. Repeat these steps throughout the day to see the shadows change.

The length of the object’s shadow changes because as the Earth rotates on its axis, the relative position of the sun changes in the sky.

6. Read a Book About the Winter Solstice

Here are some of our favorite books to read on the longest night:

Looking for a way to learn about what makes the Winter Solstice with your kids or students? Check out my Winter Solstice Nature Study!