Looking for family winter solstice inspiration?

There is a chill in the air, the mornings are darker for longer and we return home in the dark on our evening walks. Winter has been approaching slowly, in the North, small tohu (signs) have been marking a shift in the seasons.

Today the Winter Solstice is here, the sun is in the lowest point in the northern sky, and has disappeared quickly tonight on this shortest day and longest night of the year.

Around the world the  Winter Solstice was revered as one of the most important times of the year. Light meant life for many cultures, who looked to the moon and stars to chart the year, and relied on the sun to grow crops, healthy animals, and maintain the health of the people.

Hotoke / Winter is a sacred time of year, and I notice the seasonal changes. Nature slows down and rests and renews, and I feel her strong encouragement for me, for us, to do the same.

There is much to celebrate at this time also. Winter marks the beginning of the New Year for many cultures, including here in Aotearoa, with the rising of Matariki.
The solstice is still recognised as an important yearly marker and is celebrated in many countries throughout the world.

This time of celebration invites us to come together, to reflect, to plan, to be grateful, to learn, to expand.

Winter solstice celebration ideas – Learn about this Winter Solstice with this printable nature journal

Here are some ideas you may like to do to celebrate with your family during the winter season, winter solstice and Matariki.

• LANTERN WALK
  Celebrate the winter season with a festival of light, acknowledging the darkness of winter and the return of the light as the longer days increase following the winter solstice. Make your own lanterns, decorating glass jars or creating waxed paper lanterns and join in a local lantern festival, or create your own.
• STAR GAZING
  Traditionally, Maori measured time by lunar calendar. Months were noted by observing the moons phase as it cycled from new to full. By pairing it with certain tohu/signs and stars, the month of the year was determined. We can view these star markers during the still, predawn hours. This is also when we observe the return of the Matariki star cluster, marking the beginning of the Maori New Year.
• CELEBRATE MATARIKI
  Matariki is a national holiday in Aotearoa/NZ that heralds the beginning of the Maori new year. It is a time of remembrance, a time for togetherness, reflection, and celebrations that include hakari/feasts, planting, arts, waiata, planning, and wananga. It became an public holiday in 2022 and widely celebrated. Look for local events in your area and connect with this seasonally aligned, Southern Hemisphere appropriate, new year celebration.
• OBSERVE THE SUN AND MOON POSITION
  Observe the sun and its patterns on these shorter days, take note, and compare to other times of the year. What time does it rise and set each day? Where do you first notice it rise above the horizon? Where do you see it set below horizon? Note the sunrise/set times and take note to compare.
• THE TIME OF THE LONG SHADOWS
  As the seasons change, so do our shadows. On a sunny winters day your shadow will be the longest you will cast all year. Pair up and measure the length of your shadow at midday on the winter solstice. Record the time, date, length, location and your height, and repeat on other seasons to compare.
• SEASONAL PRODUCE
  Cool winter days chill the soil and so the garden is lean this time of year. Traditionally, cultures around the world have stored their harvest from the Autumn months to eat throughout this time. In Aotearoa, our climate in sub tropical and we can still grow many things. Citrus trees such as mandarins, lemons, and oranges all provide winter fruit. Haven’t got these trees? Consider planting one! Winter is a good time to plant trees while the soil is softer and wetter. Leafy greens, celery, chokos, leeks, cabbage all provide for us in the garden if have been planted early enough to get established. Notice what is in season, what can you can pick and prepare, give thanks, think where it came from and how long it took to grow.
• MAKE AND LIGHT A CANDLE
  It is a lovely family tradition to create your own candles for special celebrations. In our home we roll our own out of beeswax, which is a simple activity that even young children can do. Use these candles during your winter meals, give as gifts decorated with some twine and beautiful nature poked in, or reserve for special dates such as new or full moon, Winter Solstice or remembering loved ones. Check out our rolled beeswax candle kits to gift or make.
• PLANT TREES
  Winter is a good time to get trees into the ground, the soil is soft for digging, trees are dormant and able to be transplanted, and they get a good water from the rain to help get established.
  Fruit, or natives, medicinal, or ornamental, all give back to papatuanuku / earth mother and actually look after us all!
• STORYTELLING AND CRAFTS
  In our home we have a special ‘Matariki box’ which contain stories, resources and treasures which we bring out near this winter celebration. We make harakeke stars, candles, lanterns, traditional breads or star shaped cookies to gift, learn new waiata or traditional arts, and pull out the sparklers.
• ENRICH CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL KNOWLEDGE
  The Winter Solstice is celebrated worldwide, with origins that are often traceable to Pagan nature celebrations. In studying international celebrations, we begin to understand other cultures, and deepen our understanding, appreciation for each other, and connection to our environment. You’ll find various winter celebration throughout the world, there is a strong association with Yule in the Northern Hemisphere. Our energy follows that of the seasons, and just as nature releases leaves in Autumn to conserve energy through winter, we too draw inward. In Maori culture, where winter is for wananga, enriching our inner life, and planning for the busy, active summer months.
• LEARN ABOUT THE WINTER SOLSTICE
  This Solstice and Equinox nature journal is full of information and illustrations to help explain the Solstices and Equinox for kids. Designed for family learning, It contains journal pages with prompts to get kids noticing the seasons, celebrating equinoxes and solstices, and leaping to the stars to understand how our magnificent sun and earth dance together to give us these seasons. It also comes with an earth/sun orbit model you can make to help deepen learning, through all 4 solstice / equinoxes.
  View Equinox and Solstice Resource Bundle Printable Download
• WINTER NATURE TABLE
  Setting up a nature table deepens understanding as it visually supports what our tamariki are observing about the seasons. Use silks or scarves in winter colours, have baskets for placing fruit or  treasures, and some meaningful learning resources such as our Seasonal Wheel Wood Print or Montesorri Seasons.
• WINTER SPIRAL
  Within Waldorf schools, it is common that there will be a Winter Spiral as part of winter celebrations. Reflecting nature, this spiral represents drawing inward during the darkest days of the year to reflect and rekindle our own inner light. This can be done beautifully with a nature spiral created with branches, stone and foliage and lit with candles; or can be done simply, yet mindfully by marking it out is snow or sand. You’ll find various versions of the winter spiral throughout the world and it is commonly associated with Yule in the Northern Hemisphere.
• WINTER NATURE MANDALA
  Each season is beautiful opportunity to head outdoors, observing and collecting nature items to create a seasonal winter nature mandala. What things can you find within your environment? What leaves have fallen? What leaves remain? When creating our nature mandala, I hold in mind that we are creating a tribute to the sun, holding the light, warmth and energy in reverence as without this source we cannot grow, eat, live. Creating a mandala in this way opens up an opportunity to pause, marvel, and offer thanks.

Celebrating bring such a richness to life, and can be as simple or deep as you make it.

What would you add to this list? How do your family celebrate?
I’d love to know how you celebrate – if anything on this list has inspired your special celebrations, please share.

Tina xx

Winter solstice celebration ideas – Creating a nature mandala

Winter solstice celebration ideas – Viewing long winter shadows

Winter solstice celebration ideas – Resources for Matariki and Winter Solstice

Winter solstice celebration ideas – Creating a simple winter spiral

Winter solstice celebration ideas – Use this printable Montessori inspired resource as part of your winter season nature table