After the winter solstice the days begin to grow longer, offering more and more hours of sunlight until the calendar reached the summer solstice – the longest day of the year.
Because the days begin to lengthen, in some cultures the winter solstice signifies a holiday of renewal and fresh beginnings.
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In the Northern Hemisphere the winter solstice occurs each year on one of two days: December 21 or 22. It signifies the point at which the Northern hemisphere is tilted farthest from the sun, making it colder with less light.
Winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere coincides down to the instant with Summer Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, as we tilt away from the sun, they tilt towards it.
For Iranians, this is also “Shab-e Yalda ,” a holiday which celebrates Mithra, the Sun God, and her victory over darkness. Traditions involve sharing a special meal, burning fires, performing acts of charity, and sometimes staying up until sunrise to celebrate the return of light.
In Peru, which celebrates the winter solstice in June, along with the rest of the Southern Hemisphere, Inti Raymi or “sun festival” in Quechua is a way for people to honor Inti the god of sun. With deep origins in Incan tradition, the holiday was banned after the Spanish conquest, but given new life in the 20th century, and still celebrated today.
Right here in the United States, the Zuni, a Native American Pueblo tribe in western New Mexico, celebrate the winter solstice as the start of the year, performing Shalako , a ceremonial dance. The Pekwin, or “Sun Priest” will signal the exact moment when the sun is reborn, and then the dance commences.
In Nothern Arizona, another indigenous community the Hopi tribe marks the winter solstice with the celebration of “Soyal” an all-night ceremony which commences after the “Sun Chief” announces the setting of the sun.
How you can celebrate winter solstice
Winter solstice can be celebrated in all different ways depending on your culture, and your family’s traditions.
If you don’t have a particular holiday that aligns with the date, Sunset magazine lists these easy ways to mark the solstice, based on Nordic and Pagan tradition:
Build a yule altar
Decorate a yule tree, or make a wreath
Exchange gifts made from nature
Spend time outdoors
Light lots of candles
What happens at winter solstice?
Winter solstice occurs at the same instant all across the Northern Hemisphere and coincides exactly with summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere, marking the beginning of each astrological season for the different parts of the globe.
On that day, the Northern Hemisphere will experience less than 12 hours of sunlight, the shortest amount all year, while the Southern Hemisphere will experience more than 12 hours, the longest amount.
Why is the winter solstice so important?
Since before recorded history, different cultures have celebrated winter solstice, The History Channel reports.
Many of those ancient traditions have endured into the modern day, or inspired iterations that take the form of holidays we now know well. Saturnalia, for example, an ancient Roman solstice celebration can be thanked for some Christmas traditions, and St. Lucia’s Day, a festival of lights in Scandinavia traces back to a Norse solstice holiday.
