Celebrating the Winter Solstice
The first day of winter marks the day of the year in which we experience the longest amount of darkness. However, it’s important to remember the winter solstice also marks the time when days start getting longer! Of course, we won’t notice this until February or so. For those experiencing seasonal affective disorder, or even a mild case of the winter blahs, it’s important to keep this forward-thinking outlook. Here are some ideas to help you celebrate Yule and look forward to spring:
Light a fire in your fireplace or firepit or, light several candles throughout the room and take some time to think about areas in your life that you need to lighten up. This could mean planning spring cleaning early to get rid of clutter. Think of ways to lighten your workload for more time to do things you love. Are you experiencing heaviness in a relationship? What could you do to lighten the negativity? Reflect on how to bring “light” into your life.
Get up to watch the sunrise after the longest night of the year. Use the quiet time in whatever way suites you to start the new season on a positive note.
The 12 days of Yule - start a countdown to the new year. From December 21 through January 1, light a candle every day to remind yourself to take time to plan all the new things you’d like to do in the new year. When you light the candle, take 15-30 minutes, and either make a list, meditate on, or physically do something that will help you progress to whatever goals you have. By New Year’s Day, you’ll already be 12 days closer to manifesting what you want. Here’s an interesting article about the history of the 12 days of yule: https://www.valeriebiel.com/blog/twelve-days-yuletide-history.
Familiarize yourself with a deity connected to the winter solstice. (Did you know that in Scandinavia, the yule log was lit to honor Thor?) Present offerings to one or several deities throughout the winter to simply recognize and honor them. Below is a partial list of deities to get you started – though, any deity loves to be honored no matter the time of year! I give a bit of background info on some of them in their candle listing in the Shop section on the SMO website. (Designated with *)
Deities of the Winter Solstice
Thor* (Norse)
Baldur* (Norse)
Frau Holle (Norse)
Hodr* (Norse)
Odin* (Norse)
Skadi (Norse)
Cailleach (Celtic)
Demeter* (Greek)
Dionysus* (Greek)
Apollo* (Greek)
Horus* (Egyptian)
Saturn (Roman)
Baccus (Roman)