Creative ways to celebrate winter solstice with kids

Winter Solstice Traditions and Activities to Start with Your Family

Recently, celebrating winter solstice has become a fun tradition in our family. I love that there is zero pressure and each year we can choose how simple or complex we want to observe it. Weather permitting, one goal we have is to try to spend the evening outdoors, enjoying time together in nature.

Living in Michigan, this is the season where we mentally and physically prepare to wait for new life to return in the spring. If we usher it in with a positive attitude, instead of dreading it, we can set the tone for the winter months. Rather then just endure winter’s chill, we try to focus on the beauty of nature, the joy of different seasons and spend time outdoors. We also emphasize that seasons often mirror our lives and how we all face seasons of hard, cold days, but it is only for a time.

What is Winter Solstice?

If this is unfamiliar to you, perhaps you are wondering what is Winter Solstice and when does it begin? Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and marks the beginning of the coldest, darkest season. Since we live on a planet with a tilted axis, this is the point where we are positioned the farthest from the sun. It’s the beginning of winter in the Northern hemisphere and of summer in the Southern hemisphere.

When does Winter Solstice begin?

If you’re located in the Northern Hemisphere, winter solstice occurs on Thursday, Dec 21st or 22nd.

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Activity Ideas to Celebrate Winter Solstice

Throughout history, many cultures have honored this day with differing celebrations and traditions. There are tons of different ways to mark the day from baking bread, going on a night hike, reading books or having a bon fire. We’ve rounded up some creative activities to try both indoors and outdoors this year.

1. Create Icicle Lanterns

Go on a hike and collect icicles on your property or in your neighborhood. These beautiful icicle lanterns are easy to make by simply stacking them in a pyramid shape, creating a teepee and placing a tea light candle in the center. We safely use battery powered ones.

2. Bake Sun bread

Fill your bellies with warm, buttery sun bread. This activity pairs perfectly with the book, Sun Bread by Elisa Kleven. Here are additional details and a recipe on on how to make your very own delicious sun bread.

3. Build a Bon fire

A bon fire is a wonderful way to enjoy the wintery weather on the first day of Winter Solstice. Here are some fun campfire games to play with a group. If there is a burn ban, you could also use a solo stove.

4. Make Nature Mandalas
Throughout nature you can see symmetry and repeated patterns. Create your own nature mandalas utilizing natural materials like berries, acorns, and pine needles found in nature. Creating nature art is a wonderful way to celebrate the beauty of this winter season.

5. Go on a Sunset Walk or Lantern Lit Night Hike

Head outside and enjoy the fresh air during a sunset hike or wait until night fall and grab a lantern or flashlight for a night stroll. Warm up with hot chocolate afterwards. Many local nature centers and state parks also host lantern lit hikes during winter solstice. If you are local to Michigan here is a list of Lantern Lit Hikes occurring throughout the state.

6. Create a Winter Spiral

The basic elements of a Winter Spiral are simple. Gather pine tree boughs, rocks, lanterns or leaves to create a large spiral upon the ground. Have participants start with one large candle and light each one as they walk outwards. Placing the lights along the spiral. Here is an example of a winter spiral activity.

7. Build Snow Lanterns

If you’re lucky enough to have snow in your region, building snow lanterns will help extend the evening activities with a warm glow.

In Sweden, one of the first activities children learn on a snowy day is how to build snow lanterns. All you need is the perfect packing snow and tea lights. Check out the full tutorial on How to Build a Snow Lantern.

8. Decorate an Outdoor Pine Tree

Inspired by the book, Night Tree by Eve Bunting, a wonderful family winter tradition we’ve started is to decorate an outdoor pine tree with edible ornaments for animals.

9. Make Edible Ornaments for Birds

Each year we enjoy making special edible bird feeders. It’s important to not hurt our furry friends, so we use biodegradable, edible materials for our bird feeders in the backyard. Here are several different options depending on your child’s ages.

10. Dine by Candlelight

Turn off the lights in your home and enjoy dinner by candlelight this evening. Everything seems cozier and special by the warm light of candles.

11. Make a Lantern

Create your own nature lanterns for winter solstice with this simple tutorial from Tanglewood Hollow. Children will love gathering items and crafting these beautiful lanterns using natural materials.

12. Read Books Together

Snuggle up with a good book. There are many wonderful children’s picture books that have inspired us through the years. Here are the ones we highly recommend to add to your home library collection that relate to winter solstice. Looking for additional Christmas and Winter Themed books, we’ve compiled a list of our favorites to inspire you.

Closing Thoughts

Our desire is that these activities have inspired you to get outside and enjoy nature while observing the Winter Solstice. We’re curious, how do you celebrate the change of seasons? Challenge yourself throughout the day to look outside your window and give thanks for a warm, cozy home or step outside and experience the simple pleasures of this little place we call home in the world.

Follow Discovering Anew’s Facebook page or subscribe for more nature activity ideas and camping trip reviews. Check out these featured posts below, especially if you’re still searching for Christmas gift ideas.

Multiple factors keep children from engaging in the recommended 60 minutes of active movement each day. Here our 21 Outdoor Winter Activities, to keep you motivated this season. On frigid winter days when you just can’t get outside, we’ve compiled a list of engaging Indoor Activities to Help Kids Burn off Energy .