Light Up the Night

Your guide to celebrating the winter solstice in Philly

As fun as the holiday season can be, the weeks leading up to Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa can also feel a little frenzied. There’s shopping to get done, family gatherings to plan, and work deadlines to meet before we can enjoy those long-awaited vacation days. If all this has you feeling a little unmoored, consider taking a pause to observe the winter solstice on December 21st.

The winter solstice occurs when the sun travels its shortest route across the sky, resulting in the darkest day of the year and the official start of winter. After the solstice, sunlight gradually increases, and our days grow longer.

For centuries, human beings have recognized the winter solstice as a seasonal milestone. Ancient Romans, Pagans, Persians, and Incas all held rituals to welcome the sun’s return. While ceremonies differed across cultures, most were centered around symbols of light, warmth, and rebirth.

Today, many people still regard the winter solstice as a chance to reconnect with the natural world and the changing of the seasons. Contemporary celebrations often take place outdoors and incorporate space for reflection, intention-setting, and mindfulness practice.

If you’re curious but have never celebrated the holiday before, consider checking out one of these winter solstice events happening in Philly later this month:

Women’s Winter Solstice Ritual @ Three Queens Yoga
FRI, Dec. 20th, 6:30-8:30PM
410 Monroe Street (Queen Village)
Cost: $50

Activate your inner bliss at this special mindfulness workshop by yoga instructors Kristen DiOrio and Shiya Furstenau. The evening will include a mix of intention-setting, guided meditation, and gentle yoga poses. Participants are invited to bring an item from home to contribute to the Circle of Light altar. Suggestions include objects found in nature, such as evergreen branches, rocks, or fruit. 🙌💚🌟

Winter Solstice Wander @ The Morris Arboretum
SAT, Dec. 21st, 8:30-10AM
100 E. Northwestern Avenue (Chestnut Hill)
FREE with cost of admission

Soak in some extra sunlight on the shortest day of the year while wandering the picturesque grounds of the arboretum. Gardens open at 8:30am, giving patrons a rare chance to explore the property during early morning hours. Be sure to dress warm and pick up a trail map at the Widener Center upon arrival. 🥾🌲🌲🌲

Solstice Celebration @ The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education
SAT, Dec. 21st, 2-5PM
8480 Hagy’s Mill Road (Roxborough)
Cost: $30

Get back in touch with Mother Nature at this outdoor solstice celebration. Rose Hammerman, of Philadelphia Free Range Education, will teach you how to build your own wreath using foraged plants. Afterward, you can practice “forest bathing” on a slow-paced sunset hike led by certified outdoor mindfulness guide Molly Frieberg. Festivities will also include music, hot chocolate, and crafts. 🎶☕✂️

Solstice Celebration @ The Glen Foerd Mansion
SAT, Dec. 21st, 2-5:30PM
Glen Foerd, 5001 Grant Avenue (Torresdale)
Cost: FREE

This celebration is packed with educational activities for both kids and adults. Kid-friendly activities include a fire-building demonstration and lantern-making workshop led by Heidi Weinstein, director of the Lily P.A.D.S. Children’s Program.

Meanwhile, the history buff in your family can take a self-guided tour of the mansion or join naturalist Mike Weilbacher for a guided outdoor walk, where they’ll learn about the science and history behind solstice celebrations. Hot drinks and light refreshments will be provided, but participants should bring their own camp chairs and flashlights to enjoy the bonfire. 🧣🧤🔥🔥🔥

River: A Winter Solstice Acceptance Celebration
SAT, Dec. 21st, 7-10PM
The Fallser Club, 3721 Midvale Avenue (East Falls)
Cost: $20

🎷💙 Beat the winter blues and join Waverly Alston and The Black Breath Collective for an uplifting holiday program at The Fallser Club. This family-friendly event features two short plays and musical performances from Isaac Stanford, The Right Fiction, and The Black Breath Collective. Expect inspirational music from various genres, including pop, folk, soul, and jazz. 🎶

❄️☀️✨ SOLSTICE CELEBRATING AT HOME 🔥🌚🌲

Even if you can’t make it to any of the winter solstice events happening around Philly, there are still plenty of ways to celebrate the holiday at home:

• Create Your Own Yule Altar. Ancient pagan societies constructed yule altars to symbolize the sun’s return after the darkest day of the year. To build your own, select a candle in a gold or yellow hue and surround it with symbols of winter, such as mistletoe, pinecones, and evergreen branches.
• Host a Winter Solstice Feast. Prepare a special meal with winter-warming foods such as soups, stews, teas, and mulled cider. Switch off the electric lights and enjoy your dinner by candlelight to marinate in the long, dark night and the changing of the seasons.
• Make a DIY Lantern. Get crafty with your little ones and create a DIY lantern to light up the year’s longest night! Homemade lanterns are easy to make and can be assembled from materials you likely have at home. For the body of your lantern, use a mason jar or clear milk carton with the top half cut off. To decorate, adhere colored tissue paper, leaves, or pressed flowers to the outside of your jar or carton using Elmer’s glue. Allow your project to dry, drop a tea candle inside, and voila—you’ve got a colorful lantern to light the dinner table!
• Catch the Sunrise. The winter solstice is an ideal time to connect with nature and set intentions for the coming winter. Consider waking up early on the shortest day of the year to watch the sunrise. You can use this time to meditate, journal, and ground yourself in the shifting of the seasons.

What do you think? Are you planning to celebrate Winter Solstice this year? Share your comments below, and click the links for more information.