![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/lit-candles-on-a-log-centerpiece.jpeg\")
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The <\/span>winter solstice marks<\/span> the <\/span>longest night of the year<\/span>, the <\/span>first day of winter,<\/span> and the time when the light of the sun will begin to return with <\/span>longer days<\/span>. While historical <\/span>winter solstice celebrations<\/span> often featured Celtic <\/span>druids<\/span>, <\/span>Pagan traditions<\/span>, or <\/span>saturnalia<\/span> in <\/span>ancient Rome<\/span>, many people now choose to use the moment to honor the passing season and welcome in new beginnings.<\/span><\/p>\n If you want to celebrate the winter<\/span> solstice<\/span> this year, we have all the ideas you need. From what to do to how to decorate, here\u2019s your guide to <\/span>winter solstice traditions<\/span> new and old.<\/span> Just as we might celebrate the <\/span>summer solstice<\/span> and the longest day of the year, the <\/span>winter solstice<\/span> (the shortest day of the year) has become an important moment in December in the Northern Hemisphere (or in June in the <\/span>Southern Hemisphere<\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re celebrating the moment alone, gathering with <\/span>loved ones<\/span>, or hosting a big party, here are some thoughtful ways you can welcome in a <\/span>new year<\/span> of light, warmth, and love.<\/span><\/p>\n The <\/span>first day<\/span> of winter is an ideal time to clear your space and make everything feel fresh again. You might not want to tidy up and clean, but doing this can help you reset your home and make it feel like the cozy paradise you need for the winter months ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n Cleaning up your space is also a must-have if you\u2019re planning a get-together or party in honor of the winter<\/span> solstice<\/span>. Start early so you can refresh a room every day, or set aside a day to go around tidying up and cleaning before your guests arrive.<\/span><\/p>\n While <\/span>Christian<\/span> events like Christmas popularized decorating a holiday tree, it\u2019s also a much-loved part of <\/span>winter solstice celebrations<\/span>. Decorating the tree with elements from nature can remind you of the beauty of it and encourage you to take a moment to pause.<\/span><\/p>\n Many people like to decorate an outdoor tree for the holiday, so they\u2019re not cutting down one to bring into their home. If you don\u2019t have an outdoor tree, look for other ways to decorate your yard or home \u2014 like adding a wreath to your front door.<\/span><\/p>\n Winter solstice celebrations<\/span> encourage us to reflect, be mindful, and show gratitude, and journaling is a great way to do this.<\/span><\/p>\n Sit down solo with a journal and write down memories from seasons past, or invite friends along to do this as a group exercise. Give yourself quiet time to sit, reflect, and find joy in the little moments, and choose some goals for the future.<\/span><\/p>\n Outside isn\u2019t the only space to decorate this <\/span>winter solstice<\/span>. Bring the beauty of nature to every element of your home and celebrations with decor from the <\/span>natural world<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Hang <\/span>mistletoe<\/span> up in your home, or use it to decorate a table display. Use <\/span>pinecones<\/span>, dried leaves, logs, and other natural pieces from your local area to create a centerpiece for your dining table or a piece of long-lasting art.<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Signature Greenvelope<\/p><\/div>\n Gathering your <\/span>loved ones<\/span> for a <\/span>winter solstice celebration<\/span> can be all about relaxation. Instead of a more lively event with <\/span>lively holiday party games<\/a><\/strong>, invite people over to spend some quiet time together.<\/span><\/p>\n Gather friends for a board game night, spa night, vision board party, or quiet movie night. Another fun idea is a book club night \u2014 you could use these<\/span> charming matching invitations<\/strong><\/span><\/a> to spread the word.<\/span><\/p>\n There are many locations around the world that throw epic winter solstice celebrations, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n While it may not be possible to travel to one of the many symbolic locations around the world, the good news is, you don\u2019t have to. These days, it\u2019s easy to find a livestream of an organized event to watch from the comfort of your home.<\/span><\/p>\n Look for a live video feed from your chosen location, or play a recorded version in the background of your own dinner party or event later in the week.<\/span><\/p>\n We love filling our homes with candles in <\/span>midwinter<\/span>. It\u2019s one of the best ways to make your space feel comfortable, cozy, and warm. Light is a popular symbol for <\/span>winter solstice celebrations<\/span>, with many traditions dating back to the <\/span>return of the sun god<\/span> in <\/span>Peru<\/span> and various <\/span>Scandinavian<\/span> countries.<\/span><\/p>\n Embrace this focus on light with real candles, LED candles, or even twinkle lights. Extend it outside your home too with some soft outdoor lighting, or place LED candles on your window sills so they can be seen from outside.<\/span><\/p>\n In the past, families would bring in a log from outside and burn it in the hearth as part of <\/span>midwinter<\/span> celebrations. If you have a fireplace, you could continue this tradition now, but you can also embrace having a <\/span>yule log<\/span> in other ways.<\/span><\/p>\n Find a smaller log, and use it as a centerpiece, decorated with small candles that you can light to add warmth and brightness to a room. Invest in a decor piece in the style of a <\/span>yule log<\/span> that you can use for many years in a row. Swap the traditional <\/span>yule log<\/span> for a cake version instead. The choice is yours!<\/span><\/p>\n Design: 2birdstone | Folksy Frame Invitation<\/a><\/strong><\/p><\/div>\n You can\u2019t go wrong with a dinner party as your <\/span>winter solstice celebration<\/span>. Whether you invite a handful of people or make it a larger event, enjoying a feast with your friends and family is always fun.Create a menu that matches your own tastes, or work in some traditional <\/span>midwinter<\/span> feast foods like nuts, oranges, and <\/span>pomegranates<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Gift-giving<\/span> isn\u2019t an essential part of the celebration, but you could give your guests a small token or <\/span>party favor<\/a><\/strong> to take with them as they enter into the winter season.<\/span><\/p>\n Making flower crowns is a lovely way to celebrate in summer, and the same can be true for winter too \u2014 only with seasonal elements from the <\/span>natural world<\/span> instead.<\/span><\/p>\n Swap the fresh flowers for evergreen leaves, berries, and twigs, and create a rustic winter crown that you can either wear for a party or use as a decoration in your room.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s the time of year where many of us reflect on the months that have gone before, eager to remember the good moments and take more of that with us into the season ahead.<\/span><\/p>\n Sit down with a pen and paper, and write some of your favorite memories from the year so far. Add notes of gratitude, giving thanks to the people that made the moments possible, the hard work you\u2019ve put in to reach milestones, and the presence of joy in your life.<\/span><\/p>\n Light is such a key part of <\/span>midwinter<\/span> celebrations, and a lantern is a lovely way to bring that to life. Try a<\/span>\u00a0simple DIY lantern project<\/strong><\/span><\/a>. This is a fun craft that works for both adults and children, and it requires only a few resources to complete.<\/span><\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve made your lantern, you could hang it on a string outside your front door or in the backyard, place it on your dinner table to light up your meal, or take it with you to an event.<\/span><\/p>\n You don\u2019t have to celebrate the winter<\/span> solstice<\/span> solo or at home. Many areas host community events to celebrate the holiday, with people gathering together to welcome in the light and reflect on the year.<\/span><\/p>\n Look for an event that matches your interests and the age group of your party. Lantern parades, poetry events, community days, and evening gatherings are all popular <\/span>winter solstice celebrations<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Design: Ashley DeMeyere Design<\/p><\/div>\n If you can\u2019t find an event, maybe it\u2019s time to host your own. Invite your <\/span>loved ones<\/span> over for dinner and festivities like lighting the yule log or playing games together, or plan a grand yard or street party in honor of the solstice instead.<\/span><\/p>\n Whatever you choose, our collection of <\/span>online invitations<\/a><\/strong> has something for every type of event. Try this <\/span>ethereal winter party invitation<\/a><\/strong> for an elegant get-together, and customize all the elements to create an invitation that\u2019s as unique as the party you\u2019re planning.<\/span><\/p>\n
\n<\/p>\n14 Ideas for Your <\/b>Winter Solstice Celebration<\/b><\/h2>\n
1. Clean Your Space<\/b><\/h3>\n
2. Decorate a Holiday Tree<\/b><\/h3>\n
3. Reflect and Journal<\/b><\/h3>\n
4. Decorate with Nature<\/b><\/h3>\n
5. Enjoy Quiet Time Together<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"Winter](\"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Foiled-Book-Club-Invitation-2.jpg\")
6. Watch a <\/b>Winter Solstice<\/b> Livestream<\/b><\/h3>\n
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7. Fill Your Home with Candles<\/b><\/h3>\n
8. Make a <\/b>Yule Log<\/b><\/h3>\n
9. Host a Dinner Party<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"Folksy](\"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Folksy-Frame-Invitation-1.jpg\")
10. Make Winter Crowns<\/b><\/h3>\n
11. Write a Gratitude List<\/b><\/h3>\n
12. Make a DIY Lantern<\/b><\/h3>\n
13. Take Part in a Community Event<\/b><\/h3>\n
14. Host a <\/b>Winter Solstice<\/b> Party<\/b><\/h3>\n
![\"Nouveau](\"https:\/\/www.greenvelope.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Nouveau-Noel-Invitation.jpg\")
Host a Cozy <\/b>Winter Solstice Celebration<\/b> This Year<\/b><\/h2>\n