Celebrating Winter Solstice Around the World: A Lesson in Diversity and Inclusivity

By Jessica Schwartz | December 12, 2024

The winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year, has been a time of celebration across the globe for centuries. From honoring the return of the sun to fostering community bonds, cultures worldwide have embraced unique ways to mark this significant day. These diverse traditions offer a meaningful opportunity to teach children about inclusivity, respect, and the beauty of our shared world.

Here are three winter solstice celebrations from around the globe that inspire cultural appreciation and connection.

Soyal (Hopi Tribe, North America)

For the Hopi people of North America, Soyal, or Soyalangwul, is one of the most significant ceremonies of the year. Held on the winter solstice, this sacred tradition marks the sun’s rebirth and the start of the Kachina season—a time of spiritual renewal, gratitude, and community unity.

Soyal isn’t just an astronomical event; it symbolizes life’s cyclical nature and the deep connection between humanity and the natural world. As the sun is welcomed back, longer days and brighter times lie ahead, reflecting Hopi values of balance and harmony.

One of Soyal’s central rituals involves creating Pahos, or prayer sticks, which are crafted with great care and adorned with symbolic colors, feathers, and patterns. These prayer sticks are placed in sacred locations to send blessings for health, prosperity, and balance to the Earth, animals, and crops.

Teaching Opportunity for Children:

Learning about Soyal allows children to explore Indigenous perspectives on gratitude, interconnectedness, and the environment. Crafting symbolic prayer sticks or engaging in storytelling about the Kachinas—the spiritual beings central to Hopi cosmology—can help kids connect with this tradition in a meaningful way.

Dong Zhi (China and East Asia)

Dong Zhi, or “Winter’s Arrival,” is a cherished festival celebrated across East Asia, especially in China. It marks the winter solstice, a turning point in the year when days begin to lengthen and light returns. For over 2,000 years, Dong Zhi has been a time to honor family, reflect on life’s cycles, and embrace the brighter days ahead.

Rooted in ancient Chinese philosophy and astronomy, the festival symbolizes the rebirth of yang energy—the positive, active force in the yin-yang balance. This harmony between yin and yang reflects the rhythms of nature and the balance we strive for in our lives.

At its heart, Dong Zhi is about family and community. It’s a time to gather with loved ones, share a warm meal, and express gratitude for the bonds that carry us through life’s colder, darker moments. People have a number of different dishes on this day. In southern China, tangyuan, glutinous rice balls served in sweet syrup or soup, are a staple. Their round shape represents unity and completeness. In the north, dumplings take center stage, rooted in a legend about Zhang Zhongjing, a physician who created dumplings to prevent frostbite.

Dong Zhi is also a time for reflection and renewal. Many families visit ancestral graves or altars to honor their forebears, reinforcing the festival’s themes of continuity and gratitude.

Teaching Opportunity for Children:

Dong Zhi is an excellent way to introduce kids to East Asian traditions and values. Engage them in making tangyuan or dumplings, share the legend of Zhang Zhongjing, and reflect on the importance of family and balance in life. These activities provide a hands-on connection to the festival’s cultural significance.

Yule (Northern Europe)

“Yule” comes from the Old Norse jól or yule, referring to a midwinter festival. For the ancient Germanic peoples, Yule was a time to honor the cycles of nature and the rebirth of the sun. It was celebrated with bonfires, rituals, and sacrifices meant to ensure the return of light and fertility to the Earth.

The festival’s connection to the solstice symbolizes the victory of light over darkness—a universal theme in winter celebrations. The Yule log, one of the most enduring symbols of the festival, was burned to bring warmth and light to the darkest night of the year. This practice also carried a spiritual meaning, as the burning log was thought to banish negative energy and invite blessings for the year ahead. Today, symbolic Yule logs, like cakes or candles, carry on this tradition. Evergreens such as holly, ivy, and mistletoe also play a key role, symbolizing resilience and life during winter.

Modern Yule celebrations, especially among those inspired by Norse traditions or modern paganism, feature candlelit gatherings, family feasts, and acts of reflection. These practices connect participants to ancient customs while fostering a sense of unity and gratitude.

Teaching Opportunity for Children:

Yule provides a chance to teach kids about seasonal traditions highlighting the enduring connection between humanity and nature. Encourage them to decorate a mini Yule log, learn about the symbolism of evergreens, or host a family feast that celebrates togetherness and gratitude.

Winter solstice celebrations remind us that even in the darkest times, light and hope are just around the corner. By sharing these traditions with children, we teach them about the beauty of cultural diversity, the importance of community, and the universal values of gratitude, renewal, and resilience.

This year, explore these global traditions as a family. Try making tangyuan, decorating a Yule log, or crafting symbolic prayer sticks. Through these activities, you’ll honor the richness of the world’s cultures and create meaningful memories that highlight the shared light of humanity.