Looking for winter solstice celebration ideas?
There is a chill in the air, the mornings are darker for longer and we return home in the dark on our evening walks. Winter has been approaching slowly, in the North, small tohu (signs) have been marking a shift in the seasons.
Today the Winter Solstice is here, the sun is in the lowest point in the northern sky, and has disappeared quickly tonight on this shortest day and longest night of the year.
Around the world theĀ Winter Solstice was revered as one of the most important times of the year. Light meant life for many cultures, who looked to the moon and stars to chart the year, and relied on the sun to grow crops, healthy animals, and maintain the health of the people.
Hotoke / Winter is a sacred time of year, and I notice the seasonal changes. Nature slows down and rests and renews, and I feel her strong encouragement for me, for us, to do the same.
There is much to celebrate at this time also. Winter marks the beginning of the New Year for many cultures, including here in Aotearoa, with the rising of Matariki.
The solstice is still recognised as an important yearly marker and is celebrated in many countries throughout the world.
This time of celebration invites us to come together, to reflect, to plan, to be grateful, to learn, to expand.
WInter Solstice celebration ideas:
1) LANTERN WALK
Celebrate the winter season with a festival of light, acknowledging the darkness of winter and the return of the light as the longer days increase following the winter solstice. Make your own lanterns, decorating glass jars or creating waxed paper lanterns and join in a local lantern festival, or create your own.
2) STAR GAZING
Traditionally, Maori measured time by lunar calendar. Months were noted by observing the moons phase as it cycled from new to full. By pairing it with seasonal signs and stars, the month of the year was determined. We can view these star markers during the still, predawn hours. This is also when we observe the return of the Matariki star cluster, marking the beginning of the Maori New Year.
3) LEARN: WHAT IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE?
This Solstice and Equinox nature journal is full of information and illustrations to help explain the Solstices and Equinox for kids.
4) CELEBRATE MATARIKI
Matariki is a national holiday in Aotearoa/NZ that heralds the beginning of the Maori new year.
It became an public holiday in 2022 and widely celebrated.
It is a time of remembrance, a time for togetherness, reflection, and celebrations that include hakari/feasts, planting, arts, waiata, planning, and wananga. Look for local events in your area and connect with this seasonally aligned, Southern Hemisphere appropriate, new year celebration, or create your own celebrations with friends and whanau.
5) THE TIME OF THE LONG SHADOWS
As the seasons change, so do our shadows. On a sunny winters day your shadow will be the longest you will cast all year. Pair up and measure the length of your shadow at midday on the winter solstice. Record the time, date, length, location and your height, and repeat on other seasons to compare.
6) OBSERVE THE WINTER SUN AND MOON POSITIONS
Observe the sun and its patterns on these shorter days, take note, and compare to other times of the year. What time does it rise and set each day? Where do you first notice it rise above the horizon? Where do you see it set below horizon? Note the sunrise/set times and take note to compare.
7) EAT SEASONALLY
Cool winter days chill the soil and so the garden is lean this time of year. Traditionally, cultures around the world have stored their harvest from the Autumn months to eat throughout this time. In Aotearoa, our climate in sub tropical and we can still grow many things.
Citrus trees such as mandarins, lemons, and oranges all provide winter fruit. Havenāt got these trees? Consider planting one! Winter is a good time to plant trees while the soil is softer and wetter. Leafy greens, celery, chokos, leeks, cabbage all provide for us in the garden if have been planted early enough to get established. Notice what is in season, what can you can pick and prepare, give thanks, think where it came from and how long it took to grow.
8) MAKE + LIGHT CANDLES
It is a lovely tradition to create your own candles for special celebrations.
In our home we roll our own out of beeswax, which is a simple activity that even young children can do. Use these candles during your winter meals, give as gifts decorated with some twine and beautiful nature poked in, or reserve for special dates such as new or full moon, Winter Solstice or remembering loved ones. Our rolled beeswax candles are simple and special to gift or make.
View rolled beeswax candle kit >>
9) PLANT TREES
Winter is a good time to get trees into the ground, the soil is soft for digging, trees are dormant and able to be transplanted, and they get a good water from the rain to help get established.
Fruit, or natives, medicinal, or ornamental, all give back to papatuanuku / earth mother and actually look after us all!
View fruit tree seeds >>
10) STORY TELLING AND CRAFTS
Winter, snuggled up around thr fire, reading stories and sipping steamy drinks…mmm, cosy. Now is teh time to bring out all your treasured winter books. If you have kids, you can create a space to display these and watch them become inspired to read together.
In our home we have a special āMatariki boxā which contain stories, resources and treasures which we bring out near this winter celebration. We make harakeke stars, candles, lanterns, traditional breads or star shaped cookies to gift, learn new waiata or traditional arts, and pull out the sparklers.
11) MAKE A WINTER NATURE TABLE
Setting up a nature table deepens understanding as it visually supports what our tamariki are observing about the seasons. Use silks or scarves in winter colours, have baskets for placing seasonal fruit. Collect treasures from nature to display and explore and some and some meaningful learning resources.
View NZ Seasonal Wheel Wood Print >>
View Montesorri Seasons printable resource >>
12) MAKE A WINTER SPIRAL WALK
Reflecting nature, this spiral represents drawing inward during the darkest days of the year to reflect and rekindle our own inner light. This can be done beautifully with a nature spiral created with branches, stone and foliage and lit with candles; or can be done simply, yet mindfully by marking it out is snow or sand. Youāll find various versions of the winter spiral throughout the world and it is commonly associated with Yule in the Northern Hemisphere. Within Waldorf schools, it is common that there will be a Winter Spiral as part of winter celebrations.
13) LEARN SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE SEASONS
Relevant in the Winter during Matariki, and indeed across all months of the year, this perpetual calendar features detailed illustrations of the Southern Hemisphere seasons. Designed with MÄori days, months and seasons of the year, it makes a great language and visual learning tool for the classroom.
14) MAKE A WINTER NATURE MANDALA
Each season is beautiful opportunity to head outdoors, observing and collecting nature items to create a seasonal winter nature mandala.
What things can you find within your environment? What leaves have fallen? What leaves remain?
When creating our nature mandala, I hold in mind that we are creating a tribute to the sun, holding the light, warmth and energy in reverence as without this source we cannot grow, eat, live. Creating a mandala in this way opens up an opportunity to pause, marvel, and offer thanks.
15) MAKE A WISH
Making wishes with wish paper is a simple, meaningful ritual. SImply write your wish on the paper, roll it, light it, and it floats up, taking your wishes to the stars. Want to make some wish paper? Learn how below!
18) PLAN YOUR GARDEN
Winter is a perfect time to plan for the Summer garden. We can reflect on our garden successes from the past year, and plan for planting in the spring, and prepare the soil now.
When planting and growing alongside kids, we show them nature syscles – how the trees grow alongside the children, giving back fruit, habitat for wildlife. We teach them how to be self sufficient and grow heather foods in their own backyard or school garden. Veges sown and harvested can be saved for seed. We gift them nature connection, which in turn has been studies and shown to increase mental wellness.
Planting is a gift for generations to come!
19) FIND MATARIKI IN THE NIGHT SKY
Learn to find the Matariki constellation with your own eyes!
You’ll need to rise early – before dawn – to see Matariki over the winter months, but is worth it. Get up early to watch Matariki rise, perhaps go to the beach or mountain dress warm and take a special breakfast or hot cuppa.
This resource contains simple illustrations, making it easy to learn how to find Matariki.
Also includes how the stars form the ‘Great waka in the sky’, and a close up of the 9 main stars in the constellation.
View How to Find Matariki resource >>
View How to find Matariki resource on TPT >>
So there you have it, our list of Winter Solstice celebration ideas.
I’d love to hear what you do or make, please share and inspire us š
Want more Matariki inspo?
Here are more resources you should know about:
MATARIKI CELEBRATION IDEAS – Here are some Matariki celebration ideas to do to create meaning and tradition with tamariki and whanau.
MAORI DAYS OF THE WEEK RESOURCE – This FREE te reo MÄori Seasons, Months & Days of the Week printable for teachers that explains further the Maori units of time.
MARAMATAKA RESOURCE FOR SCHOOLS (+ discount) – Teach tamariki about te reo Maori calendar, the maramataka, with this Maramataka calendar for kids. Ā Use the code: ‘ WINTER2024 ‘ to get it for $26!
MAORI DAYS / MONTHS / SEASONS FLASHCARD RESOURCE – This flashcard resource can be printed, cut and laminated for daily class use. Comes free with the maramataka calendar for kids.
NATURE HUNTS IN TE REO (+ ENGLISH) – Seasonal nature hunts for NZ primary kids, ECE, outside learning, forest school. Learn te reo kupu (words) as you hunt.
Make sure you check out these Matariki celebration ideas, download your FREE te reo MÄori Seasons teacher resource.
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