6 Ways to Celebrate the Winter Solstice, the Outside Way

As the days get shorter and the temperatures drop, it’s almost as if the outdoors is hinting that the Winter Solstice is just around the corner.

Oh, wait. That’s because it is.

This year’s shortest day falls on December 21. Although the solstice marks the official start of winter—and the day with the least amount of daylight hours—it also means that every day forward brings with it a little more sunshine.

Whether you’re a seasoned practitioner of Winter Solstice traditions or you’re searching to start fresh this year with your family, we’ve got you covered.

Letting Go of the Old to Make Room for the New

The Winter Solstice is a time to reflect on the year behind us and to embrace the longest night of the year. For many, this could mean letting go of areas in our lives where we hold on to old feelings, moving past places where we feel stagnant, and opening ourselves to the new year by setting an intention. Holding an intention-setting ceremony outdoors can be incredibly powerful.

Make It a Solstice Ritual: By yourself or with others, write on small scraps of paper things that you would like to let go of. These can be habits, people, or beliefs held. Acknowledge it, and then gently let it burn in an outside fire or over a protected candle.

Chase the Light on a Sunset or Sunrise Hike

The sun rises in the East and sets in the West. Depending on whether you are a morning bird or a night owl, you can take advantage of the minimal daylight hours by hiking a trail with an east-facing summit in the morning or a west-facing summit in the evening.

Make It a Solstice Ritual: A Winter Solstice hike can quickly become a mindful practice when we focus on the silence of the space around us with quiet reflection. Just like during an intention-setting practice, ask yourself what you’re ready to release from this past year, and what you’re prepared to let in.

Soak in a Hot Spring or Practice a Sauna Ritual

With the darkest day of the year comes the inevitable winter chill. Natural hot springs are the perfect way to connect with the outdoors while also embracing stillness. But if you’re feeling like your adrenaline needs a solstice spike, Outside has rounded up a list of hot springs located near winter adventure hot spots.

If soaking in a naturally heated pool isn’t your jam, why not try a sauna? From New York to Minnesota to California, Nordic-style public floating saunas are becoming popular—and they’re just what your solstice needs. Spending time in a sauna, either by yourself or with others, is a ritual in and of itself. Plus, they could even boost your mental health.

My dog, Cholla the Teddy Bear Cactus, was born on December 21. Over the last four years, it’s become a holiday tradition to pack up the pups, put together a big backpack filled with doggie treats, and throw on my snow spikes to hike through the Montana snow—and into some of our favorite hot springs. Though Cholla doesn’t love to sit in the springs himself, frolicking through and tamping down the snow-heavy trails has quickly become his favorite birthday tradition. For a boy named after the desert, he sure loves his mountain cold.

— Madison Dapcevich, associate editor

Make It a Solstice Ritual: If the past year was stressful and overwhelming, meditating in a sauna can bring genuine relief. Be sure to hydrate well and choose a comfortable temperature that is hot, but not too simmering. Sit comfortably, and practice a deep-breathing technique to enhance your relaxation. Box breathing is a great place to start. It involves four steps: inhale, hold the breath, exhale, and hold again, each for an equal count.

If you’re on the hunt for your own sauna this holiday season, we’ve put together a gear guide for some of our favorites.

Forget the Heat. Hop in a Cold Plunge Instead.

If sweating isn’t your thing, maybe getting chilly with it is—rituals surrounding cold plunges date back to the 5th century, and for good reason. Cold plunges are rejuvenating, and some say alternating between cold and hot, such as between a plunge and sauna, may offer cardiac benefits.

Whether it’s in your backyard or abroad, popping in a cold plunge may be a new ritual to incorporate into your Winter Solstice tradition. Here’s a roundup of how to dive in, as well as some of our favorite cold plunges around the world.

Make It a Solstice Ritual: Cold plunges are all about staying in the present moment and calming our shock response back to baseline. Is there a creek or lake where you can safely plunge? Consider bringing a warm drink or another comfort item each year and adding to the tradition.

Whip Out Your Favorite Skis… or Snowshoes, or Snowboard. You Get It.

What better way to celebrate the first official day of winter than by hopping on your favorite skis? Whether cross-country, alpine, or on a snowboard—backcountry or frontcountry.

Make It a Solstice Ritual: Sliding on snow isn’t the only fun thing about skiing. Building tradition around the small stuff, like relishing our favorite après-ski or soaking up conversation around next year’s intentions, can bring us closer to our Winter Solstice celebration.

Create a Tradition Around Your Favorite Meal

Outdoorsy traditions don’t have to be type two fun. Food and nutrition fuel our outdoor adventures, so it seems only reasonable that meals take a seat at your Winter Solstice table. After your outdoor adventure of choice, get warm near loved ones and sit down for a “Solstice Only” meal—that is, one you save for the shortest day of the year, every year.

Every winter, my mom makes her traditional Trinidadian curry shrimp recipe. She learned how to make it when she was in her early 30s, and its a tradition that’s been passed down in our family for three generations. (Though, I usually just watch and act as the kitchen’s hypeman).

It’s my favorite part of the winter season, because this dish is extra spicy. It warms up my insides and makes for the best cozy, comfort food. It’s spicy enough to make my nostrils flare and sweat, which I, oddly, like. My grandpa used to sell a hot pepper sauce recipe, and since I’m family, I never had to pay for it.

— Ayana Underwood, senior health editor

Make It a Solstice Ritual: Set the dinner scene with candles and turn off phones to settle into the moment’s stillness. Incorporating specific thought-provoking ideas, such as one thing you’re leaving behind from the year, or welcoming the return of the light, can turn an otherwise simple meal into an annual tradition.

Find Something That Speaks to Your Outside Spirit

There is no one way to celebrate the Winter Solstice. For us, it’s about finding a way to get outside, build stoke for the upcoming season, and create space mentally and physically so that we can continue to grow.

There are many ways to build a ritual around the winter season, from creating ornaments in nature to building a winter time capsule. For more on building outdoor family traditions you can start this year, click here.