How to Start a Winter Solstice Tradition

The following books would be a great start for every Winter Solstice tradition. Read these with your family to prepare for Winter Solstice.

The Winter Solstice by Ellen Jackson (see slideshow below to get a copy)

The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer & Jesse Reisch (see slideshow below to get a copy)

The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice by Carolyn McVickar Edwards (see slideshow below to get a copy)

I have hand picked some items that would be great additions to your Winter Solstice tradition. They can be found in the slideshow below:



Take a Yule Log Hike!
Materials: Warm Clothes, Sense of Adventure.

This is an activity that can be done the weekend before Winter Solstice/Yule. On a bright crisp morning, dress the family warmly and head for the park, mountains, or beach. As you hike along, looking for that special Yule log to place in your hearth, also be looking for decorations to make it personalized by each member of the family. Select a proportionally sized log that will fit easily into your fire place. Ash, oak, or cedar make great Yule logs. Try to find one that has already fallen and is on the ground. On the beach, driftwood can be found and obtained for your log. As you are looking, or on your way back home look for natural decorations to adorn your Yule log with. Traditional adornments are, pine cones, leaves, holly sprigs, mistletoe sprigs, rosebuds, winter flowers, wheat stalks, and corn husks. If you must cut anything from a living plant, remember to ask and thank the plant for its gift.

If you don't have a fireplace, you can select a smaller log to be used as a centerpiece for your holiday dinner. Candles can be arranged around it or a large hole can be drilled in order to place a candle on it. You could also burn the log that you have selected in a bon fire on the beach or in nature each year. Be sure to check weather conditions before doing so...especially here in Southern California where wildfires and firestorms can easily occur.

Happy Winter Solstice!