How to Celebrate the Start of Winter: NPR

Saturday is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. It is not only the shortest day of the year, but the official arrival of the astronomical winter.

“At 4:20 a.m. EST, the solstice marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere,” says NASA on its website.

That means from now until the end of Junewill each day get a little bit longer – and brighter (regardless of what any known animal prognosticators may predict).

In the meantime, there’s plenty to cherish in the cold season, and we’re not just talking about the December holidays.

Here are some ideas on how to celebrate the solstice and welcome winter:

Try traditions from around the world

The winter solstice has long symbolized a time of renewal and ritual for people around the world, as NPR has reported.

In Iran and many Central Asian countries, people gather to eat (especially red fruits such as pomegranates and watermelons), drink and read poetry through the night. Some Japanese traditions include taking a hot bath with the citrus fruit yuzu and eating food that contains the “n” sound (like udon) for good luck.

To learn more about winter solstice celebrations from both hemispheres, click here.

Stream the sunrise at Stonehenge

Every December and June, visitors flock to the ancient monument in England to celebrate the solstice.

The rock formation was built to align with the sun on those days, providing a dramatic view. On winter solsticethe sun sets southwest of the stone circle (as opposed to the summer solstice, when the sun’s first rays shine into the heart of the monument).

The site provides access – free of charge – for several hours on Saturday morning. If you can’t make the trip in person, you can catch one free live stream of the sunrise on the English Heritage YouTube and Facebook pages. It is best suited for night owls or early birds as it starts around 2:30am ET.

Enjoy the best of Paul Winter Consort’s solstice concerts

Aptly named saxophonist Paul Winter has been ushering in the winter solstice with a special concert for decades.

Since 1980, the Grammy winner and a number of special guests have gathered in New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine to mark the occasion with music and dance. The event has found new homes since the COVID-19 pandemic, this year on tour 10 acoustic venues throughout New England.

NPR’s broadcast of Winter’s concerts has become a beloved seasonal tradition in its own right. Last year, Winter combed through the archives and selected his favorite moments from four decades of solstice celebrations. You can listen to them here.

Read The shortest day and hear an interview with its award-winning author

Susan Cooper’s children’s book The shortest dayreleased in 2019, is a celebration of light returning after the winter solstice.

The book’s text is actually a poem she wrote in the 1970s The Christmas parties (an annual solstice celebration) and it has been read at such events for more than four decades. A Newbery Medal winner himself, Cooper collaborated with Caldecott Honorary illustrator Carson Ellis to bring its colorful images and wintry atmosphere to life.

Read or listen to NPR’s story about the beautiful book, and hear excerpts of Cooper read it out loud.

Prepare to do some “hibernation”

Several recent works offer sage advice on how to “winter”—which basically means embracing the season, not just weathering it.

This year, health psychologist Kari Leibowitz published How to winterize: Use your mindset to thrive on cold, dark or difficult days. It explores how people in places with extreme winters – from Scandinavia to northern Japan – have positive attitudes about the season, and the book offers practical tips for those who want a warmer outlook.

As Leibowitz told NPR, these tips include getting together to reclaim a summer activity in the winter (like a beach barbecue or park picnic), making a list of winter things you look forward to, and swapping out your home’s “big lights” for cozier candles and lamps .

Another useful manual is Katherine May’s 2020 book, Wintering. The English author recognizes that winter can be a painful and isolating time – but also a time of transformation. Her book, which involved travel to remote, freezing destinations, explores how to confront the season head-on.

“Each time we hibernate, we develop a new knowledge of how to return to the world,” May said Morning edition that year. “We learn about our tastes and preferences. We learn about what makes us happy.”

Treat yourself to the best books, shows and movies of the year

With winter weather approaching, it’s a good time to pick out your next entertainment obsession, from a TV series to binge with your family to an album you can play on loop while you defrost in the car.

NPR has you covered with recommendations in every category, thanks to staffers who consume culture in every possible form year-round. They’ve put together a complete guide to the best of 2024.

NPR’s annual book recommendation engine is back with over 350 new titles (plus all those from previous years, going back more than a decade). Critics compiled their favorite shows and movies of the year – searchable by both genre and where to watch them.

NPR Music has compiled a few lists of its own, including the year’s 124 best songs and 50 best albums. Plus, check out NPR’s favorite games of the year, which can be sorted by platform and genre.

Take care of yourself

Maybe darker days make you crave better sleep or you feel stuck in a rut. Maybe you’re looking for tips to protect your home from winter weather, your car from icy roads and your family from COVID-19. You could be curious about the benefits of cold diving or how to dress for a winter workout.

Enter NPR’s Life Kit, with expert advice on all manner of physical and mental health topics. Whether you want to get a head start on your New Year’s resolutions or just take winter one day at a time, here are some resources to help:

ONE version of this story originally released in 2021.