The Winter Solstice Is The Perfect Holiday To Celebrate With Friends & Here's Why

OK, so there’s a solid chance your December is booked with the traditional assortment of holiday events. But may I interest you in just one more? Promise it’s worth it.

You probably know the Winter Solstice as the shortest, darkest (read: saddest) day of the year, but that’s definitely not doing the holiday justice. The ~astronomical~ event, which falls on December 21 or 22 (depending on the year) in the U.S., marks the official start of winter in the northern hemisphere, and, for most of us, that’s kind of all there is to it. But here’s the thing: The holiday we’ve all been (literally) sleeping on has levels, honey.

Some fun facts: Solstices happen twice a year, once in the summer in June and once in the winter. The name comes from the Latin word “sol,” which means sun. The “stice” part originates from “sistere” which means to stand still in (you guessed it) Latin, according to Merriam-Webster. So, besides sounding very cool, the word solstice references the way the sun appears in the same-ish spot at sunrise and sunset during these events.

This Winter Solstice, instead of turning into a human burrito on the couch, adding giant pool floats to your Amazon cart, and pining for summer, I’m resolving to celebrate by getting together with the people that make my world go round. Lots of cultures consider this day a rebirth of the sun, which is exactly the energy I’m going for.

Because who doesn’t love an excuse to spend more time with their people (and a theme!), here are a bunch of activities and traditions to get into on this Winter Solstice. Check them out and tell your friends to save the date for December 21, because the darkest day of the year is about to be so lit.

1. Hold A Toga-Optional Toga Party

OK, this isn’t technically a Winter Solstice tradition (yet), but celebrating this astronomical event was very much a thing in Roman times. Around this time of year, the Romans would shut down work and school for a month of eating and celebrating in order to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture. Thus, your new favorite Winter Solstice party was born. Order some bed sheets (praise be to AmazonBasics) and tell your chosen fam to bring their favorite app.

2. Plan A Yule Dinner Party

Way back in the day, ancient Norsemen celebrated the longer days ahead by lighting a large “Yule log” and feasting until it burned out days or weeks later. Many who celebrated believed that each little spark the log gave off represented a new animal that would be born the following year. Large logs can be tough to come by (especially in small apartments), so just throw on that streaming fireplace show, plan a Scandinavian inspired menu (Swedish meatballs, anyone?), and toast to all the good stuff to come as the days get longer.

3. Celebrate Dongzhi With Dumplings

In Chinese, Dongzhi literally means “winter’s arrival,” and it’s a festival that officially became a thing sometime between 206 BC to 220 AD. Like so many holiday traditions, this one is meant to recognize heaven and ancestors by drinking and eating great food. While every region has its own Winter Solstice specialties, dumplings (in all forms) are one of the most popular options throughout the country.

So why not celebrate by hosting a dumpling night with your besties, complete with rice wine and candlelight? Make your own by ordering the ingredients (yes, acceptable ingredients do include frozen dumplings) from Amazon Fresh or support your favorite local Chinese restaurant by ordering in.

4. Throw A Winter Solstice-Themed Birthday Party For Your Capricorn Friends

The Winter Solstice just happens to fall within the start of Capricorn season in astrology. IYKYK, but for the uninitiated, this happens when the sun’s position aligns with the constellation of Capricorn, and anyone born between December 22 and January 19 will have the goat as their Zodiac sign.

Because this isn’t a regular birthday party (it’s a Winter Solstice birthday party), this shindig will require lots of candles, dim lighting, a cozy fire, and a special DIY ritual either recognizing all the good things the past year brought or setting intentions for the year ahead — or both! One option: Have your guests write down anything they want to do or feel as the days get longer, throw all the papers in a fireproof receptacle and burn ‘em to put that beautiful energy out into the world. Then, get back to celebrating with the people you love.