The winter solstice marks the first day of winter today – the shortest day in the northern hemisphere. The sun rises today at 7:22am and sets at 4:13pm (in Montpelier, VT). Tomorrow the days will begin to get longer (up until the summer solstice where we’ll have 6 hours and 40 minutes more day length!). Today, enjoy this transition point in the year from darkness to light.
Here are some ideas to celebrate:
-Decorate a solstice tree for the birds with garlands of popcorn and berries. Read The Night Tree by Eve Bunting for inspiration.
-Play with shadows! With the sun reaching its lowest point on the horizon today, how long does your shadow get? Can you make your shadow touch another shadow? Can your shadow disappear inside another shadow?
-Head outside with some hot chocolate; listen to the sounds and look up at the stars on this longest night. Read the book The Longest Night by Marion Dane Bauer.
-Have a bonfire and learn about other solstice traditions in the book The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer.