The Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and the longest night, occurs annually in December. While the winter season can often be associated with cold, dreary days and afternoons ending in early darkness, that doesn’t have to be the case for your organization. Add some fun to the season this winter by greeting the Winter Solstice with a team building event to keep spirits high even as the work week gets cold.
When is the Winter Solstice?
The date for the Winter Solstice varies from the 20th to the 23rd, with the 21st and the 22nd being the two most common dates. 1903 was the last time that the Winter Solstice occurred on the 23rd, and it won’t happen again until 2303. It will not occur on the 20th until 2080.
The reason for the differing dates of the Winter Solstice is the Earth’s rotation and the location of the setting and rising sun. The Gregorian calendar has 365 to 366 days each year, which is different from the Tropical year, which consists of 365.242199 days. A Tropical Year is the length of time that the sun takes to return to the exact same spot that it was at a year ago.
While the Northern Hemisphere of the world welcomes the first real day of winter on the Winter Solstice, the Southern Hemisphere will be welcoming the first day of summer.
Winter Solstice Traditions and Celebrations from Around the World
The Winter Solstice is celebrated around the world in various ways, and some of these traditions have been observed for centuries.
In Ireland, people gather around the Newgrange monument in the Boyne Valley. The over 5,000-year-old stone monument features a 62-foot passageway that leads to a chamber. When the sun rises on the Winter Solstice, the room fills with light. Every year, people enter a lottery to be picked to stand in the room. In 2017, 32,500 people entered the lottery, and only 60 were chosen to enter.
A traditional practice in Japan involves dipping into a hot bath filled with citrus fruits called yuzu. Even local zoos have started to place the fruits in the water that macaques, hippos, and capybaras soak in.
Wiltshire, England, is the home of Stonehenge and is one of the most popular places to welcome in the first day of winter. No one knows for certain why Stonehenge was built. One of the theories is that it was used as a temple to worship the sun because the stones are situated so perfectly that the sun shines through them as it rises and sets. Every year, thousands of people, many of them druids and pagans, gather at Stonehenge on the Winter Solstice.
“Solstice” derives from the Latin scientific term solstitium, which contains sol, meaning “sun,” and the past participle stem of sistere, meaning “to make stand.” Although “winter” has already begun in parts of the country, officially, it begins on the winter solstice.
Start your own Winter Solstice traditions at work this year with exciting team building programs that employees can enjoy together. Try the Bears & Blankets program to combine fun with giving back to those in need, or Virtual Trivia Blast! for a high-energy game that is perfect for remote teams.
Turning the Winter Solstice Into a Meaningful Team Moment
As the Winter Solstice marks the transition into the colder months, it also presents a unique opportunity to pause and reconnect, much like the traditions that celebrate light, warmth, and renewal during the darkest day of the year.
Modern teams can take inspiration from these rituals by creating space for connection, reflection, and shared purpose. Whether through a fun group activity or a meaningful shared experience, honoring the season together can uplift team morale and build stronger bonds.
If you’re looking for inspiration on how to bring your team together this winter, explore our curated list of season-ready indoor team-building activities.
Sources:
- http://mentalfloss.com/article/72659/10-things-you-probably-didnt-know-about-winter-solstice
- https://www.almanac.com/content/first-day-winter-winter-solstice#
- http://time.com/5060889/winter-solstice-rituals/https://www.bustle.com/p/does-the-winter-solstice-date-change-2017s-happens-to-be-falling-on-the-unluckiest-day-of-the-year-7597423>/li>
