Winter solstice traditions and holidays
Toji
Yule
St. Lucia’s Day
Dongzhi Festival
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+info
+info
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Shab-e Yalda
Inti Raymi
Saturnalia
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+info
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Inti Raymi
Called the festival of the sun, this is celebrated on June 24 every year, the winter solstice of the southern hemisphere. This is the second-largest festival in South America. It is also celebrated in indigenous cultures throughout the Andes.
Ways people celebrate Inti Raymi:
- A ceremony is held, reenacting ancient Incan rituals
- Offerings to the sun
- Dancing and music
Toji
This is a festival that celebrates the winter solstice in Japan. It's celebrated for health and good luck!
Ways people celebrate Toji:
- Bathing in Yuzu baths
- Eating foods that start with the "to" sound (冬至) to bring good luck.
- Temples and shrines hold Tojisan festivals to celebrate the turning point of the year.
Shab-e Yalda
This is an ancient Persian tradition, celebrated either on Dec. 21 or 22, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the birth of the sun. It is also celebrated to welome the new day and longer days.
Ways people celebrated Shab-e Yalda
- Family and friends gather to stay awake through the longest night.
- Red foods are eaten to symbolize "the glow of dawn".
- Reading poetry.
Dongzhi Festival
This is a festival that celebrates the arrival of winter, and the day of this event is when the nights are the longest and the days are the shortest in the northern hemisphere. This was first discovered in the Han dynasty.
Ways people celebrate Dongzhi:
- Worshipping ancestors or heaven
- Eating traditional foods (dumplings, tangyuan, wonton soup, mutton soup).
- Making rice wine
- Counting the nines of winter
Saturnalia
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn. This festival occurred near the winter solstice and is associated with Saturn because the sun enters Capricorn, Saturn's astrological house. Although it's no longer an official holiday, many of its traditions have been carried over to other holidays, including Christmas. Still, this holiday is celebrated in places with significant Roman history, such as Chester, England, or in private.
Ways people celebrated Saturnalia
- Feasting
- Gift Giving (small figurines and wax candles)
- Decorating homes
- Singing carols
Yule
Yule is a Northern European holiday originating as a Norse holiday. It's celebrated a few days before Dec. 25. After Christianity came to Europe, Yule became replaced with Christmas, but many elements of Yule are still seen when celebrating Chirstmas.
Ways people celebrate Yule:
- Hanging mistletoe
- Singing carols
- Lighting fires
- Feasting and drinking
St. Lucia's Day
This Scandinavian festival represents the light in the dark winter by having girls in white gowns and candle crowns, bringing saffron buns and coffee, also honoring the Christian martyr St. Lucy. This is celebrated on Dec. 13 because it was the old date of the winter solstice before Europe changed to using the Gregorian calander.
Ways people celebrate St. Lucia's day:
- Young girls, usually the eldest daughters, dress as St. Lucia, wearing a white gown with a red sash and candle crown.
- Music and light
- Saffron buns and Coffee
Winter solstice traditions and holidays
Olivia Ku
Created on December 3, 2025
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Transcript
Winter solstice traditions and holidays
Toji
Yule
St. Lucia’s Day
Dongzhi Festival
+info
+info
+info
+info
Shab-e Yalda
Inti Raymi
Saturnalia
+info
+info
+info
Inti Raymi
Called the festival of the sun, this is celebrated on June 24 every year, the winter solstice of the southern hemisphere. This is the second-largest festival in South America. It is also celebrated in indigenous cultures throughout the Andes.
Ways people celebrate Inti Raymi:
Toji
This is a festival that celebrates the winter solstice in Japan. It's celebrated for health and good luck!
Ways people celebrate Toji:
Shab-e Yalda
This is an ancient Persian tradition, celebrated either on Dec. 21 or 22, symbolizing the triumph of good over evil and the birth of the sun. It is also celebrated to welome the new day and longer days.
Ways people celebrated Shab-e Yalda
Dongzhi Festival
This is a festival that celebrates the arrival of winter, and the day of this event is when the nights are the longest and the days are the shortest in the northern hemisphere. This was first discovered in the Han dynasty.
Ways people celebrate Dongzhi:
Saturnalia
Saturnalia is an ancient Roman festival and holiday in honour of the god Saturn. This festival occurred near the winter solstice and is associated with Saturn because the sun enters Capricorn, Saturn's astrological house. Although it's no longer an official holiday, many of its traditions have been carried over to other holidays, including Christmas. Still, this holiday is celebrated in places with significant Roman history, such as Chester, England, or in private.
Ways people celebrated Saturnalia
Yule
Yule is a Northern European holiday originating as a Norse holiday. It's celebrated a few days before Dec. 25. After Christianity came to Europe, Yule became replaced with Christmas, but many elements of Yule are still seen when celebrating Chirstmas.
Ways people celebrate Yule:
St. Lucia's Day
This Scandinavian festival represents the light in the dark winter by having girls in white gowns and candle crowns, bringing saffron buns and coffee, also honoring the Christian martyr St. Lucy. This is celebrated on Dec. 13 because it was the old date of the winter solstice before Europe changed to using the Gregorian calander.
Ways people celebrate St. Lucia's day: