Winter solstice

About the return of light, Christmas and Yule... With a recipe for a Winter Solstice cake 😋

Dec 19, 2024

Imagine a place somewhere between the woods and the sea, where there is enough space for the Wilderness and the Wildflowers, where there is room to feel the sun on your skin, the wind tousling your hair, the earth, the sun, and the rain embracing and inspiring you. A place where there’s enough space to wander, to pause, to reflect, and to wonder…

The winter solstice, the day with the shortest daylight and the longest night, falls on December 21 this year. I love the winter season, but if you find it challenging, here’s some good news! After the winter solstice, the days gradually get a little longer.

A Bit of History

We’ve known about the sun’s yearly cycle for a very long time. For example, the stone formation at Stonehenge likely served as a kind of calendar in the Stone Age. The stones are positioned in such a way that the summer and winter solstices are recognizable. During the winter solstice, the sun rises at the southwest side of the stone circle. Even today, you can “celebrate” the summer and winter solstices at Stonehenge, or watch live via YouTube.

Christmas

The celebration of Christmas as we know it, has essentially overtaken or replaced the celebration of the winter solstice. The winter solstice is rarely celebrated consciously anymore, while Christmas is celebrated worldwide. However, by celebrating Christmas—with the lights on your tree and candles around your home—you’re also honoring the winter solstice. Like the solstice, Christmas is a celebration of light and hope.

Yule

In Scandinavian countries, Yule, or Midwinter, is celebrated—a 12-day period starting with the winter solstice. Yule has likely been celebrated since the 6th or 7th century and is one of the eight festivals in the Celtic calendar. Think of Yule as a time for winter bonfires, plenty of drink (to stay warm 😉), and making noise (to “yule”). While Christmas has Christian origins, Yule is rooted in a natural phenomenon: the winter solstice.

Interestingly, "God Jul" means "Merry Christmas" in Norwegian, showing how Yule and Christmas are closely connected. This also reminds me of the Netflix series Hjem til Jul (Home for Christmas), which I highly recommend.

More About Yule

Curious about the 12 days of Yule and their significance, I found an interesting article online. Each day has a theme, which I’ll share below (source: Babipur):

Day 1: Mothers’ Night
The evening before the solstice, we honor our ancestors and share their stories. Many bake cookies, often using a family recipe.
Day 2: Winter Solstice
A “Yule log” is traditionally lit on this day to encourage the sun’s return.
Day 3: Mistletoe
Bringing greenery indoors to ward off spirits. Mistletoe also symbolizes fertility, luck, peace, and strength.
Day 4: Deer Mother
Based on a folktale, this honors reindeer as a source of sustenance. It’s a story of courage and hope with a touch of magic.
Day 5: The Christmas Man
Shamans, after consuming fly agaric mushrooms, were said to travel the spiritual world and return with gifts on reindeer.
Day 6: Christmas Tree
Again, greenery is brought indoors for protection from evil spirits.
Day 7: Christmas Witch
Like Halloween, this is a time to connect with the spiritual world—perfect for storytelling and magic.
Day 8: Singing with the Trees
A tradition of caroling, similar to wassailing around January 5/6, honoring fruit trees.
Day 9: Y Fari Lwyd, Marie Lwyd
A little bit a spooky story about a gray mare trying to enter homes for food, drink, and mischief.
Day 10: Elves
Guardians of our homes, offering company and protection during dark days.
Day 11: Hygge
Counteracting the dark and cold with cozy time, candles, hot chocolate, blankets, and books.
Day 12: Hogmanay
The last day of the year, and definitely a time to celebrate!

Yule, like Christmas, is a celebration rich in traditions and rituals that have made their way into modern times. I love it! Below are some ideas, many inspired by Yule traditions, to celebrate the solstice and welcome back the light.

Tips

Ways to mark the winter solstice and celebrate the return of light:

Bake a Winter Solstice Cake: The recipe is shared below, and it’s delicious!
Drink Yule Tea: I still need to try this myself 😊.
Light a Candle: Traditionally, you’d keep it burning until sunrise, but do blow it out before sleeping!
Watch the Sunrise or Take a Walk: Check sunrise times where you live or watch it live at Stonehenge.
Bring Winter Greenery Indoors: Folklore says it confuses evil spirits. Mistletoe also has magical properties.
Gift a Book: Inspired by Iceland’s tradition of Jólabókaflóð—give books on Christmas Eve and spend an hour reading together. I’m doing this year!
Pause and Reflect: Meditate, journal, or simply take time for introspection. Winter is perfect for this.
Read Wintering by Katherine May: A beautiful book about winter rituals, like witnessing the solstice sunrise, seeking the Northern Lights, exploring saunas, and winter swimming.

And should you still need or want to sit at your computer, here you can find a ‘Yule log’ background with some quiet ‘music’.

Winter Solstice Cake

While researching the Winter solstice, I found a delightful recipe for a Winter Solstice Cake with carrots, coconut, and warm spices. It’s perfect for the season!

Ingredients for the Cake:

200 g grated carrots
60 g unsweetened shredded coconut
300 g dark brown sugar
240 ml vegetable oil
4 large eggs, at room temperature
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
240 g (whole wheat) flour
1½ teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons ground ginger
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
75 g raisins
60 g chopped walnuts

Ingredients for the Cream Cheese Frosting:

55 g unsalted butter, at room temperature
60 g cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon salt
180 g powdered sugar
60 g unsweetened shredded coconut

Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a baking pan (a 20 cm/8-inch round pan or a bundt pan) and dust with flour.
In a large bowl, combine the grated carrots, shredded coconut, brown sugar, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract.
In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, stirring until well combined.
Gently fold in the raisins and chopped walnuts.
Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for 35–40 minutes. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick into the center; it should come out clean.
Allow the cake to cool fully before applying the frosting.
Beat the butter and cream cheese together until light and fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add the vanilla extract, salt, and powdered sugar, and beat for another 2 minutes until smooth.
Remove the cooled cake from the pan and spread the frosting evenly over the top. Sprinkle with extra shredded coconut and any additional decorations of your choice.