The Darkest Night: Exploring the Winter Solstice

The Darkest Night:

Exploring the Winter Solstice

What is the Winter Solstice?

The winter solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the

year in the Northern Hemisphere.

It happens when the Earth’s axis is tilted the farthest away

from the sun.

The Earth’s Axis

The Earth’s axis is an imaginary line
that Earth spins around. This line runs
right through the center of Earth, from
the north to the south poles.

You can’t feel it, but the Earth makes
one full spin each day. Daylight happens
when we are facing the sun, and night
happens when we spin away from the
sun.

The Earth’s Axis

The Earth’s axis is also tilted. When it
tilts towards the sun, it is summer for
that hemisphere. When it tilts away from
the sun, it is winter for that hemisphere.

Summer has longer days with more
daylight while winter has shorter days
with more darkness.

Learn More

Multiple Choice

What is the Earth's Axis?

• An imaginary pole that the earth spins around

• The North and South Pole

• The core of the Earth

• The relationship between the Earth and the Sun

The Longest Night of the Year

The winter solstice happens on December 21st. It marks the
longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.

Many cultures and religions have decided to celebrate the
winter solstice because of the significance of daylight,
darkness, and the turning of the seasons.

Dongzhi

In China, the Winter Solstice is
known as Dongzhi. It is a time
when families gather together to
enjoy a special meal. One popular
dish is Tangyuan, which are
sweet rice balls. These
round-shaped treats symbolize
unity and togetherness.

Multiple Choice

The sweet rice balls eaten during Dongzhi represent...

• darkness and light

• the winter solstice

• unity and togetherness

• family traditions

St. Lucia’s Day

In Scandinavia, particularly in
Sweden, the Winter Solstice is
celebrated with a festival called
St. Lucia's Day. On this day,
people dress in white robes and
wear wreaths with candles on
their heads. They sing songs and
bring light to the darkness of
winter.

Multiple Choice

During St. Lucia's Day, why do people light candles?

• because they look festive

• to bring light to the darkness

• to stay warm

• because they are afraid of the dark

Saturnalia

In ancient Rome, people
celebrated Saturnalia during the
Winter Solstice. This festival
honored the god Saturn and was a
time of feasting and merriment.
It was common for people to
exchange small gifts and
decorate their homes with
greenery.

Multiple Choice

What traditions from Saturnalia do other cultures still practice today?

• wearing togas and sandals

• hosting the Olympic games

• bull riding

• giving gifts and decorating houses with greenery

Soyal

The Hopi Native American tribe
in the United States celebrates
the Winter Solstice with a
ceremony called Soyal. It is a time
of purification and renewal. The
Hopi people perform rituals to
bring balance and harmony to the
community.

Multiple Choice

What does the Hopi tribe's celebration focus on?

• Dancing to celebrate their love of music

• family traditions including giving gifts

• bringing balance and harmony to their community

• decorating their homes to celebrate the returning of the light

Inti Raymi

In South America, the Inca
civilization celebrated Inti Raymi
during the Winter Solstice. This
festival honored Inti, the sun god.
People gathered to witness the
sunrise and participate in
colorful parades and ceremonies.

Multiple Choice

Why does Inti Raymi celebrate the Sun God instead of the Moon or Darkness?

• Because this takes place in the Southern Hemisphere where they have the most daylight of the year

• Because they do not like the darkness

• They prefer to focus on the Sun God because he is more powerful than the Moon God

• Because it is tradition

Across many cultures, the Winter Solstice

is seen as a time of rebirth and hope. It
marks the turning point when the days

start to get longer and the nights shorter.
It is a reminder that even in the darkest

times, there is always light and the

promise of a new beginning.