Winter solstice: travel destinations in the Northern Hemisphere

While most people center their December activities on Christmas celebration, why not try something different - at least once? Have you ever considered events and destinations that pay homage to the winter solstice, marking the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere?

For travelers seeking an experience laden with symbolism of ancient times, Stonehenge in England and Newgrange in Ireland are two major destinations for winter solstice.

At Stonehenge, visitors gather in the chilly pre-dawn hours and in the evening to witness a breathtaking moment: the sun rising, then setting, in perfect alignment with the ancient stones. This unique sequence offers a glimpse into how the ancient cultures understood and celebrated celestial events.

In Ireland, the Newgrange monument becomes the venue of a mesmerizing solstice event. The monument is a passage tomb – a burial structure consisting of a narrow passage made of large stones leading to one or more burial chambers, covered by a mound or cairn, and often aligned with astronomical events. The Newgrange monument, dating back over 5,000 years, is aligned precisely with the winter solstice sunrise.

Thanks to the longest nights of the year, around the time of the winter solstice Northern destinations become the playground of the Aurora Borealis and its breathtaking spectacle. Two of the best places to dive deep and truly enjoy this incredible phenomenon are the Lofoten Islands, in Norway – due to their location above the Arctic Circle – and Denali National Park in Alaska, USA – a place with minimal light pollution, offering the ideal backdrop for the aurora’s vivid displays of greens, purples and pinks.

In Reykjavik, Iceland, you also get to discover local culture and traditions. Much to the delight of children, traditional Icelandic Yule Lads songs are sung in town in the thirteen nights leading up to Christmas, a different one each night. A mesmerizing experience, especially when it blends with the Northern Lights dancing across the sky.

And in Japan, the winter solstice is marked by the Tōji celebration, a centuries-old tradition that combines wellness and spirituality. This ritual involves bathing in hot springs or baths infused with yuzu, a fragrant citrus fruit believed to have purifying and healing proprieties – its oils are said to guard against colds, improve skin health and relax the mind.

The practice, also known as Yuzuyu or Yuzuburo, is accompanied by the lighting of bonfires and the belief in the power of fire to repel evil spirits and to invite good fortune. The fires also symbolize the welcoming of the sun’s return after the longest night and the shortest day of the year.