The Winter Solstice: Lessons from Canada’s Indigenous Customs on Respecting the Season

The winter solstice marks the turning point of the year when the sun begins its slow return, promising longer days and renewed energy. For many Indigenous cultures in Canada, this moment symbolizes the cyclical nature of life. It is an opportunity to pause, reflect on the past year, and set intentions for the future.

This teaches us to embrace winter as a season of rest and renewal, rather than resisting its cold and darkness. In today’s fast-paced world, winter can remind us to slow down, honor stillness, and prepare for growth in the months ahead.

Honouring the Earth’s Cycles

Indigenous customs often emphasize living in harmony with the Earth’s natural rhythms. The winter solstice is a reminder of the interconnection between humans and the environment. Through ceremonies, storytelling, and community gatherings, Indigenous peoples acknowledge the land, the seasons, and their roles as stewards of nature.

We, too, can adopt this mindset by paying closer attention to the world around us. Take time to notice the quiet beauty of winter—the soft snow, the crisp air, and the stillness that invites introspection. By respecting the season and its purpose, we can deepen our connection to nature and find a sense of peace.

Winter solstice and winter in general is a time of fires, and fire is an old soul. Fire is also comforting, beautiful and mesmerizing to look at. You can put medicines on the fire, like sage or cedar. You can sit around a fire and feel its warmth. You can cook over a fire, put offerings into a fire, even pray, sing and tell stories next to a fire.

Community and Gratitude

For many Indigenous groups, the winter solstice is a time to gather, share stories, and give thanks. It is an opportunity to strengthen bonds and show gratitude for the gifts of life, even during the leaner months of winter.

While we ask for good things for the upcoming year and give thanks for our blessings, it’s so important to also give back and make offerings. Reciprocity, even to the spiritual world, matters. Set out food, make prayer ties, or whichever offering is prescribed by your own teachings. 

This is a powerful lesson for all of us. In a season that can often feel isolating, taking the time to connect with loved ones and express gratitude can bring warmth and light. Simple acts, like sharing meals, reflecting on blessings, or reaching out to those in need, can transform the coldest days into moments of comfort and joy.

It’s so easy to get wrapped up in what isn’t working for us, what didn’t happen for us in the past year or loss we may have endured. But the fact that we are all still here, breathing and living right now, is evidence of SO many blessings. Start with the small things, like, clean air, a warm space to be in, your physical abilities, the gift of your intelligence and creativity. Recount these things in your mind, in a prayer or meditation, or even write them down on a piece of paper. There is no limit to how long this gratitude list can be! And in fact, the longer the list the better. 

Storytelling and Reflection

Winter is traditionally a time for storytelling in many Indigenous cultures—a way to pass down knowledge, preserve history, and inspire wisdom in the next generation. These stories often teach respect for the Earth, the importance of balance, and the interconnectedness of all things.

We can embrace this tradition by using winter as a time for reflection and creativity. Whether through journaling, sharing family stories, or simply contemplating the lessons of the year, we can find meaning in the quiet of the season.

Respecting the Season

The winter solstice and the teachings of Indigenous peoples remind us to respect winter for what it is—a season of rest, introspection, and preparation. Instead of rushing through it or seeing it as an obstacle, we can honor its gifts: the chance to pause, reconnect, and realign ourselves with the natural world.

Our natural world is rich with medicines, for both body, mind and spirit, and our ancestors knew the power of drinking medicinal teas. If possible, prepare and drink teas from your or other Indigenous homelands. Drink tea with loved ones. Pray over your tea, pray to the root and plant nations, to ancestors, and to the water, and know that you are activating medicine on a cellular and even generational level. 

By embracing these lessons, we not only deepen our appreciation for winter but also cultivate a mindset of gratitude and harmony that can carry us through every season. Canada’s Indigenous customs offer a profound example of how to live in balance with the Earth, teaching us that every moment, even the darkest, has its own light.

The Winter Solstice on December 21 offers a beautiful opportunity for reflection, gratitude, and renewal. It is a time to honour the longest night of the year and the return of the light.

Here are some meaningful ideas to contemplate as you mark this special day:

1. Reflect on the Year Past – What challenges did you overcome, and how have they shaped you? What moments brought you joy, connection, or growth?

Use the solstice to acknowledge your journey and celebrate your resilience.

2. Let Go of What No Longer Serves You

This a a favourite practice of mine. Ask yourself what habits, beliefs, or relationships feel heavy or unhelpful and how can you release these to create space for new growth?

The solstice, as a turning point, is a powerful moment for letting go and starting fresh.

3. Set Intentions for the Year Ahead

What are your hopes and aspirations for the coming months? How can you invite more light, love, and positivity into your life?

Think of these intentions as seeds that will grow with the increasing daylight.

4. Contemplate Your Connection to Nature

Do the changing seasons influence your emotions, energy, and habits? What can you learn from nature’s cycles about rest, renewal, and growth?

The solstice reminds us of our deep connection to the Earth’s rhythms.

5. Embrace Stillness and Rest

Are you allowing yourself enough time to rest and recharge? Are you faithful to the season’s purpose? How could you cultivate greater rest and reflection in your daily life?

Winter invites us to slow down and find solace in stillness, just as nature does.

6. Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude reinforces our respect for living in harmony with others, and our Creator. What are you most thankful for in this season of your life? Who or what brings light to your darkest days?

Gratitude helps us focus on the positive and appreciate the present moment.

7. Meditate on Light and Darkness

Every day, we face decisions, and situations that place us at the centre of negative and positive, good or bad etc… What does the balance of light and darkness mean to you personally?

The solstice is a powerful reminder that both light and darkness have value and purpose.

8. Honour Community and Connection

How can you deepen your connections with loved ones and your community? In what ways can you bring light and warmth to others during this season?

Winter is a time for gathering, sharing, and supporting one another.

9. Consider Your Role as a Steward of the Earth

How can you live more sustainably and honor the natural world? What steps can you take to give back to the planet in the coming year?

The solstice is a chance to reflect on our responsibility to care for the Earth.

10. Celebrate the Return of the Light

What does the return of longer days symbolize for you? How can you embody hope, renewal, and growth in your own life?

Use this moment to welcome new beginnings and the promise of brighter days ahead.

By taking time to reflect on some of these questions and ideas, you can honour the winter solstice as a sacred moment of rest, gratitude, and transformation. Whether you journal, meditate, or simply sit quietly with these thoughts, the solstice can serve as a powerful reset for the year ahead.