The brightest star in the sky, the sun, moves its way into the astronomical sign of Capricorn and marks the beginning of the winter solstice every December. For those who reside in the Northern Hemisphere, the air becomes crisp, and the sky turns to grey. The shortest day falls upon us during the winter solstice, and as the days go on and spring approaches, they get progressively longer, and nights shorter. At this time of the year, the Northern Hemisphere leans the furthest away from the sun, whereas on the opposite side in the Southern Hemisphere, dawn comes early and dusk late.

The word “solstice” derives from the Latin word sōlstitium and translates to “sun stands still.” The winter solstice, which occurs every year around December 21, symbolizes a time of life and death, fire and light, and the rising sun and shining moon.

People have been celebrating the “sun’s rebirth” since the beginning of time. Longstanding pagan traditions like Saturnalia and Yule or Yuletide held ancient festivals dedicated to honoring the sun god Saturn through offerings, and have now merged into modern Christmas traditions in the West. Indigenous people continue to ring in the solstice with storytelling and ceremony, while in China the “arrival of winter”, Dong Zhi, is a time for family to get together, celebrate the year they had, and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

Kaitlyn Webber, a college student from Western New England University, uses the winter solstice as a time to create good intention for the rest of the year. She likes to be sure to wake up early and watch the sunrise the day of the winter solstice.

“I always bring a journal with me,” says Webber. “Writing down my goals and intentions for the new year help start my year off on a positive note.”

Seasonal depression, which happens when one’s mood darkens with the dark winter days, affects a significant number of college students, according to www.timely.md. More than 5% of adults experience the “winter blues” for more than 40% of the year, and for those already with mental health issues, depression rates spike. Meditation, journaling with intention, and honoring the sun through art are just a few modern ways some choose to celebrate the December solstice that can also benefit your wellbeing.

Other ways of honoring your body through the celebration of winter is drawing an invigorating essential oil bath. Dropping oils like, amber, juniper, frankincense, marigold, rosemary, and/or cinnamon into your bath to represent the energy of the sun can also help simultaneously nourish your mind and body.

Maia Marshall from Seattle, Wash. celebrates the December solstice by creating her own modern traditions. The architect major holds a yearly nature-based gift exchange and dinner with her friends and enjoys mixing traditions by having a nourishing winter feast and illuminating the evening with a large yule log.

“Every year I’ve gotten something different,” says Marshall of her yearly gift exchange. “Last year my friend got me a wooden bangle bracelet and a mini evergreen [Christmas tree.] It’s important that every gift is 100% from the earth. That’s the whole point, to really celebrate the earth.”

An additional way to praise the earth can be to build an altar at the start of the winter solstice. Fill your temple with orange and yellow candles to symbolize the return of the sun, and winter items such as pinecones and evergreen.

Miami, Fla. native Shianne Salazar says she likes to build an altar and set aside space to “bring on the winter festivities, especially since it never snows in Florida.”

Cleanse your spirit and surroundings with sweetgrass, a smudging tool to purify people’s auras, cleanse objects, and clear ceremonial areas or healing spaces of negative energy.

“It’s important to really over-do things here,” says Salazar of Miami, Fla. “We have to make up for not getting snow and the cold! Sometimes people don’t even know the winter season started so marking the day with a celebration or simply honoring the day is a good reminder.”