The winter solstice on Dec. 21 marks the shortest day and longest night of the year. On the solstice, Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted as far away from the sun as it can be, resulting in roughly seven hours of sunlight depending on where you are on the continent.

Beyond astronomy, many cultures around the world celebrate the earth moving from the darkness back to light as a time of spiritual renewal and remembrance.

Native American tribes like the Blackfeet or Zuni have their own traditions, including holding festivals where people gather in song and dance and prayer to pay homage to the sun deity and ask for blessings and balance in the upcoming year.

Iranian people commemorate the solstice through the celebration of Yalda, a night where families gather to eat foods like pomegranates to symbolize blessings, fertility and the sun. The origins of Yalda night date back five thousand years, commemorating the birth of the god of the sun, Mithra. Families and friends stay up late and welcome the new light as the sun rises to celebrate light’s victory over darkness.

In China, the Dongzhi festival is celebrated on the day of the winter solstice. The festival has been celebrated since the days of the Han Dynasty, and translates to “winter’s arrival.” People celebrate Dongzhi by visiting temples to give thanks to heaven and to pray for good health and blessings for the new year, while leaving offerings in front of their ancestors’ graves to pay respect.

Many people of different religious and spiritual backgrounds have taken to TikTok to educate people about how their cultures celebrate the day. Content about the winter solstice has increased on the app as December approaches, with the TikTok hashtag racking in over 29 million views. While many users share the history of thier cultural practices, others provide tools to viewers to create their own winter solstice rituals.

What the winter solstice means to them

“In the Native American culture, this is our chance to step back and reflect on our connections with all living things,” said TheHappyNative in a 2022 TikTok video.

“I encourage you, no matter your culture or your heritage, to practice the same traditions. To show gratitude for everything that the Creator has brought into our lives.”

TikTok users like Kundalini yoga and meditation instructor Shanell Lavery (ThisMamaMeditates) have been celebrating the winter solstice in different ways since childhood.

Lavery first celebrated the winter solstice in high school with a candle lighting service. While singing “Silent Night,” the service’s speaker would light the candle of one person in the audience. The person with the originally lit candle would pass the flame to the person next to them until everyone’s candle was lit in the audience.

“Despite its focus on the Christmas story, it also emphasized the power of light. The culmination of the event, with everyone’s candles slowly lit, symbolized unity and the strength found in collective light,” Lavery said.

TikTok user manuela.marcheggiani on Dec. 16 posted a video about why they love Yalda night, stating that “celebrating the warmth of family every Yalda night is my favorite Christmas tradition. The joy of togetherness lights up our hearts.”

For self-described “wonder worker” Vanessa Latzera (VanessaandherIPhone), winter solstice is a time of rebirth and renewal. “In the northern hemisphere, the days have been getting shorter and that’s the moment when the day starts getting longer again and the light returns. It’s also the moment where you can shed light on your life,” she said.

“Apps like TikTok are great for exploring these traditions that people never had access to learn about before. It’s important to keep in mind that celebrating the Winter Solstice is more than aesthetics and consumerism, it has a deeper purpose behind it and I love seeing creators cover that,” Kendra Bjorklund of TikTok’s jewelry and rituals account LunaLifted said.

A viral solstice

Posts on TikTok with #wintersolstice have had over one million views in the past seven days in the U.S.

The variety of content about winter solstice on TikTok underscores the vast array of cultural traditions that surround it. Many TikTok users share information that draws from their own cultural or religious backgrounds, while others have created their own meaning for the day. For Lavery, it is a day of gratitude and being in nature.

“In the yogic tradition, it’s this reminder that each of us carries our own light, but when we come together, that collective glow becomes a powerful energy,” she said.

There are numerous practices that a person can implement into their daily routine the day of online.

“I put up a Yule tree and decorate it intentionally. I cook for my family. I make a Yule log and light it on Solstice night to honor the returning of light. My focus this year has been making wishing pinecones. It’s where you write your wishes or resolutions for the new year, roll them up, and stick them in a pinecone and seal it with candle wax,” Bjorklund said.

For Lavery, who focuses on meditation and yoga, her routine is “kicking things off with some movement and meditation. Bonus if I can do part of my practice outdoors to soak up that connection to nature. Then, I dive into journaling. For the solstice, an affirmation I love is: I’m embracing the returning light within, finding balance and strength as I gear up for the new season.”

While solstice may be the darkest time of the year, users say that acknowledging and honoring the spirituality behind the event can help bring light into the day and their life.

“You’re honoring all that Mother Earth supplies for you and are reminded that she too needs rest. Even in her dormant state we give her thanks. When you attune yourself with the changing season, the planets, and the elements, you invite the opportunity to transform while deepening your connection with the universal life force, and most importantly, yourself,” Bjorklund said.