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Winter Solstice

Experience ASI / Festivals / Winter Solstice
Solstice_Reindeer

Celebrate the Longest Night of the Year

This program is sold out; no tickets are sold at the door. The waitlist is full.

This year’s Winter Solstice is Friday, December 20, from 5–9 pm.

Mark the shortest day and longest night of the year at ASI with ASI’s popular Winter Solstice Celebration. Since pagan days, solstice has traditionally meant the “year as reborn,” with ancient (and modern) Scandinavians fusing it into the longer “Jul” or Yule season. ASI celebrates this powerful seasonal juncture with fun, festivity, and performance.

Minnesota artist activity is made possible by voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.

Early Scandinavians celebrated the winter solstice as a means of worshiping the reawakening of nature and other supernatural beings in the winter sky. This time became known as a twelve-day “midwinter” holiday called Yule. In English, the word Yule is often used to describe the entire holiday season; but in modern Scandinavia, a cognate of Yule denotes Christmas (Christmas in Swedish is Jul).  

The American Swedish Institute’s Winter Solstice Celebration is fun for all ages! Event staples and past activities include:

  • Bonfires
  • Live reindeer
  • Shadow play station
  • Dance performances
  • Swedish carols
  • Family crafts
  • Glögg, Swedish mulled wine, from FIKA
A group of four people are bundled up in winter clothing, sitting together. There are holiday lights in the background, with a tree and a building. Snow covers the ground, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Three people sit on a bench in a snowy park at night, drinking from cups. They are dressed warmly in coats and knit hats. Buildings with lit windows are in the background.
A group of people sit in a decorated room, watching a presentation. The room features hanging star ornaments, strings of lights, and small green wreaths. The audience members are seated on red chairs, attentively facing the front.
A group of people stand in front of an illuminated, gothic-style mansion at night. Trees adorned with string lights flank the walkway, and snow covers the ground, adding a wintry atmosphere.
A large group of people gathered in a modern indoor space with a café named FIKA. Some individuals are queuing, while others mingle. The area is decorated with bright lights and an intricate textile art piece on the wall.
A group of people, including adults and children in winter clothing, gather around and pet a reindeer under a bright light at night. The background features a fence adorned with string lights.
A group of people dressed in medieval-style winter clothing poses around a red sleigh decorated with a large bow and lights. A reindeer stands to the left, and trees with fairy lights are in the background.

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