Winter Solstice

Experience ASI / Festivals / Winter Solstice

Celebrate the longest night of the year

The Winter Solstice Celebration returns on Friday, December 18!

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.

Enjoy a warm beverage next to the bonfires before posing for a photo with reindeer. Or head inside for music and dance performances all night. Get hands on with a solstice-inspired craft activity, or try your hand at shadow puppets. Don’t forget, the holiday exhibit will be on display in the historic Turnblad Mansion!

Short days and long nights are a hallmark of winter in the north, which means Swedes have always watched for the shortest day of the year—it is also when days begin to lengthen again! For centuries, the winter solstice was observed with a midwinter festival celebrating the return of the sun. Over time, celebrations transformed into Christmas, or Jul (pronounced like “Yule”) in Swedish, but many people still observe the solstice as a meaningful moment in their year today.

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
Pop up performances
Make and take crafts
Burn your “scaries” from the past year on a piece of birch bark in the bonfires

Grab a cup of cocoa or glögg (Swedish mulled wine) to keep warm by the fires, pick up a sweet treat, or grab a festive meatball dinner during the event! FIKA Café will offer a buffet dinner as wall as a la carte snacks, desserts, and beverages. Please note that the regular FIKA menu and table service is not available during this event.