15 Winter Solstice Recipes That'll Make A Dark Day Seem A Little Brighter (2024)

FAQs

What are three traditional winter solstice foods? ›

Traditional winter solstice foods have an emphasis on nature, like nuts, berries, spices, squash, potatoes and meat.

The most well-known traditions around Dongzhi consist of the popular dishes consumed at that time. Generally, Northerners eat dumplings, and Southerners enjoy tang yuan (glutinous rice balls—also sometimes called glutinous rice dumplings—both sweet and savory).

Common main courses are rich, filling, and lavish – classic main courses include roasted or baked bird, hearty beef dishes, pot roasts, and meat pies. There is nothing like a rich and hearty soup to warm you up during the winter season. Soups that kick up their spice game are a great feature at the Winter Solstice.

On December 22, countless Chinese families will gather for a hearty winter solstice dinner which serves up many delicious dishes, each bearing a different lucky meaning to its name. The winter solstice is the shortest day, or the longest night of the year.

The meal should be simple, as the focus of the evening is the conversation. This is not the time to try out elaborate recipes. I like to make food that's easy to multiply, such as a big pot of soup with toasty bread or a sheet-pan meal of roasted vegetables and chicken.

Traditional Yule foods include festive meats, winter vegetables, and colorful preserved fruits.

Astronomically, the winter solstice marks the end of fall and beginning of winter, and early pagan winter solstice traditions were created to celebrate the “birth of the sun.” The occasion is marked with sweet and traditional winter solstice rituals—from brewing mulled cider and eating winter solstice foods, to ...

Tangyuan has also come to be associated with the Winter Solstice and Chinese New Year in various regions. Today, the food is eaten all year round. Mass-produced tangyuan is commonly found in the frozen food section of Asian supermarkets in China and overseas.

But why do people eat dumplings in midwinter? It is said this custom is to commemorate the great medical sage Zhang Zhongjing. Zhang Zhongjing, who wrote treatise on exogenous febrile disease and miscellaneous disease, was from Canglang of Nanyang. Doctors of successive dynasties recognized the work to be classic.

In ancient times, the Druids held a special ceremony five days after the new moon following the Winter Solstice, in which they cut the boughs of the Mistletoe from the sacred Oak tree with a golden sickle. It was important that branches did not touch the ground and become contaminated.

What do you burn at Yule? ›

A family hoping for a year of prosperity might burn a log of pine, while a couple hoping to be blessed with fertility would drag a bough of birch to their hearth. In our house, we usually make our Yule log out of pine, but you can make yours of any type of wood you choose.

This symbolism over the years led to the kissing under the mistletoe in modern times. Candle colors are red, green, white, gold, and silver and Yule incense can be bayberry, pine, frankincense, cinnamon and myrrh, or a combination thereof.

Yule will be celebrated by Wiccans and many other Pagans in the Northern Hemisphere on Dec. 21, the day of the winter solstice. For Pagans, the shortest day of the year marks the end of the descent into darkness and the beginning of the return of the light as the days begin to get longer after the solstice.

Like most winter solstice festivals, themes of light, fire, and feasting are common threads. Some historians think that sacrifices were an important part of the observance, either to the gods and other supernatural beings (such as elves) or to the dead or both.

Hot Soups: Warm and hearty soups, such as tomato soup, chicken noodle soup, or vegetable soup, are popular choices to stay cozy during winter. Stews and Casseroles: Hearty stews, casseroles, and slow-cooked dishes are comforting and filling, making them ideal for colder weather.

1. Stews: Nothing beats a slow-cooked stew during the winter months. Whether it's beef and Guinness stew or veggie-packed chili con carne, a warm stew will always hit the spot on a chilly evening. Best served with crusty bread or potatoes for an extra layer of warmth!