Celebrate solstice, Seattle!

• The further you are from the equator, the more impact solstices have. Our shortest day has 7 hours and 34 minutes less daylight than we see at summer solstice.

Details: Here are some of the solstice events scheduled for Tuesday night and Wednesday in the Seattle area:

• Silent Solstice Walks: Tuesday 5:30–7pm, $25, Bloedel Reserve, Bainbridge Island. Tickets here.
• Winter Solstice Sunset Watch with Alice Enevoldsen: Wednesday 3:45–4:45pm at Solstice Park in West Seattle. Free!
• Winter Solstice Service: Wednesday 7–8pm. Free, online or in-person at the Center for Spiritual Living.
• Winter Solstice Cacao Ceremony to explore the light and dark within us and find balance: Free online Wednesday from 4–5:30pm. Click here to get your Zoom link.
• Gathering Ground Online Winter Solstice Celebration: Wednesday 7pm. Free but donations are welcome. Sign up here for your Zoom link.
• Seattle Solstice Chant: Free, Wednesday 7pm, Seattle Unity.

Yes, but: There are many ways to observe the day in your own home or yard.

• Among the very simplest is to observe the sunset on Dec. 21 and the sunrise on Dec. 22.
• Another, more elaborate ritual is described by pagan John Beckett in his blog on Patheos. It requires an altar or small table, a bell, five candles (one should be gold or white) matches or a lighter, incense, bread, a small bowl of salt water, wine or another beverage and an offering bowl.