Saturday is the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. Not only is it the shortest day of the year, but it is also the official start of astronomical winter.

“At 4:20 a.m. EST, the solstice marks the beginning of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and summer in the Southern Hemisphere,” NASA says on its website.

That means that from now until the end of June, every day will be a little longer and brighter (no matter what famous wildlife forecasters predict).

There’s a lot to enjoy in the cold season, and we’re not just talking about the December holidays.

Here are some ideas for celebrating the solstice and welcoming winter:

Try traditions from around the world

The winter solstice has long symbolized a time of renewal and ritual for people around the world, NPR reported.

In Iran and many Central Asian countries, people gather to eat (especially red fruits like pomegranates and watermelons), drink, and read poetry throughout the night. Some Japanese traditions include taking a hot bath with the citrus fruit yuzu and eating foods that contain the “n” sound (like udon) for good luck.

To learn more about winter solstice celebrations in both hemispheres, click here.

Stream the sunrise at Stonehenge

Every December and June, visitors flock to the ancient monument in England to celebrate the solstice.

The rock formation was built to align with the sun on those days, making for a dramatic view. On the winter solstice, the sun sets southwest of the stone circle (in contrast to the summer solstice, when the first rays of the sun shine into the heart of the monument).

The site offers free entry for several hours on Saturday mornings. If you can’t make the trip in person, you can watch a free livestream of the sunrise on English Heritage’s YouTube and Facebook pages. It’s best for night owls or early risers as it starts around 2:30 a.m. ET.

Enjoy the best solstice concerts from the Paul Winter Consort

The aptly named saxophonist Paul Winter has been ringing in the winter solstice with a special concert for decades.

Since 1980, the Grammy winner and a number of special guests have gathered at New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine to celebrate the occasion with music and dance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the event has found a new home and is touring 10 acoustic venues across New England this year.

NPR’s broadcast of the winter concerts has become a popular seasonal tradition. Last year, Winter combed through the archives and picked out his favorite moments from four decades of solstice celebrations. You can listen to them here.

To read The shortest day and hear an interview with the award-winning author

Susan Cooper’s children’s book The shortest dayreleased in 2019, is a celebration of the light returning after the winter solstice.

The book’s text is actually a poem she wrote in the 1970s for The Christmas Revels (an annual solstice celebration) and has been read at such events for more than four decades. Cooper, a Newbery Medal winner herself, worked with Caldecott honorary illustrator Carson Ellis to bring the colorful images and wintry atmosphere to life.

Read or listen to NPR’s story on the beautiful book and hear excerpts from Cooper reading it aloud.

Prepare for “wintering”.

Several recent works offer sage advice on “wintering”—which essentially means taking advantage of the season, not just surviving it.

This year, health psychologist Kari Leibowitz published How to hibernate: Use your attitude to thrive on cold, dark, or difficult days. It explores how people in places with extreme winters – from Scandinavia to northern Japan – maintain a positive attitude to the season, and the book offers practical tips for those who want warmer prospects.

As Leibowitz told NPR, these tips include wrapping up, making up for a summer activity in the winter (like a barbecue on the beach or a picnic in the park), making a list of winter things to look forward to you rejoice and exchange the “big light” in your home for more comfortable candles etc. lamps.

Another helpful guide is Katherine May’s 2020 book. wintering. The English author admits that winter can be a painful and isolating time – but also a time of change. Her book, about traveling to far-flung, freezing destinations, is about how to face the season head-on.

“Every time we hibernate, we develop new knowledge about how to return to the world,” May said Morning edition this year. “We get to know our tastes and preferences. We learn what makes us happy.”

Curl up with the best books, shows, and movies of the year

As winter weather approaches, it’s a great time to pick your next entertainment addiction, from a TV show to a family binge to an album to play on loop in the car while it defrosts.

NPR has you covered with recommendations in every category, thanks to staffers who consume culture in every possible form throughout the year. They’ve put together a complete guide to the best of 2024.

NPR’s annual book recommendation engine is back with over 350 new titles (plus all previous titles dating back over a decade). Critics have compiled their favorite shows and movies of the year, searchable by genre and where to watch them.

NPR Music has put together a few lists of our own, including the 124 best songs and 50 best albums of the year. Plus, check out NPR’s favorite games of the year, ranked by platform and genre.

You take care

Maybe dark days make you want better sleep or you feel like you’re stuck in a rut. Maybe you’re looking for tips on how to protect your home from winter weather, your car from icy roads, and your family from COVID-19. Maybe you’re curious about the benefits of cold diving or what to wear for winter training.

Visit NPR’s Life Kit for expert advice on all kinds of physical and mental health topics. Whether you want to get a head start on your New Year’s resolutions or simply take winter one day at a time, here are some resources to help you:

A version of this story originally published in 2021.