Trek the highlands of Guatemala and discover prehistoric monuments in Ireland.
December 21, when the North Pole is tilted farthest from the sun, is the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice has held cultural significance throughout history as it represented the rebirth of the sun. Here, five places for active travelers to celebrate:
County Meath, Ireland
Located 35 miles north of Dublin, Newgrange is a domed subterranean monument. It dates back to 3200 BC, making it even older than Stonehenge or the Egyptian pyramids.
To enter on December 21, visitors can get tickets via lottery. Once inside, they'll enter a 62-foot-long passage leading to an inner chamber, which was built specially for the winter solstice. As the sun rises, the whole chamber is dramatically illuminated to reveal ancient carvings. Though availability is limited, crowds of people transform the adjacent above-ground area into a party with dancing, drumming, Celtic chanting, and fire rituals.
Hikers can explore Ireland’s “Ancient East” (which is made up of 17 prehistoric counties along the east coast) by following the Cavan Way. The 16-mile trail passes by megalithic tombs, rock art, glacial boulders, caves, and through Cavan Burren Park, a site that is said to be 340 million years old.
Chichicastenango, Guatemala
The highland city in northwest Guatemala commemorates the winter solstice with the vibrant Fiesta de Santo Tomás. A week of dances, parades, and fireworks culminates with on December 21 with a group of polo voladores (pole flyers) launching themselves off 95-foot poles while attached to swirling, unraveling ropes in a ceremony called La Danza de los Voladores. A member of the troupe remains on top of the pole, dancing and playing a flute as the others descend to the ground. If the polo voladores land on their feet, it’s believed this will please the Mayan sun god and the days will grow longer.
Stretching south of Chichicastenango towards Guatemala City, the western highlands boast breathtaking forests, valleys, rivers, lakes, and a string of volcanoes. The town of Nebaj in the Ixil region is a popular starting point for mountain treks or day hikes through the countryside and villages.
Toronto, Canada
Kensington Market is one of Toronto’s most walkable and diverse neighborhoods and on December 21, it takes on a whole different energy with the annual Winter Solstice Festival. Thousands of locals parade the streets carrying lanterns to beckon the return of light after the year’s longest night. The route is filled with musicians, stalls selling artisanal goods, tented theatrical performances, fire-breathers, and stilt dancers. It ends in a blazing finale when a central sculpture in Alexandra Park is set alight (in a Burning Man–esque celebration).
Take advantage of Toronto’s typically heavy snowfall by cross-country skiing the network of trails crisscrossing High Park, Toronto Islands Park, Don Valley Ravine, and the Beltline.
Beijing, China
The Dongzhi Festival, or Chinese Winter Solstice Festival, has been celebrated for 2,500 years and will take place on December 22 this year. The origins lie in the philosophy of balance and harmony in the cosmos, with the longer days to come representing a flow of positive energy.
Dongzhi is a time for families to join together to celebrate the year’s successful harvest by eating dumplings made with ginger and garlic in Beijing and other northern cities, and glutinous rice balls known as tangyuan in the south. During Dongzhi, families may also gather to visit their ancestral temples.
China’s cold and dry winter weather creates perfect conditions for ice skating. In downtown Beijing, Houhai Lake freezes over to allow the Shichahai Skating Rink to open. Skates, sleighs, and ice bikes are all available for rent. The traditional buildings and courtyards around the lakeshore house cozy bars, restaurants, and tea rooms for warming up afterwards.
San Juan Bautista, California
The Californian city was established as a mission in 1797. The winter solstice has always held special importance there due to an annual occurrence called “illumination.” Friars built the church to align with the sun's path so that at dawn on the winter solstice, a shaft of light appears through a window over the door to illuminate the altar. On December 21, visitors will gather in front of the church to chant, beat drums, shake rattles, and burn sage.
Sixty miles southwest of San Juan Bautista, the rugged California coastline opens up to the surfers’ paradise of Big Sur. Sand Dollar Beach has a break that creates gentle waves for longboard novices, while Andrew Molera State Park offers a challenge for intermediate riders while still being sheltered from strong winter winds.