Fire & Ice: A Winter Solstice Celebration

On December 20, 2025, ARI will host a Winter Solstice Celebration centered on community love, hope, and the transformative power of the longest night of the year. Rooted in global solstice traditions, the event honors themes of light returning, renewal, reflection, and togetherness.

Guests will learn about the meaning of the Winter Solstice, including the symbolism of fire, the struggle between Holly and Oak, and historical community gatherings held during harsh winter months. The evening recreates this spirit through crafts, storytelling, cultural foods, and a lantern-lit procession.

Participants will create handmade lanterns, then walk together to a communal fire for music, a remembrance reading, and the burning of written intentions from the past year. Inside, guests will share a multicultural potluck inspired by Celtic, Scandinavian, Indigenous, Aboriginal, Scottish, and Inuit solstice traditions. Storytelling, crafts, s’mores, and a cozy, candlelit atmosphere will complete the celebration.

The event aims to bring people together in warmth, generosity, and hope as the light begins its return.