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It is well-known that spending time outdoors improves mood, reduces stress and contributes to physical well-being. But with all the business of the holiday season, sometimes we forget to head outdoors. Many of our images of the holidays include everyone cozying up under blankets around an indoor fireplace, but let’s not forget to celebrate the holidays outside, too. Heading outdoors with friends and family during the holiday months can be a wonderful way to relax and to honor nature as we move into the brisk but beautiful winter months.
Perhaps one of the best days to head outside soon is for the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year that marks the onset of winter. Early pagan winter solstice traditions were created to celebrate the “birth of the sun,” because even though the solstice is the shortest day of the year, every day following the solstice has more and more sunlight. Many celebrate the solstice by spending time in nature, lighting the night and inviting the light to come back – what a wonderful sentiment to share during the holidays.
There are many ways to celebrate the solstice as a family. One that I love is to decorate a live, outdoor tree with edible ornaments for birds and animals. Edible ornament ideas include cranberry garlands, peanut butter pine cones, seed ornaments or DIY-citrus-bird feeders. All of these eco-friendly outdoor ornaments can be made with children of all ages.
Another use for citrus at the solstice or during the holidays is to make pomanders. Pomanders are oranges or lemons with whole cloves pressed into the rind. Simply push the cloves into the rind of an orange, making shapes and designs (and releasing a wonderful scent) as you go. Some kids find this tricky if the cloves feel sharp, so you can use a peeler to remove some fruit rind ahead of decorating, or take a toothpick and make starter holes to help. Pomanders can be used to decorate indoors or outdoors and make a lovely small gift.
The winter solstice is one opportunity to honor and celebrate nature during the holiday season, but there are others. Consider scheduling some time outdoors during your big holiday gathering, whether it be a hike through a local woods or prairie, a family game of football, pickleball or catch, or an outdoor fire at sunset. And don’t forget to incorporate the outdoors into your gift-giving.
As we honor nature this holiday season, including eco-friendly alternatives to wrapping and gifting is paramount. Last-minute gift-giving in particular really lends itself to eco-friendly ideas. Rather than pay for expedited shipping on something you are only half sure that your recipient will enjoy, shop for instant gifts such as online gift cards or printable certificates.
For a larger gift, show a loved one that you care while protecting wildlife by dedicating a tree, bench or woods in their honor. You may also choose to give a charitable donation to organizations fighting to conserve the outdoors, such as the Clean Air Task Force or The Nature Conservancy, or to a local haven for nature such as Lincoln Memorial Garden, Jubilee Farm, the Sangamon Valley Group chapter of the Sierra Club or the National Audubon Society.
Pamela Savage is a freelance writer in Springfield. She is looking forward to spending time outdoors this holiday season.