As the Winter Solstice nears this Sunday, the sun traces its shortest path across the sky. It’s a quiet invitation from nature to notice the cycles of life, to pause, and to move gently with the rhythm of the season.
On the farm, we welcome the Solstice by crafting ice lanterns — simple, glowing reminders of the quiet light even in the longest night.
In the midst of winter’s darkness, there’s an invitation to slow down, to savour the hush and gentle rhythms of the season, and to welcome small rituals that bring light into our lives. Nature, with its silent wisdom, nudges us to connect and embrace this gentle dance of life.
Creating these lanterns is remarkably simple, and yet each one carries a little bit of magic. You’ll need: plastic containers or tin cans, water, natural sprigs of greenery, berries or small fruits, and tea lights or candles.
Here’s how to make your own ice lantern:
Start by rummaging through your recycling bin for containers — big, small, tall, or round. Each one holds the potential to become a lantern of winter magic. Wash them well, imagining the glow they’ll hold.
Nestle a smaller container inside a larger one, leaving a secret space between them for your candle to shine. Weight it gently with a rock or ice cubes to create the opening for the light.
Pour water slowly into the gap between the containers, and then enhance your creation with sprigs of greenery, clusters of berries, teeny pinecones, or any treasures from the season that feel like winter magic.
Place your assembled lantern in the freezer or outside overnight if the temperature is cold enough.
Once frozen, reveal your lantern by removing the ice from its makeshift mold. Gently run warm water around the inside container to release it, then carefully loosen the outside. Admire the beauty you’ve created.
Place your ice lantern on a plate, then insert a tea light and let it glow. Indoors, they can illuminate an evening; outdoors, in cold weather, they can be relit for several nights.
Experiment with different sizes and shapes — each lantern will be unique. Each one is a quiet ritual, a little light in the darkness, a way to connect with the season, with nature, and with yourself.
Set your lantern outside or on a windowsill, watch it shimmer, and let its magic linger through the long winter nights.