Celebrating Winter Solstice in Minnesota

• Gather with friends and neighbors to light a candle for peaceful solutions to world problems at the 6th Annual Winter Solstice Peace Vigil on December 21 at 5:30 p.m. on the corner of Snelling and Summit Avenues in St. Paul, sponsored by Merriam Park Neighbors for Peace.

• Arise! Books offers free food, including vegan chili and cornbread, and sales on their books. Food will be served at 11 a.m. and bands will start playing at 6 p.m.

• At the Cedar Cultural Center’s Winter Solstice Drum and Fire Jam, local drummers and professional fire dancers will perform on December 21 at 7:30 p.m.

• For outdoor drumming, carols by a bonfire, storytelling, and a candelit labyrinth, visit the Lowry Nature Center on December 20, 3:00 to 5:30 p.m.

• In another seasonal celebration of lights, this year Hannukah begins at sundown on December 21. Around the world, Jews celebrate Hannukah with eight days of candle-lighting. The date of Hannukah varies with the lunar calendar, but this year coincides with solstice.

Amy Danielson (danielson.amy@gmail.com) works full-time in public relations for the Office of the Vice President for Research at the University of Minnesota.

Amy Danielson