Decorating a Winter Solstice altar can be a deeply personal and spiritual experience, reflecting both the traditional aspects of the celebration and your unique spiritual path.
People ask all the time, “How can I decorate an altar if my friends, family, or roommates don’t know I’m a Witch?” Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered, too!
In This Guide:
1. Pick Your Altar’s Location
Whether you’re tucked away in the broom closet or free as a blessed bee, you can still create a stunning Yule altar!
If you’re practicing in secret, choose a cozy, safe place to act as your altar, such as a drawer or secret space in your closet.
If you’re able to practice openly, outdoor altars are a fantastic way to connect directly with nature.
If you’re somewhere in between, you can choose to have an open air altar that uses normal decor that has been enchanted for a spiritual purpose.
It’s up to you! Whatever works for your situation will absolutely work for your Goddess and God.
2. Choose Your Yule Color Scheme
The traditional Winter Solstice and Yule colors are red, green, gold, silver, and white.
You can pick any variation and shade of these colors, plus add your own favorite colors to your altar! Go with the flow, follow your intuition! For instance, I love to add orange to my Winter Solstice altar to represent the warmth returning to the realm.
Once you’ve picked your color scheme, these colors can be incorporated through altar cloths, candles, and other decorations.
3. Decorate With Natural Elements
Incorporate natural elements such as evergreen branches, holly, mistletoe, pine cones, and ivy.
Oranges speckled with whole cloves make amazing natural decor, as do garlands made of dehydrated cranberries, orange slices, and apple slices.
All of these natural, yet lively items represent everlasting life and the endurance of nature through the winter.
4. Choose Winter Candles
Use candles to symbolize the return of the Sun.
Traditionally, gold, silver, red, or green candles are used. You can even include a special central candle to represent the sun, itself.
5. Select Crystals and Stones
Crystals like clear quartz, snowflake obsidian, or garnet can be added to your altar for their grounding and energizing properties.
6. Add Symbols of the Sun
Since the Winter Solstice celebrates the return of the sun, symbols like sun discs, gold coins, or representations of solar deities can be included.
7. Decorate and Add Your Wiccan Altar Tools
Traditional Wiccan altar tools such as a pentacle, wand, chalice, and athame can be adorned with seasonal decorations or colors.
8. Incorporate Incense and Oils
Scents like pine, cedar, cinnamon, and orange can be used in the form of incense, essential oils, or scented candles to cleanse the space and invite warmth.
9. Choose Representations of the God and Goddess
Statues or symbols representing the God and Goddess in their winter aspects can be a central focus of the altar.
10. Add Seasonal Foods and Offerings
Place seasonal fruits, nuts, and baked goods on the altar as offerings to the deities or as part of a celebratory feast.
11. Finalize with Personal Items
Include items that are personally significant to your practice or represent your intentions for the coming year.
Examples of Yule and Winter Solstice Altars
Remember, the most important aspect is that the altar reflects your personal connection to the Winter Solstice and your spiritual path. Feel free to adapt these ideas to suit your practice and preferences.
