Winter Solstice Luminaries

A Simple, Meaningful Homeschool Activity for the Darkest Days of Winter

Today, many people couldn’t tell you what the Winter Solstice is — but before electricity, life revolved around it. Families paid close attention to the sun because it shaped everything: when crops grew, when animals reproduced, and how people lived day to day.

Clara and the Winter Light

Clara was a little girl of about eight who lived in a small farmhouse in a simpler time — a time before electricity.

Clara loved to read.

She carried her book everywhere — tucked under her arm while doing chores, pages already worn from use. Books were hard to come by, and she had read this one more times than she could count. In winter, the days were short, especially near the Winter Solstice, when daylight faded early and the house went to bed with the sun.

Outside, the world seemed to be resting too. The garden beds lay quiet under frost-kissed soil. The trees stood bare, saving their energy deep in their roots. Even the animals moved more slowly, conserving warmth and strength through the long, dark nights.

But Clara had something to look forward to.

After the Winter Solstice, the days would slowly begin to grow longer again. It was a turning point — quiet and almost unnoticeable — but deeply important. Just as the earth paused and then began its slow return to light, so did the rhythm of life in the farmhouse.

That evening, after helping her mother finish the last chores of the day, Clara sat at the table where the candle stood. She opened her book just enough to catch the light, careful not to waste it, hoping for a few more minutes before darkness fully settled in.

Her mother noticed, of course.

“Mind the candle, love. We’ve only so much light.”

She trimmed the wick with practiced hands, keeping the flame small and steady.

That candle mattered to her mother — and to Clara too. The wax hadn’t come easily. It had been saved from summer, when the bees were heavy with honey and the days were long, when flowers bloomed freely and sunlight lingered late into the evening.

They knew they were fortunate. Clara’s friend Jane’s family used tallow candles, made from rendered animal fat. They worked, but they smoked more, smelled strong, and needed to be snuffed sooner. Beeswax candles were saved for careful use — reading, mending, and quiet work — moments when good light mattered most.

When the wax was made, it was rendered over the stove — slowly melted down and cleaned — then poured into molds while daylight still filled the kitchen.

Clara and her siblings had helped. They cut cotton and linen from old dresses and shirts, garments that had been patched and mended until they could be mended no more. The cloth was torn into narrow strips, twisted tight, and dipped again and again into warm wax, their fingers sticky and careful as the wicks slowly took shape.

Nothing was wasted — just as nothing in nature was wasted during winter. Plants stored their strength underground. Animals thickened their coats. Families gathered what they had and used it wisely.

Seeing how intent Clara was on her book, her mother let the candle burn a little longer, watching the flame carefully. When it dipped, she nodded.

“That’s enough for tonight.”

Clara closed her book and gently snuffed out the candle, the thin trail of smoke curling upward like a sigh. She climbed into bed in the warm little farmhouse, listening to the quiet sounds of winter settling in around her.

As she drifted to sleep, Clara knew that from this night on, each day would be a little longer than the one before — the light returning slowly, just as it always had.

And somewhere beneath the frozen ground, the earth was already preparing for spring.

When Nature Slows

The Winter Solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. From that point on, the light slowly begins to return.

On our farm, this rhythm still matters.

Did you know that in late summer, as the daylight hours begin to decrease, our chickens lay fewer and fewer eggs? Nature is smart. Chicks need warmth, and while mother hens can provide that much of the time, winter babies would be far more vulnerable in the cold.

Trees respond too. They shed their leaves and rest — not because something is wrong, but because nature is wise. Leaves are sensitive to cold, so trees enter a dormant state, much like a bear hibernating through winter.

Even our garden understands this rhythm. Garlic chooses to put its energy into growing large bulbs underground, where they are protected from the elements rather than exposed above the soil.

And we feel it too. Our own bodies often crave more sleep, slower mornings, and quieter days.

All of it is tied to the number of daylight hours we receive.

The solstice reminds us that light — literal and seasonal — matters.

Why Luminaries?

December has a way of feeling full — full calendars, full hearts, and often very full kids. As homeschool moms, we’re always looking for those rare activities that slow things down instead of speeding them up. Ones that feel meaningful without requiring a supply run or a week of prep.

That’s where citrus luminaries quietly shine.

Made from a simple orange, a bit of wax, and a wick, these glowing little candles are more than a craft. They’re a beautiful way to mark the Winter Solstice, which usually falls on December 21 — the shortest day and the longest night of the year.

For centuries, families noticed this turning point. The days stopped getting darker. The light began to return. And people celebrated in the simplest way they could: by making light — because without candles, there was no light at all.

Oranges were once special winter fruit. Wax and simple wicks were common household supplies. Making light from what you had wasn’t fancy.
It was practical.

Hollowing the Orange: Helpful Tips

Hollowing the orange doesn’t need to be perfect.

• Cut the orange in half crosswise, not top to bottom — this gives you a sturdier “bowl.”

• Use a spoon to gently loosen the fruit, working around the edges first.

• Leave a thin layer of pith behind. You don’t need to scrape it completely clean.

• Make sure the bottom is mostly dry and flat so the wick can sit upright.

• If the orange is very juicy, let the hollowed peel sit for 5–10 minutes to dry before adding the wick.

A sturdy peel matters more than a spotless one. If it holds its shape and isn’t dripping, it’s ready.

Preparing the Wax

Beeswax is simple to work with, but a few small tips make the process smoother — especially with kids.

• Use a double boiler.
  Melt the wax by placing a heat-safe bowl over a pot of gently simmering water. The steam melts the wax slowly without direct heat, which is safer for fragile ingredients like beeswax.

• Warm, not hot.
  Beeswax doesn’t need to boil. Gentle heat keeps it from scorching and helps preserve its natural scent.

• Melt in small batches.
  This makes pouring easier and keeps the wax from cooling too quickly while kids work.

• Expect it to cool fast.
  Beeswax begins to firm up quickly once removed from heat. If it thickens, simply return it to the double boiler for a moment.

• Protect your surfaces.
  A towel or piece of parchment under your work area makes cleanup easy.

Beeswax rewards patience. Slow melting and gentle heat give the best results — just like the old ways.

Placing the Wick (A Small but Important Step)

Once your orange is hollowed, it’s time to place the wick.

Set the wick in the center of the orange peel, pressing the bottom gently into place. It doesn’t need to be perfect — just upright enough to stand once the wax is poured.

To keep the wick centered while the wax sets, we use a clothespin laid across the top of the orange. Simply clip the wick in the center of the clothespin and rest it across the peel. This keeps the wick straight, steady, and at the right height without little hands needing to hold it.

Once the wax is poured and begins to cool, the wick will stay in place on its own. After the wax has fully set, remove the clothespin and trim the wick if needed.

It’s a small detail, but one that makes the whole process calmer — especially when working with kids.

As you melt and pour the wax, kids get to watch:

• Solid wax turn into liquid

• Warm wax slowly cool and harden again

It’s science — but it feels like wonder.

A Simple Science Spin-Off: Solids & Liquids

This is a perfect moment to talk about states of matter without worksheets or diagrams.

You might explain it like this:

• Wax is a solid when it’s cool.

• When we heat it, the molecules move faster and it becomes a liquid.

• As it cools again, the molecules slow down and lock back into place, turning solid once more.

Nothing disappears. Nothing is lost.
It simply changes form.

Try This:

As you stir the melted wax with a metal spoon, notice what happens. When you lift the spoon out, the wax cools almost immediately and turns solid, coating the spoon. You can actually see the change from liquid back to solid happening right in front of you.

Kids see this process in real time — and that kind of learning sticks.

Beeswax: Pellets vs. Sheets

Beeswax comes in a few different forms, but the two most common you’ll see are pellets and foundation sheets. Either works well for citrus luminaries — they’re just measured a little differently.

Beeswax Pellets

Pellets are easy to scoop and measure.

• Plan on about 1 ounce of pellets per child

• 1 pound of pellets will make around 16 luminaries

This option works well if you prefer measuring by weight.

👉 You can find the beeswax pellets here:
[Amazon link to beeswax pellets]

Beeswax Foundation Sheets (What We Used)

For this project, we used standard beeswax foundation sheets, which are thin and melt down beautifully.

• One foundation sheet melts into about 2½–3 ounces of wax

• We found that ½ sheet per child was just right

• Smaller oranges may need even less

Sheets are especially nice with kids because they’re easy to portion ahead of time — just cut them in half and you’re ready to go.

No matter which form you use, you don’t need a deep pour. A thin layer of beeswax still gives a warm glow and helps the candle burn evenly.

What Is Beeswax?

Beeswax is a natural wax made by honeybees.

Worker bees produce tiny flakes of wax from special glands on their bodies. They use this wax to build the honeycomb inside the hive — the structure that holds honey, pollen, and baby bees. It’s strong, flexible, and incredibly useful.

When beekeepers harvest honey, some of that wax is saved, cleaned, and melted down. It can be used to make candles, salves, wraps, and other everyday items.

Beeswax Has Been Used for Centuries

Beeswax candles have been used for thousands of years.

The earliest records trace them back to ancient civilizations, including the Egyptians and Romans, as early as 300–500 BCE. While earlier cultures used oil lamps or tallow, beeswax stood apart because it burned cleaner and brighter.

In ancient Rome, beeswax candles were often used in religious ceremonies, temples, and special gatherings, while tallow candles were reserved for everyday work. Because beeswax required healthy hives, careful harvesting, and time, it was considered valuable.

By the Middle Ages, beeswax candles were commonly used in churches and monasteries across Europe. Their clean burn and pleasant scent made them especially important in enclosed spaces. Ordinary households used them sparingly, saving them for winter evenings, reading, celebrations, and moments when good light truly mattered.

In other words, beeswax candles weren’t everyday light — they were intentional light.

Other Things Candles Were Made From

Before stores and electricity, people made candles from whatever they had access to. Beeswax was prized, but it wasn’t the only option.

Animal Fats (Tallow)

One of the most common candle materials was tallow, made from rendered beef, sheep, or deer fat.

• Easy to source on farms

• Burned with a stronger smell

• Smoked more than beeswax

• Used for everyday light, not special occasions

Bayberry Wax

Along the coast, families sometimes used bayberries.

• Berries were boiled to release a thin layer of wax

• Took many berries to make very little wax

• Had a fresh, woodsy scent

• Considered a luxury because of the labor involved

Fish Oil & Whale Oil (lamps, not candles)

In coastal communities, oils from fish or whales were used in oil lamps.

• Very bright light

• Strong smell

• Not practical everywhere, but common near the sea

Vegetable Oils (with lamps)

Some households used oils like olive or other seed oils in simple lamps.

• Less common in cold climates

• Needed careful tending

• More likely to spill than solid candles

Why Beeswax Was Special

Long before electricity, beeswax candles were prized because they:

• Burn cleaner than many other fats or oils

• Give off a soft, steady light

• Have a gentle, natural honey-like scent

• Burn slowly, making them last longer

In many homes, beeswax candles were carefully saved for winter, special evenings, or moments when good light truly mattered.

For our citrus luminaries, beeswax pairs perfectly with orange peel — warm light, soft scent, and a connection to how families once made light from what they had.

A Small Detail That Mattered: The Wick

In the days before electricity, candles were made with what families had on hand. Wicks were typically twisted or braided from cotton or linen fibers — materials already used for clothing and household textiles. These natural fibers burned steadily but needed regular care.

As a candle burned, the wick would curl and blacken. If left alone, the flame would grow too large, smoke, and burn through wax much too quickly. Trimming the wick meant snipping off that charred tip so the candle could burn cleanly and last longer.

It was a small, quiet task — but an important one. Light wasn’t endless. It was something you tended.

Today, we’re still using that same wisdom, just with modern materials. For our citrus luminaries, we use organic hemp wicks coated in beeswax. Hemp is strong, natural, and burns cleanly, while the beeswax coating helps the wick stay stiff, upright, and easy to light — especially helpful when working with kids.

If you’re curious, these are the organic hemp beeswax-coated wicks we use
👉 (Amazon link here)

It’s a beautiful connection between past and present — different tools, same care for the light.

Let’s Talk About Candles

Candles are beautiful, but they deserve respect.

Children should always have an adult help with lighting candles, and these candles should never be left burning when you leave the room.

This is an important part of history too. While candles brought light and warmth, they also came with real risks. Fires were common in homes and cities long before modern safety tools.

One well-known example comes from the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

The fire began on the evening of Sunday, October 8, 1871, at the small barn of an Irish immigrant family, Patrick and Catherine O’Leary, on the outskirts of Chicago. Like many families then, Catherine was finishing her evening chores. Lanterns were used daily — for milking, feeding animals, and closing up the barn after sunset.

According to long-told legend, a cow — often said to be named Daisy — kicked over a lantern while being milked. Whether or not that detail is true, what is certain is that a small flame caught in a barn filled with dry hay. From there, strong winds carried the fire quickly into a city built mostly of wood.

The timing mattered too. It was autumn, the days were already growing shorter, and lamps and lanterns were being used earlier each evening as the light faded — not yet winter solstice, but well on the way toward longer nights.

What began as an ordinary chore on an ordinary Sunday became a lesson that lasted generations: light was necessary, but it always needed care.

Today, the story reminds us not just of fire, but of how closely daily life once depended on flame — for work, for warmth, and for light after the sun went down.

It’s a gentle reminder that light is powerful — and learning how to use it wisely has always mattered.

Carrying the Light Forward

As the year turns and the nights reach their longest, we’re reminded that light doesn’t always arrive loudly. Sometimes it’s small and steady — a flame tended carefully, a story read slowly, a moment shared around the table. These are the kinds of traditions that stay with us, not because they are grand, but because they are gentle.

This Winter Solstice, you might take a quiet moment to light your candle and imagine what life may have felt like for Clara — reading by flame, mindful of each minute of light, grateful for what was made by hand. It’s a simple pause, but one that connects us to the past in a meaningful way.

May this season bring your family rest, warmth, and just enough light to carry you into the days ahead.

Every family’s light looks a little different. If you make citrus luminaries at home, we’d love to see them glowing in your space. Tag us @k2acres — it truly makes our day to see your creations.