PuzzlePage
Play
Word SearchMediumFree PDFUpdated for 2026

Winter Solstice Word Search

Find 15 winter solstice science and celebration words hidden in the grid

Fifteen winter solstice words hidden in one grid, from axis, tilt and hemisphere to Yalda, Dongzhi and Stonehenge. In 2026 the December solstice arrives on Monday, December 21, at 3:50 p.m. Eastern time, bringing the shortest day and longest night of the year to the Northern Hemisphere. It happens because Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees, so in December the North Pole leans away from the Sun. Families mark the long night in many ways, from Yalda gatherings with pomegranates and poetry to bowls of tangyuan for Dongzhi. Print it for grades 3 to 8.

Free printable PDF with a full answer key, sized for US Letter and free for classroom use. Want your own title or words? Open it in the word search editor with everything already filled in.

Word SearchPreview

Winter Solstice Word Search

Find 15 winter solstice science and celebration words hidden in the grid

K
A
E
C
P
I
X
Y
L
D
M
Z
T
O
D
C
X
M
T
O
A
S
O
L
S
T
I
C
E
A
Q
I
S
I
M
M
W
I
L
Q
V
R
X
J
Y
J
S
T
J
E
D
F
H
O
N
S
T
C
O
L
A
C
A
U
G
O
M
E
N
H
U
S
Y
B
I
C
N
N
X
R
N
M
M
G
L
N
T
A
S
G
Q
M
G
O
A
G
Y
I
E
E
R
O
K
U
H
I
D
Y
G
N
Z
Q
S
S
W
I
N
D
N
T
H
D
U
M
A
H
B
P
T
T
S
E
E
S
X
U
K
A
Y
T
I
V
H
N
I
E
H
C
E
R
Z
A
N
A
E
Y
V
E
I
L
M
E
E
T
B
J
W
P
L
I
X
J
R
G
T
E
N
M
H
D
I
H
P
D
Z
A
I
E
H
A
D
G
B
U
I
R
A
O
A
S
H
R
K
T
L
K
E
E
P
U
D
I
P
K
N
W
I
N
T
E
R
F
R
Y
N

Word List

  • LONGESTNIGHT
  • POMEGRANATE
  • HEMISPHERE
  • STONEHENGE
  • SOLSTICE
  • DAYLIGHT
  • DECEMBER
  • TANGYUAN
  • SUNRISE
  • DONGZHI
  • SUNSET
  • WINTER
  • YALDA
  • AXIS
  • TILT
Free printable PDF · puzzle + answer key · puzzlepage.app
Customize this puzzle nowTurn this into a worksheet instantly

Enter your email once to unlock this PDF plus 10 more free printable puzzles. Answer key included. Or open it in the editor: your title, your words, and no PuzzlePage credit with Premium.

Free is just the start

Make this word search yours

The same generators that made these PDFs are yours to use. Editing and previewing are always free. Premium removes the PuzzlePage credit and unlocks worksheets, themes, fonts and 100-puzzle batches.

What is a Word Search?

A word search hides a list of words in a grid of letters. Words can run horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Your job is to find and circle each one.

How to solve it

Scan rows and columns for the first letter of each word, then trace in all eight directions. Check off words as you find them.

Who is this for?

Word searches are perfect for all ages, from young students building vocabulary to adults who enjoy a relaxing mental exercise. Teachers use them for vocabulary preview activities, early finishers, and classroom brain breaks.

About this puzzle

Free printable winter solstice word search: find 15 words, from axis and hemisphere to Yalda and Dongzhi, for December 21, 2026. Answer key. Instant PDF.

  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Format: US Letter PDF with answer key
  • Free to download, print, and use
  • Commercial use allowed for KDP publishers

Step-by-step: solving the Winter Solstice Word Search

  1. Print the PDF. Download the free PDF and print both pages (the puzzle and the answer key) on standard US Letter paper.
  2. Scan for first letters. Read down the word list, then look across rows and columns of the grid for the first letter of each word.
  3. Trace in any direction. Depending on the level, words run across, down, diagonally and, on hard puzzles, backward. Once you spot a starting letter, check every direction the level allows.
  4. Check off found words. Cross each found word off the list. When the list is empty, compare with the answer key to verify.

Frequently asked questions

When is the winter solstice in 2026, and why does it happen?›
The December solstice is on Monday, December 21, 2026, at 20:50 UTC, which is 3:50 p.m. Eastern time. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, and the longest day in the Southern Hemisphere. It happens because Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees: in December the Northern Hemisphere leans away from the Sun, and at noon on the solstice the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. After the solstice, northern days slowly grow longer.
What is in this winter solstice word search?›
Fifteen words: solstice, axis, tilt, hemisphere, daylight, sunrise, sunset, longest night, December, winter, Yalda, Dongzhi, tangyuan, pomegranate and Stonehenge. Yalda is the Iranian celebration of the longest night, when families share pomegranates and watermelon and read poetry; Dongzhi is the Chinese winter solstice festival, when many families eat tangyuan, round sweet rice balls; and the stones of Stonehenge in England line up with the sunset on the winter solstice. It is the medium level, for grades 3 to 8.
Is there a bigger winter solstice puzzle pack?›
Yes. The $2.99 Winter Solstice Puzzle Pack adds a crossword, a cryptogram, a word scramble, a word fill-in and a bigger word search, with thirty new words from equinox and orbit to sundial and Newgrange.
Can words go diagonally or backward?›
It depends on the level. Easy word searches hide words across and down, medium ones add diagonals, and hard ones can also run backward and upward. The difficulty is shown at the top of this page.
Is there an answer key?›
Yes. Every free PuzzlePage word search PDF includes a separate answer-key page that highlights or lists every hidden word.
What grade level is this for?›
Easy word searches suit kindergarten through grade 2, medium ones grades 3 to 8, and hard ones older students and adults. Teachers use them for vocabulary previews, early finishers and sub days. The page above names the grades this one was written for.
Can I customize this puzzle?›
Yes. Open it in the free Word Search editor with the words already filled in, then change the title, edit or add words and pick a difficulty. Downloads are free with your email, and Premium removes the PuzzlePage credit.

More free Winter Celebrations Around the World puzzles

December and January traditions, from Kwanzaa to Lunar New Year, told as cultural celebrations families share.

Make your own custom puzzles

Free Word Search Generator→← Browse all 231 free puzzles