The holidays can be joyous, and hectic. They can be fun, and hectic. They can be a wonderful celebration of friends, family, food, booze, love, and charity, and hectic.

During this busy time, it can be hard to carve out space to reflect on life, the universe, and everything. A few different stewards of art and the outdoors understand this. Organizations as diverse as Mount Auburn Cemetery, the Aldrich Astronomical Society, and Mass Audubon offer spaces and places to unwind, unplug, and reflect during the most wonderful — and wonderfully hectic — time of the year.

“Solstice: Reflections on Winter Light”

Now through Dec. 21, Mount Auburn Cemetery

One of our area’s great public spaces, Mount Auburn Cemetery, partnered with artist collective MASARY to transform the grounds into a celebration of art and introspection. Lantern-lit pathways weave through illuminated, 150-year-old trees. The face of Bigelow Chapel, a gothic revival chapel constructed in the 1840s, becomes the canvas for dancing projections of color. Since the pandemic, Solstice has become a new winter tradition, a therapeutic, meditative experience built of light and stone, fog and sound, dark nights and the coming light of a new year. mountauburnsolstice.org

Winter Solstice Lantern Celebration

Dec. 19, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary

Begin the evening in a heated barn where you can make your own mason jar lantern and learn about the solstice from local naturalists. Then take to the sanctuary trails for a candlelit walk through the woods looking for flora, fauna, and enchantment. Can’t make it on the 19th? Hook up with Mass Audubon at any of its many activities because nothing says mindfulness like becoming a birder. massaudubon.org

Solstice stargazing

Dec. 20, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

With its expansive grounds filled with fun, strange, and thought-provoking sculptures, deCordova is already a wonderful escape from the rush of life. Now the Aldrich Astronomical Society will give you new ways to explore and expand your view. You can jump into self-guided activities fit for all ages or let a guide take you on a lantern-lit tour. It’s the perfect art-meets-nature, light-meets-night outing. thetrustees.org/place/decordova

Winter Solstice Song Ritual

Dec. 20, First Church Somerville

Yes, you can get lost in a landscape. But you can also get lost in a song. Boston-Area Singing Circles honor the longest night of the year with the connection that communal singing brings. Community members will lead singalongs and there will be a chance to lay items on an altar in tribute to everything winter brings. masshort.org

Illumination transforms the grounds of Mount Auburn Cemetery during “Solstice: Reflections on Winter Light.” (Photo Aram Boghosian)