The earth turns..
We had the kids banging pots outside (quietly-next door's curtains are closed) to wake the sun up and telling it "come back sun". Remind them of the seasons, what the world does physically. How the planet spins, the days will lengthen but it'll still get colder because like radiators it takes time for the warmth to build up. As well as what people used to believe and do. How knowledge is a great thing because in the past people knew the cycle of the seasons but had no idea why it happened and would spring definitely come back?
I made Lebkuchen and pancakes with cinnamon as we have a pagan friend and the power of google and the sun apparently likes cinnamon, cloves, warm spicy scents. It's good to be aware of other religions.