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| Yule: the Winter Solstice, Yuletide (Teutonic), Alban Arthan (Caledonii), Yenearsira (Elven) Around Dec. 21 This Sabbat represents the rebirth of light. Here, on the longest night of the year the Goddess gives 'birth' to the Sun God and hope for new light is reborn. Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind. Yule coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration. Christmas was once a movable feast celebrated many different times during the year. The choice of December 25 was made by the Pope Julius I in the fourth century AD because this coincided with the Pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one. The Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule celebration. Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months. Bells were hung in the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present! Food and treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star, the pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop the tree. The colors of the season, red and green, also are of Pagan origin, as is the custom of exchanging gifts. A solar festival, The reindeer stag is also a reminder of the Horned God. You will find that many traditional Christmas decorations have some type of Pagan ancestry or significance that can be added to your Yule holiday. I have many stag, deer, and pinecones around for decorations! Yule is celebrated by fire and the use of a Yule log. Many enjoy the practice of lighting the Yule Log. If you choose to burn one, select a proper log of oak or pine. |
| This page is for the Pagan family, who has their family and friends over to celebrate the return of the sun, symbolizing a new day, a new year, a new you! We will also write on paper what we would like to bring in for the new year to ourselves...this is a goal for the entire year, so make it a good one to work towards! Similar to a New Year's resolution, isn't it? I wonder if that comes from Pagan tradition also! We will burn our desires and hopes and goals, in a cauldron filled with some epson salts and rubbing alcohol--a way to make fire if you cannot use any other way. If you have children, making a Yule log is just one of the many things you can do together as a family. When my husband and I go searching for our tree, usually at one of the local distributors, I search the back of the shop for the ends of the pine they usually chop off for easier display. Though Oak seems to be the traditional log to use, I enjoy using Pine, as it represents life, even in the coldest areas of the world....a bit symbolic, don't you think? At the florist I purchase some holly, red ribbons....use what you like to personnalize your log. Create a hole on top of the log and place a candle in it to light on the Solstice. I use a gold candle, to represent the God aspect of the Sun, coming to warm us once again. I let it burn throughout the day. If you would rather, place the candle in a holder instead...might be safer! As the log burns, visualize the Sund shining withing it and think of the coming warmer days. Traditionally, a portions of the Yule log is saved to be used in lighting next year's log. This piece is kept throughout the year to protect the home. |
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