Yule
Yule
(the word is believed to come from the Norse Iul, meaning 'wheel'),
is a time of rebirth. It is the longest night of the year, the darkest
point, and when the sun rises after Yule night, the days will begin
to lengthen again. The Sun God is reborn in the darkness of Yule
night; The Holly King, king of the waning year, is vanquished by
the Oak King, king of the waxing year. It is impossible to discuss
Yule traditions without a mention of Christmas. Many Christmas customs
have their roots in older Yule traditions. Santa Claus, for example,
is likely to be a Christian version of Woden (also known as Nik,
which has mutated into 'Saint Nicholas'), a Holly King figure who
traditionally rode his white horse through the sky at this time
of year. In early folklore, Saint Nicholas also rode a white horse,
but this has been replaced by a reindeer-drawn sleigh. In Italy,
Santa Claus's place is taken by a witch (Befana), who rides around
on a broomstick bringing gifts for children.
Modern Christmases are very different, however, to the way our ancestors
would have seen the Winter Solstice. Compare today's excesses of
rich food and luxuries with the stark reality of midwinter life
in older, harsher times when food and warmth were hard to come by.
Then, the Solstice was a celebration of survival in the face of
adversity, and the slowly lengthening days had a profound significance,
heralding a new growing season and a hope of easier times. One ancient
Yule custom which still survives in various forms is that of the
Yule log. The custom of burning the Yule log survived until last
century in Europe (although today the log is more likely to be chocolate,
in most modern homes!). A huge log of oak was buried deep in the
hearth, and while it glowed throughout the year, its size and position
meant that it lasted until the following Yule, when it was used
to light a new log. In some areas of Germany, the remains of the
old log were then ground to ashes and strewn on the fields to promote
the healthy growth of crops in the approaching growing season. In
France, the log was not left on the fire all year, but was removed
and kept under a bed to protect the household from fire and lightning;
pieces of this log were reputed to have great medicinal properties.
Unburned parts of the Yule log were incorporated into ploughs, as
this was believed to make seeds thrive.
| Holly
is traditionally used to decorate the home at this time of year.
The druids burnt pine trees at the winter solstice, to draw
back the sun, and decorated living glades of pine with shiny
objects; this tradition is reflected by the modern Christmas
tree. The pine, because of its great height, has been associated
with qualities of foresight, which must have been important
to our ancestors in the darkest winter days, as they looked
forward to the warmth of Spring. Mistletoe, Druidic symbol of
male fertility, is also traditional at this time, as, of course,
is the great oak Yule log. The traditional Druidic Yule ceremony
urges us to "Cast away... whatever impedes the appearance of
the light". Scraps of paper or cloth may be burnt on the Yule
log, to represent aspects that we wish to discard as the waning
year is vanquished; this is a time to cast away unwanted attributes,
habits and negative thoughts, to be born afresh with the waxing
year. Traditional colours for Yule are the red and green of
the holly tree (these correspondences predate Christmas). A
traditional incense would be bayberry. A candle may be left
burning overnight to call the Sun, and the doors should be flung
open the following morning, and bells rung to greet the Oak
King. |
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The
most popular Yuletide activity is the choosing, bringing
in and decorating of a Yule tree. This can be a living
or artificial tree. Brightly coloured baubles, fairy lights
and homemade decorations of popcorn, cinnamon sticks and
dried flowers can be added to make the tree more special.
The decorations are to remind us that the Sun will return
again in Spring. The act of decorating the Yule Tree,
wreaths of holly, and the exchange of gifts are also Pagan
derivatives.The Yule Tree can be a living, potted tree
which can later be planted in the ground, a cut one, or
even an artificial one. The choice is yours. Appropriate
Wiccan decorations range from strings of dried rosebuds,
cinnamon sticks, popcorn or cranberries for garlands to
bags of fragrant spices hung from boughs. |
Quartz
crystals can be wrapped with shiny wire and suspended from sturdy
branches to resemble icicles. Apples, oranges, lemons, nuts
of all kinds and cookies hanging from boughs and branches are
strikingly beautiful; and can be real or artificial, depending
on your taste. These natural decorations were customary in ancient
times. 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 celebrations.
Many enjoy the practice of lighting the Yule Log. If you choose
to burn one, select a proper log of oak or pine. Carve (with
your Boline) or chalk upon it a figure of the Sun (a rayed disc)
or the Horned God (a horned circle). Set it alight in the fireplace
at dusk, on Yule. This is a graphic representation of the rebirth
of the God within the sacred fire of the Mother Goddess. As
the log burns, visualize the Sun shining within it and think
of the coming warmer days. Traditionally, a portion 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. The second
type of Yule Log is not burned up, but rather holds three candles
for burning. Find a suitable log of oak or pine and flatten
one side of it so that it will lay flat. Drill three holes in
the side that is up, the correct size for holding three taper
candles. The candles should be red, green and white (to represent
the season), or green, gold and black (to represent the Sun
God), or white, red and black (to represent the Great Goddess).
You can further decorate your Yule Log however you choose to
- using holly, mistletoe, red ribbons and bows, or whatever
you prefer.
Ritually, you may want to light fires within the Circle (in
the cauldron, for instance), light candles and carry them around
the Circle or bring the Yule log into the Circle and include
it in your ceremony. Bayberry candles can be burned to ensure
prosperity, growth and happiness throughout the following year.
These can be inscribed with runes for health and money, or whatever
is desired before lighting. They shall be lit at sunset and
allowed to burn until they go out by themselves. An old Germanic
poem says "A bayberry candle burned to the socket brings food
to the larder and gold to the pocket."
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Submitted by Moonshadow -
We make Yule a family celebration. In the days leading up to Solstice
day we go for family walks finding pine cones and holly and other
items of greenery to decorate the house, discussing what we see
around us, what it means to us and remembering times gone past,
and recalling childhood times that albeit were part of the Christian
time of Christmas still had a hand in shaping our memories. There
is a universal magic in childhood no matter what religion you are,
if we could but only recall that throughout our adult lives I think
the world would be a better place :)
My stepson and I make Yule cookies in the shape of moons and stars
and use them as part of our yule tree decorations. We go to get
our 'Wish tree' (see below) from the garden centre and decorate
it. We still have friends and family that celebrate the Christian
time of Christmas, so we still exchange cards with them, but ours
have a Pagan flavour, we make family cards ourselves and make some
gifts. I like making cards myself and recycling the previous years
cards to make Yule tags for the gifts that we give.
On Solstice day itself we rise to greet the sun and later go for
a family walk in the when we come back we turn off all the lights
and light our Yule log and other candles and ceremoiniously welcome
back the sun. We then have our special meal and finish off with
chocolate hot chocolate topped with cinnamon. For me the closeness
and togetherness makes this sabbat very special. We don't celebrate
every sabbat as a family, just Samhain and Yule at the moment.
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Our
wish tree is a living tree that we get from the garden centre
and we decorate it with suns, moons, stars and lights. Last year
we also used chocolate coins and cinnamon and orange bundles made
from dried oranges and cinnamon sticks. We also tie ribbons to
the tree in red, green and gold, when we tie the ribbon we make
our wish for the year ahead. For peace on earth, good health....
We ask visitors to do the same thing and ask them to make a wish
for someone else and not just for themselves. I see it as making
a wish to make the world a better place. By then end of the Yule
the tree looks wonderful. All the ornaments are packed away for
the following year, but the ribbons are burnt and their ashes
taken to a special place and offered to the winds in the hope
that the wishes will get carried to where they were intended.
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This
year we plan to get a tree that we can plant out into the garden
after Yule is over we'll be able to take care of it and then bring
it in every year and watch it grow with all the love and wishes
that go into it.
Other Things To Do
 Decorate
a tree inside or outside your home with festive baubles, stars/moons/suns
crystals. Make sure you use lots of lights and candles (but don't
leave candles unattended!) Last year we also put a tree with lights
on outside the front door and I made a wreath from the holly and
pine branches that we've brought back and we hung it on the door
with a Yule Blessings banner on it.
String
popcorn and cranberries for your tree, or hang the strings in your
outdoor bushes as a treat for the birds and squirrels. We always
leave special treats out for the birds and local wildlife at Yule,
it's a celebration of nature to.
Bring
as much greenery (holly, mistletoe, evergreens) into your home as
you can to remind yourself that life goes on even in the darkest
of times.
On
solstice night, turn out all the lights in your home (make sure
you have a candle ready with matches). After dwelling on the dark
for a few moments, light the candle and welcome the Light back into
the world. If you wish, gather together a number of candles beforehand
and light them all from the central candle (which should be gold
or yellow). Then go through your house turning on every light.
Decorate
a Yule log and burn it on the night of the solstice or the morning
after. Be sure not to let it burn completely! Or make an edible
log, and share it with your family, it's easier to buy one I know
but the love and time you put into making the things you use and
eat at any Sabbat helps to enrich it in my opinion.
Hold
a candlelit vigil on the night of the solstice, and welcome the
next morning's dawn with singing and chanting. Follow your rite
with feasting, singing, dancing and merrymaking.
Yule
Mulled Wine :
Makes 12 Glasses
1 bottle red wine (we use homemade blackberry wine, but any
red wine will do).
400ml litres water
350ml orange juice
1 orange, studded with 10 cloves
2 oranges and 2 lemons, sliced
6 tbsp sugar or honey
5cm cinnamon stick
1 tsp finely grated fresh root ginger
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Method
: Mix all the ingredients together
in a cauldron suitable for cooking if you don't have one then use
a slow cooker or a large saucepan. Heat very gently for about 20
minutes. Do not boil, or you will boil off the alcohol. Stir gently
to ensure that the sugar or honey has dissolved. Serve with a ladle
and keep warm over a low heat.
Yule
Pork & Cider Casserole Serves 4
I make this dish whilst we go off for our family walk on Solstice
day. I leave it cooking slowly in the oven, when we come back
I cook some broccoli or green beans and serve.
900g
lean pork cubed
750g unpeeled potatoes washed and diced
2 medium onions chopped
3 carrots peeled and thickly sliced
½ small swede peeled and diced
½ tsp dried sage
300ml dry cider
1 chicken stock cube crumbled
Salt & fresh black pepper
Cornflour to thicken.
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Method
: Brown the pork in a frying
pan with a little bit of oil add the onions and carrot and swede
and cook until softened. Put the pork and veg mix into a casserole
dish and add the cubed potatoes, stock cube, dried sage, cider and
seasoning and all the ingredients and cook on gas mark 3 for 2 hours.
Near the end of cooking time add a tsp of cornflour to some cold
water and gently stir into the casserole, cook until thickened.
Serve with a green vegetable of your choice and a glass of cider.
NB:
More Yule recipes including one for incense can be found on the
Sabbat recipes page.
Yule Herbs: Ash,
Bay, Basil, Frankincense, Hazel, Holly, Juniper, Holy Thistle, Mistletoe,
Vervain, Oak, Ginger, Orange, Rosemary, Cinnamon, Sage, Sandalwood
& Walnuts.
Yule Incense: Bayberry, Pine,
Cedar, Rosemary & Juniper.
Yule Colours: Red, Green, White,
Silver & Gold.
Yule Decorations: Yule log (oak
or pine), Mistletoe, Wreaths, Strings of dried flowers and cinnamon
sticks, Apples, Oranges, Yule tree, Holly, Lights & Candles.
Yule Foods: Nuts, Apples, Oranges,
Caraway Rolls, Mulled Wine, Gingerbread People, Roast Turkey, Pears,
Pork, Wassail & Eggnog.
Spellwork appropriate for Yule:
Harmony, Peace, Tolerance, Honour & Respect, Love & Unity.
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