Yule: A Pagan Celebration November 4, 2000 YULE: A PAGAN CELEBRATION Yule is the celebration of "Midwinter", the longest night of the year; the Winter Solstice. Held in late December, it is an astronomical event, so the date can vary from year to year, but always falls between December 20th and 22nd. This year, the celebration of Yule will be on December 21st at exactly 8:37 AM Eastern Standard Time. This is the moment of the Winter Solstice when the sun leaves Sagittarius behind and steps into Capricorn, creating a transferal of authority between the planetary rules of these signs; Jupiter and Saturn. At this Sabbat Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the "SUN" as Christians celebrate the birth of the "SON". Although this is the shortest and darkest day of the year, we are optimistic in our belief that the Sun will shine again. From here on out, until the Summer Solstice in June, the days will become longer. The Oak King rises to rule this half of the year, as the Holly King dies to be reborn at the Summer Solstice. The Waxing Year has returned. MY YULE ALTAR I usually set up my Yule altar on December 1st. I always like to get through with Thanksgiving before setting up for Yule. My Yule altar cloth is white with silver and gold threads running through it. This has special meaning as it was handed down to me by my maternal grandmother who used it every Christmas. I place my Yule wand on my altar, to be used to cast my circle at Yule, or to cast any circles during the Yule season. I adorn my altar with a dish of peppermint candies, white, red, and green votive candles, and one silver and one gold pillar candle. In my fireplace I place an oak log (Yule log). I always use a piece of last year's Yule log to light this for the first time. I also place sprigs of holly around the fireplace, and I have a broom (bessom) that was made by a very close friend that I use especially for this season. On December 1st, I sweep my house with this broom, symbolically ridding it of any unwanted energies, and I clear a spot for our Yule tree. I use an artificial tree, in an effort to do my part to save the real ones, but I don't decorate the tree until December 15th. My children, who follow a Christian path, adorn the outside of the house with lights. MY PERSONAL YULE RITUAL I try to perform this ritual as close to the time that the sun moves into Capricorn as possible. I first cast a circle using my Yule wand. Using leaf sage, I smudge the entire area, and symbolically sweep away any unwanted energies. Facing East, I call upon the Spirits of Air and ask that they purify my circle. Facing South, I call upon the Spirits of Fire and ask that they bring warmth to my circle. Facing West, I call upon the Spirits of Water and ask that they cleanse my circle. And facing North, I call upon the spirits of Earth and ask that they ground the energies within the circle. I then put three dollops of salt into the water and sprinkle it around my altar. With a stick of evergreen incense, I light the gold and silver pillar candles and invoke the god and goddess. I then light the white candle and ask for purity of mind. Next, I light the red candle with thoughts of festivities, happiness, family and friends, and health for the coming year. Finally, I light the green candle asking for love and abundance. On Yule night, I prepare a large meal for my family and some friends. This year it will be turkey. My children read a poem, usually one that they write themselves for the occasion. We usually wind up singing songs of the season and enjoying each other's company. We end the evening with a tribute to the rebirth of the Sun and the Waxing half of the year. When the guests leave, my children and I make a list of things we want to do this coming spring. I know I said my children are Christian, but they enjoy the Sabbats as much as I do. Yule celebrations and rituals vary according to individual taste, but one thing that is common among many is the celebration of REBIRTH. SOURCE(S) Lilye ===== What a long, strange trip it's been... Jerry Garcia {1942-95} ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A webring of sharing... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pagan_Promotions/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please check us out at... http://groups.yahoo.com/group/GreenWitchGarden/ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRODUCT(S) < BACK HOME NEXT >
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