Yule
the return of light
One of the 4 Sabbats, Yule, celebrates the rebirth of the Sun, the Sun God and honors the Horned God. The longest night of the year falls on Yule. Yule is when we celebrate the coming light, and thank the Gods for seeing us through the longest night. It is a time to look on the past year's achievements and to celebrate with family and friends. This day is the official first day of winter. The Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for new light is born. Yule, also called Winter Solstice, The origins of most of the Christmas traditions come from the Pagan Yule celebration, such things as the Christmas tree, the colors red and green and the gift giving.
Also known as: the Winter Solstice, Alban
Arthan, Finn's Day, Festival of Sol, Yuletide, Great Day of the Cauldron, and
Festival of Growth. It is celebrated between December 20th and 22nd. The reason
it varies from year to year is that it depends on when
the Sun reaches the southern most point in its yearly cycle.
Symbols: evergreen trees, yule log, holly, eight-spoked wheel, wreaths, spinning wheels.
Food: roasted turkey, caraway rolls, mulled wine, dried fruit, eggnog, pork, beans, gingerbread people.
Plants & Herbs: holly, mistletoe, evergreens, poinsettia, tropical flowers, bay, pine, ginger, myrrh, valerian.
Incense and oil: rosemary, myrrh, nutmeg, saffron, cedar/pine, wintergreen, ginger, bayberry.
Colors: red, green, white, gold.
Stones: bloodstone, ruby, garnet, cat's eye.
Animals: stags, squirrels, wren/robin, phoenix, trolls.
Appropriate Yule Goddesses are all Spinning Goddesses. Some Yule Goddesses are: Angerona (Roman), Eve (Hebraic), Pandora (Greek), Zvezda (Slavic), Metzli (Aztec), Yachimato-Hime (Japanese), Tiamat (Babylonian), NuKua (Chinese)
Appropriate Yule Gods are all Re-Born Sun Gods. Some Yule Gods are: Apollo (Greco-Roman), Balder (Norse), Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic), Ra (Egyptian), Saturn (Roma), Jesus (Christian-Gnositc), Helios (Greek), Ukko (Finnish-Yugoritic).
Altar decorations: mistletoe, holly, small Yule long, strings of colored lights, Yule/Christmas cards, a candle in the shape of Kris Kringle, homemade wreath, presents wrapped in colorful paper.
Traditional activities: decorating the Yule tree, exchanging gifts, storytelling, making wreaths, throwing holiday parties, sending greetings
The wonderful thing about Yule is that you can celebrate it right along side your Christian friends and still be celebrating your holiday. Almost all of the Christian Traditions have Pagan roots. Here are some Christian/Pagan info to bring up to your Christian friends (this can piss some people off so be careful who you tell!)
For a solitary YULE ritual, click here
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