The Story of Yule
The Story of Yule
On or around the 21st of December each year many celebrate the Winter Solstice - also known as Yule.
‘Yule’ (pronounced EWE-elle) means ‘wheel’, as the wheel of the year has reached a turning point, with the longest night of the year. This is the time of greatest darkness, and mid-winter. In virtually all Pagan religions, this is the night the Great Mother Goddess gives birth to the baby Sun God, because from this day forward, the days begin to lengthen, and light is waxing.
The Christian religion (Catholics) adopted this theme as the birthday of Jesus, calling it ‘Christmas’. The alternative fixed calendar date of December 25th (called ‘Old Yule’ by some Covens) occurs because, before various calendar changes, that was the date of the solstice.
In times past, the bonfire were lit and mulled apple cider made in deep vats to make ready for the celebration. The children would take gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges to each home in the village. The gifts were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks to represent the harvest.
(We still light the bonfires and drink the cider, although the gifting of apples and oranges to the neighbors no longer remains).
People would decorate their homes with holly and ivy and that most sacred of Druid herbs, mistletoe, was hung suspended for young and old alike as an omen of good fortune and love.
The Yule log (traditionally cut from the Ash tree) is the highlight of the festival. Traditionally, the log was given as a gift or cut from your lands, then dragged to the fireplace to decorate before splashing a bit of cider on it and set ablaze. The log would have to be large enough to burn throughout the night, but small enough to fit in the fireplace.
Yuletide Associations:
Rebirth, the longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Yule log, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways and clove studded fruit, mulled cider, and poinsettias.
Special Herbs:
Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense, holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, ash and sage.
Treats traditionally eaten at Yule:
Crescent cookies, plum pudding, mulled cider, fruits, nuts, eggnog, wild game.
Incense: Pinion Pine, Cedar, Bayberry, Cinnamon, Frankincense, Myrrh.
May you and yours enjoy the festive spirit of the season! Blessed Be!
