If you want, you can also put offerings of fruits and nuts at your altar. Many modern Practitioners celebrate Mothers Night on the evening before Yule, to celebrate the Disir and feminine power. The 12 days of Christmas are also a time for reflection. If you cant find a Yule log, you can also use a piece of wood that has been dried for at least a year. A Yule wreath is an excellent substitute. There is no shame to be found in accepting help, and there is no superiority in providing it. The Saga of Hakon the Good also speaks that the Yule was to be kept holy. However, this long night is also an opportunity for a cleansing of the soul, just like the New Moon. In essence, the Wheel represents the cycle of birth that is perpetually repeated year after year. After all, who can focus when they're constantly having to step over piles of unused junk? As you can see in the video above, the people usually drum in the sunrise, then spend the day singing Yule songs. There are those who choose to use vacation time from work so they can have the entire yuletide off as well. They can be used in fireplaces or as decor. For example, the evergreen tree is a popular symbol of Yule, and green is often the color of leaves on evergreen trees. "Merry Christmas!" Firefox doesnt know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (applewebdata) isnt associated with any program or is not allowed in this context. When everyone is ready, either end the rite, or continue on with additional rituals, such as Cakes and Ale or Drawing Down the Moon. Now by reading your stories I think that's inaccurate. Notably, stories about the god describe him as having a long beard which is potentially what inspired old Saint Nicks appearance. Learn more about thiscenturies-old festival and its traditions (including the Yule logcake!). There are many ways to celebrate these days, some of which are traditional and some of which are more modern. This could include a christmas ham, roast turkey, or other traditional christmas dishes. [37][38] April 12, 2023. You see, many pagans consider the four intermediary festivals between solstices and equinoxes more important because they are based on Celtic, not Germanic beliefs. Yule | Pagan, Log, Theme, Celebration, & Facts | Britannica Yule is one of the oldest winter solstice festivals, with origins among the ancient Norse thousands of years ago. On this one day, the sun stands still in the sky, and everyone on earth knows that change is coming. The word Yule is the modern version of the Old English words of ol or ohol. Runes and crystals can be made it into ornaments. Donations are then presented to local aid groups, food pantries, libraries, and shelters. The last day of Yule and the year, bless the house for protection and drive out the last of the wandering Yule spirits. Another important part of the celebration is the gift giving. For example, the song "The Twelve Days of Christmas" is thought to have been written in the 1700s. Yule is typically celebrated around the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. Wood ashes do indeed have beneficial uses in the garden! If you have a mixed group, make adaptations as necessary. Do you get magazine subscriptions? So before you start putting up Yule decorations, take a stroll through a forest or even a nearby park. If you like working with crystals and precious stones, there are several options you can use during Yuletide, including: As discussed, you can either do this the day before Yule or right after Samhain. There are so many different traditional Yule recipes from various cultures. If nothing else, gathering items associated with Yule is much easier and cheaper than getting Christmas decorations. Spell jars made with empty ornament bulbs, also known as witch balls, make great decorations as well. As the sun returns to the earth, life begins once moreit's a time to bid the Crone farewell, and invite the Maiden back into our lives. Why not take a moment to offer upa prayer on Yule? Its the day to make plum pudding! Your offering will be appreciated even if youre off key. Alternatively or additionally you can cast spells for luck, abundance, appreciation. As Christianity began to spread in the 4th century, the Christmas feast day was set on December 25 by Pope Julius I to align with the Roman pagan holidayDies natalis solis invicti, the birthday of the invincible Sun. The rest ishistory. While you're cleaning the windows, do your mirrors too, using the same mixture as above. Yule is also a great time to cast a protection spell. Updates? More to the point, it is at the heart of Yule traditions, though the Wheel revolves primarily around the masculine deity. At this time, the High Priestess should invite anyone who wishes to make an offering to the Goddess to come do so offerings can be placed on the altar, or if you're outdoors, in a fire. Record Store Day, which happens Saturday in Maine and all around the world, is the equivalent of Christmas and your birthday to those who love, collect and listen to vinyl Some endeavour to re-create traditions of the ancient Norse by burning yule logs or with feasts. Many believed that bonfires would keep the evil spirits of the night away (essentially a protection spell), while others thought that the light from the fire would help to usher the light of the sun into the sky again. Some simply stay awake until dawn to observe the cycles of nature. Some people also decorate with fruit to manifest fertility and abundance in the coming year. There is no one answer to this question, as the proper greeting for Yule may vary depending on your cultural background. Traditionally, Yule was celebrated from the solstice on December 21 (called "Mother's Night) to January 1. WebWe light the Yule log to honor the beginning of the Suns return and the start of a new year. The twelfth day of yule is typically celebrated by eating christmas dinner. The 12 days of Yule are celebrated from December 21 to January 1. Yuletide concludes with the celebration on the Twelfth Night, which often coincides with the modern New Year celebrationfull of revelry, food, and drink. These are just some of the ways that you can celebrate the 12 days of yule. Throughout history, bonfires have been a critical part of both the Winter Solstice and Yuletide celebrations. The midwinter feast usually lasted 12 days. If you want to join the carolers, ask someone whos been to the local Yuletide festival which songs they usually sing. Eastern Orthodox churches use a different religious calendar, so their 12 days of Christmas start on Jan. 7 and run through the Epiphany on Jan. 19. Light a log on one end and let it burn; feast until the log burns itself out. If you've got a filter on your home's heating system, now's a good time to replace it with a new, fresh one. A Spotify playlist of Yule songs would be a great introduction. It is a time of year when many people celebrate the return of the sun and the lengthening of the days. If you have an extender on your vacuum cleaner, use it to suck up cobwebs and dust from the ceiling fans, baseboards, and other hard-to-reach spots. Cant find a song honoring your chosen deity? You can also start wrapping christmas gifts to get ready for the holiday season. What Channel Does Celebrity Big Brother Come On. Winter is represented by fir, Spring by daffodils, Summer by roses, and Fall by oak leaves. Remember, the floor is not a storage place. Yule was most commonly celebrated in Germanic countries throughout history, such as in Norway and Sweden. The 12 days of Christmas are a time of celebration and of giving. The Christmas tree is a symbol of the Yule log and is traditionally decorated with candles, ornaments, and garland. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Love this article? We pray that you will bless us during the coming year and bring us happiness and prosperity. Skip to main content. On this day, make wassail and sing for fertility of a chosen fruit tree and for good luck in the coming year. This could be a fun activity to do with your family or friends. But whats a good Wiccan to do? Heres our dessert recipe for a light. Which can be viewed as each month of the preceding year in summary. Yule logs are now often symbolized by a cake shaped like a log. Vikings decorated evergreen trees with gifts such as food, carvings, and food for the tree spirits to encourage them to return Many people also celebrate Yule by attending parties or by gathering with family and friends. And while we do, try to figure out how these pagan festivities have influenced the creation of Christmas. However, this has been disputed in recent years, at least one historian positing that jol was a new year festival intended to set the tone for the months ahead. Yule is the perfect time to decorate! This can be a general good health spell or can be a specific recipe for a particular health issue. What new things will you bring to fruition for yourself when the planting season returns? Although many families use fake holiday trees, a cut one from a tree farm is actually more environmentally friendly, so if you've never considered a live tree, maybe this is a good year to start a new tradition in your house. Clean baseboards and other woodwork. The Ancient Greeks celebrated The Feast of Poseidon during the Winter Solstice. So, how do you celebrate Yule like a Viking? Earth Mother is calling her children home. The Twelve Days of Yule for pagans, celts, and practitioners all around the world begins on Mothers Night, Yules eve, December 20th, moving forward 12 days with the Twelfth Night ending on December 31st. The first step is to gather your supplies. In the most direct terms it is still a festival that honors the cycle of nature and the Wheel of the Year. In fact, for me, Yule is always a time for introspection to sit back and reflect and consider what I want the next year to look like. From Germanic sources stories of the Goddess Berchta expected you to complete all work prior to Yule, punishing those who had left work undone. While Yule is a great time for setting new things in motion, its also a time to let go of the past. April 12, 2023.ITEP Staff. This could be done as a family activity or you could read a different christmas story each day. Youd be surprised how realistic they feel; I swear these videos give off real fire energy. In my experience, this makes the money spell much more effective. Yule is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the worldcelebratedon the winter solstice. Before you start decorating for Yule, you'll want to get things organized. However, Wiccan households still decorate and burn (symbolically or otherwise) a real log. Schools and businesses were closed so that everyone could celebrate the holiday. The 12 days of yule are a festive time leading up to Christmas. Perform this ritual to celebrate the return of the sun. Some believe that the Wild Hunt is made up of fairies and their steeds, while others claim that Elves are the true drivers of the hunt. Do you have hardwood floors instead of carpet? This ritual can be performed by a group of four or moreclearly, it's designed for at least four women, but if you don't have that many, don't sweat itimprovise, or allow one woman to speak all the roles. The song `` the Twelve days of Yule songs, this long Night is also a time of and! 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