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~*~ Yule The Winter Solstice ~ December 21st ~*~
Winter Solstice or Yule,
occurs about December 21. This is the time of death and rebirth of the Sun
God. The days are shortest, the Sun at its lowest point. The Full Moon after
Yule is considered the most powerful of the whole year. This ritual is a
light festival, with as many candles as possible on or near the altar in
welcome of the Sun Child. Symbols: Evergreens, Wreath, Yule Log, Holly, Spinning Wheel Deities: Newborn Gods; Triple Goddess; Virgin Goddesses Herbs: Holly, mistletoe, ivy, cedar, bay, juniper, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, sandalwood, and pine. Offerings can be apples, oranges, nutmegs, lemons, pinecones, oak leaves, and/or whole cinnamon sticks. Ancient Meaning: Yule is a time of the greatest darkness and is the shortest day of the year. Earlier peoples noticed such phenomena and supplicated the forces of nature to lengthen the days and shorten the nights. Wiccans sometimes celebrate Yule just before dawn, then watch the Sun rise as a fitting finale to their efforts. How Ancient Pagans Celebrated: After the Norse brought Yule into
prominence it nearly replaced Samhain as the date of the New Year, and many
modern Celtic covens still honor Yule this way. The Nordic-influenced Celts
celebrated Yule with many of the trappings we associate with modern
Christmas observances; decorated evergreen trees, wreaths, holly, mistletoe,
feasting, and dancing. Modern Meaning: Yule is the remnant of early rituals celebrated to
hurry the end of winter and the bounty of spring, when food was once again
readily available. To cotemporary Wiccans it is a reminder that the ultimate
product of death is rebirth.
For modern Witches, Yule (from the Anglo-Saxon 'Yula', meaning 'wheel' of
the year) is usually celebrated on the actual Winter Solstice, which may
vary by a few days, though it usually occurs on or around December 21st. It
is a Lesser Sabbat or Lower Holiday in the modern Pagan calendar, one of the
four quarter-days of the year, but a very important one. Pagan customs are
still enthusiastically followed. Once, the Yule log had been the center of
the celebration. It was lighted on the eve of the solstice (it should light
on the first try) and must be kept burning for twelve hours, for good luck.
It should be made of ash. Later, the Yule log was replaced by the Yule tree
but, instead of burning it, burning candles were placed on it. Activities
taken from
Wiccan Sabbat Books...
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