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Winter Solstice
Rebirth of the Sun, Rebirth of the Year
Dec 21– Jan 1 (12 days)
Plants + Herbs. Holly, Mistletoe, Evergreens
Crystals. Ruby, Bloodstone, Garnet, Emerald, Diamond
Foods + Drink. Yule Log Cake, Gingerbread, Fruit, Berries, Nuts, Pork Dishes, Turkey, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Spiced Cider, Wassail
Colors. Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold
Deities + Spirits. Apollo, Bona-Dea, Demeter, Diana, Freyja, Gaia, Isis, Lugh, Mabon, Mother Nature, Odin, Ra, The Green Man, The Holly King, The Horned God, The Oak King, The Red Man, The Star Child, The Sun God
Activities + Rituals. Caroling, Wassailing the Trees, Burning the Yule Log, Decorating the Yule Tree, Gift-giving, Kissing under Mistletoe
Tools + Implements. Candles, Bells
Symbols. Yule Tree, Yule Log, Wreaths
Concepts. Perseverance, Hardship, Turning Luck Around
Holidays
Holidays
Pagan. Yule, Saturnalia, Midwinter, Rural Dionysia, Julblot, Koliada, Korochun, Alban Arthan, Brumalia
Non-pagan. Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, New Year's Day, Yaldā Night, Wren Day, Zartosht No-Diso, Childermas, Midwinter
Wheel of the Year: Yule
Wheel of the Year: Yule
The Yule Log
The Yule Log
A tradition originating from several European practices (most notably Nordic practice) is the burning of the Yule Log. In ancient times, a full tree log would be used and burned continuously for the duration of Yule (12 days), and extinguished on Twelfth Night. Further, whoever lit/re-lit the log must have clean hands. The fire of the Yule Log represented (and was literally) the heat protecting adherents against the harshness of winter. Also, the ashes were supposed to be kept (to avoid bad luck) and used to help plants grow (which wood ash is good for!). Further, in French tradition, if any of the log was left after Twelfth Night, it could be kept in the home (preferably under your bed) to bring luck against lightning.
The Yule Tree
The Yule Tree
The Yule Tree was an Evergreen tree that the family would help cut down and bring inside. Starting with the Celtic Druids who venerated the Evergreen as a symbol of perpetuity (as it didn't 'die' year-to-year), this tradition involved keeping the tree inside and decorating it for the duration of the Yuletide. Often, the decorations were used to manifest certain things for the coming year, such as: "Fruits for a successful harvest, love charms for happiness, nuts for fertility, and coins for wealth adorned the trees" (from Yule Tree on Earth Witchery by Selena Fox). Furthermore, the yule tree was typically kept for the whole year, then being used and burned as next years Yule Log.
Why Mistletoe?
Why Mistletoe?
Below is an excerpt describing one version of the myth of Baldur's death at the hands of Loki: "Balder [is] plagued with nightmares about his death. Concerned for his safety, the gods in Valhalla make every plant, animal, and all the natural world promise that they will not hurt Balder... [T]he gods amused themselves by [attacking him]... Loki sought out mistletoe, the only plant that was too young to make the promise to the gods that it would not hurt Balder. Loki [tricked] Hother [into throwing] the [mistletoe] at Balder, killing him instantly. The gods stood in stunned silence, then wept fiercely for their loss. In memory of the tragedy, the gods blessed mistletoe to only be used for usefulness, happiness, and love. This may have been the start of the tradition of sharing a kiss beneath a twig of mistletoe." (Sir Harold Hiller Gardens, 2021)
Citations and Further Reading
Citations and Further Reading
https://www.sacredearthjourneys.ca/blog/traditions-and-symbols-of-yule
https://houseofquinn.co.uk/journal/yule-traditions-celebrating-the-solstice
https://www.livescience.com/32901-why-we-kiss-under-mistletoe.html
https://www.history.com/news/why-do-we-kiss-under-the-mistletoe
https://underatinroof.com/blog/making-a-traditional-yule-log
Sir Harold Hiller Gardens. (2021, November 26). The mysteries of mistletoe. Hampshire County Council. Retrieved October 9, 2024, from https://www.hants.gov.uk/thingstodo/hilliergardens/news/mysteries-of-mistletoe
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