Ummm.... smell that? Cinnamon and
sugar.... Cedar and fir.... Crisp air with a bite of snow.
This is a lovely time of year, although it can be frantic. Most families,
pagan or not, gather together at this time to celebrate with a feast. Perhaps
there is something about the darkening days, the dying light, that reaches
into our deepest soul, causing us to reach out for the love of our family
and friends.
Whatever the reason, this is the time of year when normally sane people go crazy -- spending too much money, eating too much, and trying to do to much for too many people. As they say, remember the reason for the season: The Young God is being birthed anew and with Him, the sun returns to warm our lives. Celebrate with love and connecting to old friends and new, enjoying the pleasure of each others company.
Food is important, but it doesn't have to be elaborate -- or sugary! A good bread, some fresh fruit and a simple cookie with tea goes a long way towards satisfying our needs for something special. If you're planning a party, don't plan for a sit down dinner with 20 (or more!) over for dinner. You'll just drive yourself crazy and lose sight of the fun in the event. Instead, ask a few people over for a simple supper and good conversation. Even better -- have a potluck!
Whatever you do, keep breathing and make sure you enjoy yourself.
Suggestions on how to celebrate Yule:
-light candles to welcome the newborn Sun
God
-create a Yule Advent Calendar with (or
without!) your children. Count off each day until Yule with a blessings,
chore, reward, or favorite saying. This can also be a paper chain that
gets a link removed each day.
-Bring back the tradition of Wassailing
among your friends and covens. When you wassail someone you beg them for
a drink in exchange for a song. After the song and drink are exchanged
you drink to the host's health.
-For good luck and prosperity during the
season hang an evergreen wreath on your doors and hang mistletoe inside.
-Decorate a tree outside as an offering
for the birds and local animals. Decorate the tree with garlands of cranberry
and popcorn, hang citrus slices, and hang lots of pinecones covered with
peanut butter and birdseed. If you live in an area where you can, after
Yule the birds would appreciate using your old tree as shelter outside.
-On Solstice morn, ring bells to greet the
day.
-Light bayberry candles to attract wealth
and happiness in the coming year.
-Decorate pine cones with glitter in honor
of the faeries and hang them from your tree for good luck.
Yule herbs include:
-bay -bayberry -chamomile
-evergreens -frankincense -holly -juniper -mistletoe
-moss oak -pine cones -cedar -rosemary -sage
-blessed thistle
Colors of Yule-
-red -green -gold
-silver
Other traditions
-For many Native American tribes this is
the Earth Renewal Time, the time of the year when Father Sun begins his
journey back from the North so that he can bless Mother Earth with new
life and warm her. Some traditional activities include making
Prayer Plumes for the year, fires were put to sleep and then ritually relit,
and sweat lodges were cleansed. This is also the appropriate time to give
thanks to the Earth and the Sun for the life that they bless us with.
-This was the Winter Solstice Feast of Saturnalia in Ancient Rome. This was a day that the Romans showed their generosity and the exchange of gift was common. his may possibly be the origin of our traditions of giving gifts during this time of year. Roman homes were often decorated with pine boughs laden with trinkets.
-In Ancient Scandinavia and Britain, this time of the year was when people would decorate trees with gilded apples and candles to honor Baldur and Odin.
-Lucia Day is December 13th. This is the day that breakfast treats are delivered to family members by a child wearing a crown of candles symbolizing Lucia, a Goddess of the Sun. If children are small the breakfast table can be set with lots of candles.
-St. Nicholas Day is December 6. This is the day that children receive small presents in their shoes if they are good or coal if they were bad. This day is linked to tales of Odin.
-In the Teutonic traditions, Yuletide lasts from December 20 to December 31. They begin the festival with Mother's night and end with Yule night.
-It was a medieval belief that a person born on Christmas day was able to see the faery folk.
-A windy Christmas is believed to bring good luck.
~Maat
Santa Claus, Pagan God?
--
Two articles by Emerald FaeryHawk and Briana Ashling
The Birthday Story
-- by the White Bard
Ghosts of Yuletise
Past by Gorman Lord -- The Dark Side of Yule
Yule Songs (Pagan versions
of Holiday Carols)
A Year-Round Tree?
--
by Rowan Sterling