Winter Solstice: Yule

Winter Magic by Julia Jeffrey

By the time Yule arrives it can be pretty bleak where I live in the south-west of England, so Yule was something I especially wanted to enjoy with all it's foliage, wreaths, feasts and colours during the dark and dismal days of mid-winter.

I set about finding out as much as I could to enrich my Yule experience, something which I hope to build on, year-on-year (as well as add to this article).

Here I share that knowledge and will add as I learn more.

It is the Druidic Alban Arthuan, the Christian St. Thomas Day When the poor are traditionally given money or presents and in the Pagan wheel of the year, 20th-23rd it is Yule, the Winter Solstice, mid-winter.

The fourth station of the year signifies enlightenment, when the light is reborn within the womb of darkness.

Darkness reaches its peak with the longest night and is defeated with the Return of the Sun, the return of light, hope and promise. The days will now grow longer.

From Wikipedia:

Yule or Yule-tide is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic peoples as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas. The festival was originally celebrated from late December to early January on a date determined by the lunar Germanic calendar.

Yule coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration. Christmas was once a movable feast celebrated many different times during the year. The choice of December 25th was made by the Pope Julius I in the fourth century AD because this coincided with the pagan rituals of Winter Solstice, or Return of the Sun. The intent was to replace the pagan celebration with the Christian one.

Traditionally, we start with Mother Night on the 20th and the solstice, starting the next morning at sunrise, when the sun climbs a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day thereafter.

Since time has been measured more accurately, and the Earth's orbit of the Sun has accelerated slightly over thousands of years, the solstice now falls approx. on the 21st/22nd of December. At one time the solstice occurred on the 25th December, and it was this day that was always celebrated by the ancients as Midwinter Day, the re-birth of the Sun.

Known as Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, here the celebrations were had as the ancestors awaited the rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life that warmed the frozen Earth and which help her to bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb.

With the end of the longest night the dark is defeated with the Return of the Sun, the return of light, hope and promise. The Goddess gives birth to the Sun/Sun God. The Sun begins to wax and the days grow longer. All that is hidden will begin to emerge. This is the Sun's birthday! And it really is time to celebrate! -Goddess and Greenman

Bonfires were lit in the fields, and crops and trees were "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

Children would then go house-to-house with presents of apple and oranges, spiked with cloves which would then be laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour.

Evergreens

Evergreens were particularly cherished at this time of year because of their ever green against the harsh white snow and cold as well as being a natural symbol of rebirth and life.

Holly was particularly prized and was used to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces. Due to it's prickliness, it was believed to ward off or‚ snag and capture evil spirits before they could enter a home and do any harm.

[Evergreens] twere traditionally hung around doorways and windows. 

Holly was greatly revered by the Druids, this is the healer and protector. It is carefully cut to ensure it never touches the earth. It's magical properties are believed to be connected to the fact that it lives between the worlds, between sky/heaven and earth.

Yule Tree

Another pagan tradition at this time is the tree. Pagans would bring a tree into the home so that the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months.

The tree would be decorated with bells, which were hung in the limbs so they’d know when a spirit was present.

Food and treats were also hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star, the pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop the tree.

Candles

Given that this is the festival of light out of darkness the tradition of lighting candles is very much part of the festival. "Red, green and the gold of the returning sun are the colours of Yule."

Gift Giving

This is the Birthday of the Sun and the giving and, exchanging of gifts at this time dates back from ancient times. It has always played a large traditional role as part of this festival.

More to follow...