Merry Christmas???? To a Wiccan it’s Blessed Yule. Yule is one of the 4 minor Sabbats, This time of year marks the celebration of the rebirth of the Sun, the Sun God and honors the Horned God. This is also the longest night of the year the first day of winter (Winter Solstice).
Yule is when we celebrate the coming light, and thank the Gods for seeing us through the longest night. We are thankful and feel very blessed we look on the past year’s achievements and to celebrate with family and friends.
On this day The Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for new light is born. Now you ask yourself, how does a Wiccan prepare for Yule? Believe it or not it’s not that much different from your traditional Christmas decor. Most of the Christmas traditions come from the Pagan Yule celebration, such things as the Christmas trees, the colors red and green and the gift giving.
Yule is also know as The Festival of Growth. It is celebrated between December 20th and 22nd. The reason it varies from year to year is that it depends on when the Sun reaches the southern most point in its yearly cycle.
Symbols used to represent Yule are: evergreen trees, Yule log, holly, wreaths. Made with tons of ribbons and bows, dried berries and nuts. The plants & herbs such as holly, mistletoe, evergreens, poinsettia, tropical flowers, bay, pine, ginger, myrrh, valerian are generously displayed. Colors associated with Yule are: red, green, white, gold.
For Yule incense and oil you can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: rosemary, myrrh, nutmeg, saffron, cedar/pine, wintergreen, ginger, bayberry.
Our dinner menu isn’t as odd as you might think we dine on roasted turkey, caraway rolls, mulled wine, dried fruit, eggnog, pork, beans, gingerbread people.
Animals and mythical beasts associated with Yule are: stags, squirrels, wren/robin, phoenix, trolls, memecolion.
Appropriate Yule Goddesses are all Spinning Goddesses. Some Yule Goddesses are: Angerona (Roman), Eve (Hebraic), Pandora (Greek), Zvezda (Slavic), Metzli (Aztec), Yachimato-Hime (Japanese), Tiamat (Babylonian), NuKua (Chinese)
Appropriate Yule Gods are all Re-Born Sun Gods. Some Yule Gods are: Apollo (Greco-Roman), Balder (Norse), Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic), Ra (Egyptian), Saturn (Roma), Jesus (Christian-Gnositc), Helios(Greek), Ukko (Finnish-Yugoritic).
There are some Rituals and Spell work designed for just this day. Your Altar decorations can consist of: mistletoe, holly, small Yule long, strings of colored lights, Yule/Christmas cards, a candle in the shape of Kris Kringle, homemade wreath, presents wrapped in colorful paper. Stones associated with Yule are: bloodstone, ruby, garnet, cat’s eye.
Traditional activities during Yule consist of: decorating the Yule tree, exchanging gifts, storytelling, making wreaths, throwing holiday parties, sending greetings. Candles should burn freely.