YULE

Also known as Yuletide, Winter Solstice (20th or 21st of December) and once called Alban Arthan by Druids.

The day of the Winter Solstice is the year's shortest day. It is when the days start to lengthen, overcoming the waning sun. In creation myth, it is a celebration of the birth of the sun god child. The word solstice, from the Latin sol stetit, means "sun standing still." The sun appears to be in the same spot in the sky for about 6 days.

Yule is descended from a Norse Festival celebrating the rebirth of the sun. It was assimilated in the Middle Ages into Christmas, along with the very pagan decorations of holly, ivy, pine, lighted trees, wassail, gifts and feasting. It is a solar festival using fire, candles and logs.

Celebrations included feasting, ale, and fires. The word yule is said to derive from an old Norse word iul meaning wheel. The Norse symbol of Yule is a wheel, said to be from the wheel of life. This time of year is a major turning point, when the sun returns. This holiday is sacred to the sun gods Horus, Aloo, Bel, Baldur and others. In Dianic traditions Yule is sacred to the sun goddesses Uarinna, Amaterasu, and Bast.

Some say the name Yule may be from an earlier Anglo-Saxon spelling geolor it may be related to geolo meaning yellow or geoleca meaning yolk.

Many traditions are combined in this holiday : Roman, Saxon, Celtic, Norse etc. It was so universal in its celebration it could not be eliminated by the church. It was incorporated into Christianity.

Yule is descended from a Norse festival, known as Hweolot-tid, the turning time, that celebrated the return of the sun. Romans had a similar holiday called Saturnalia. It began on December 19. Saturnalia was a celebration of the the new god Jupiter (Deus Pater) winning a battle of the old father god, Saturn. Counterparts in Celtic myth are Bran and Bel and in Greek myth, Cronos and Zeus. Both holidays took place during the solstice, when the sun entered the sign of Capricorn. The ruler of Capricorn was Saturn. During the holiday, social distinctions were turned, the slaves were waited on by their masters at the feasts. Decorations included evergreen boughs. Presents were passed between family and friends to honor loved ones.

Saturnalia was also known as Dies Natalis Invicti Solis "day of of the unconquered sun." The Wheel of the Year was turning. A new god was conceived to see the transition through. Janus is the god with 2 faces : one facing the year past and one toward the future. His name may be found the month known as January.

Foods for this holiday celebration included figs, plums, dates, pears, apples, pomegranates, cakes, nut breads, mulled wine and cider.

The Pagans of Rome and the Norse traditions considered this holiday the start of the new year. Roman explorers brought their holiday traditions with them to Ireland.

The Winter Solstice festival of the Celts then blended with the Roman holiday. When Christianity developed, the holiday had to be absorbed because it was so prevalent it could not be eradicated. Many of the old Pagan traditions may be seen in the holiday of Christmas. Holly, mistletoe, evergreens, candles, fire, are recognized by all. Many of these customs originated with the Norse, Romans and Druids.

In Wicca some observe this tradition, some consider Samhain (halloween) as the beginning of the year.

Oak

Oak was revered widely. The oak groves were home of the Druid's God and represented power. The oak also stood for Diana and her successive lovers.

Bay

The use of bay descends from the Roman's use of this plant and its association with the Roman Sun God Apollo. Bay was adopted by the Celts for use in blessings of strength and health in the New Year.

Holly

The oak and holly are sacred to the druids. They represent the myth of the battle of the Oak and Holly Kings. The Oak King, representing rebirth, fights with the Holly King, representing death, and defeats him. The sun begins to get stronger. The Oak Kings rules till the Summer Solstice when the fight begins again, this time the Holly King wins. The sun gets weaker. We may find remnants of the Holly King in the character of Santa Clause. The sprig of holly in his cap and his red clothes are a dead giveaway.

The evergreen nature and red berries of holly are a symbol of enduring life. The red berries also are a symbol of the blood of the Goddess. In spells and rituals holly is used for attaining magickal goals, divination, spells for boosting male sexual prowess. Holly is cut in mid summer and is considered especially strong if found growing on the sacred oak.

Both holly and ivy are considered symbols of eternal life.

Mistletoe

Mistletoe is the golden bough of classic legend. It is Viscum album of Europe, with leaves in pairs like wings and white berries. Because of their color, these berries were associated with the semen of the gods and so the plant was given phallic associations. It was (and is) sacred to the Druids. Mostly cut in mid summer for the summer Solstice, it was also used for the Winter Solstice. A golden sickle did the deed, symbolizing for the Druids castration of the god.(The reason for castrating the god was not found during this research.) A white cloth was used to catch the mistletoe before it hit the ground.

The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is said to derive from the ancient idea that all legal matters were to be settled once and for all under a bough of mistletoe. Kissing under the mistletoe was also considered important for hand fasting. It was an announcement of future intentions, and was repeated after the ceremony.

As mistletoe ages and whithers it turns a golden color. This may connect it to the golden bough legends. This plants was also thought to have the ability to find buried treasure because of an association with the underworld.

In Norse legend mistletoe is a symbol of death and resurrection. The God Baldur was slain with spear made of mistletoe by the blind god Hodur. All things on earth and in heaven had sworn not to harm Baldur because of the petitioning of his mother. It is told that mistletoe had been forgotten by Odhinn in her petitions. All the gods were having fun throwing things at Baldur and watching the projectiles swerving to miss him. Loki grabbed a stick of mistletoe and helped the blind Hodur throw it at Baldur, killing him. Another version says mistletoe was forgotten because it roots in trees not in the ground, being between and not part of the earth or the heavens.

Because of its many, strong, pagan associations mistletoe was banned from the churches.

Candles

Candles and fire were used as sympathetic magick to lure the sun back. Candles were left burning on Christmas Eve to guide the Christ child through the darkness. They were lit by the oldest member or head of the house, who would also extinguish them in the morning. It was a bad omen if one was accidentally blown out, and unlucky to touch one after lighting.

Christmas tree

This tradition comes straight from pagan worship of trees and the spirits they contain. Common stories tell of christmas trees being unknown in English speaking countries till the German Prince Albert brought the traditions with him when he married Queen Victoria in 1840. The German name used for these trees is tannenbaum, said to be related to tinne or glastin, the sacred trees of the ancient Celts.

European priests, dendrophori, traveled to a sacred grove and selected a pine tree. They brought the tree back to the town, set it up and decorated it. One type of decoration was an effigy of the gods. This may be the origin of the gingerbread men hung on trees to this day.

According to Christian legend, the German Protestant leader Martin Luther was walking in the woods. He came upon a tree with ice covered branches. The beauty of the sun shining through the branches inspired him. Luther brought the tree back and lit candles behind the tree to show others the beauty.

Trees, Evergreens

Evergreens were considered a manifestation of diety and so, sacred. They remained green did not die each year. A representation of the goddess, the Druids decorated trees each Yule with images of wishes for next year. Fruits were used to symbolize harvest, nuts for fertility, candles, and love charms.

In ancient Greece the fir tree was considered sacred to Artemis, the moon goddess who presided over childbirth.

Being the symbol of renewed life and the return of crops and harvest, evergreen decorations were to be removed by the 12th night after the Solstice. If they were taken away too soon it would mean the loss of prosperity in the coming year, but had to be taken down by Candalmas. Depending on tradition, the greens were either left to whither or were burnt in ceremony. To burn while still green, however, would put household protection in jeopardy.

Yule log

To the Celts, the Yule log was a phallic symbol. The log representing the god, three holes representing the goddess were drilled on top. Three candles, one red, one white, one black, symbolizing the impregnation of the goddess were placed in these holes. To symbolize the intertwining of goddess and god, holly and mistletoe were added. Different contries had different traditions, for example, the Slavs used one candle in orange or gold, colors of the god.

Wassailing

Men and boys, followed by the women, would enter their orchards at dusk on the 12th night. With them they brought trays, pans, kettles and cider. One tree was chosen to represent the orchard. Everyone drank a toast to the chosen tree and poured cider on its roots. Toasted bread soaked in cider was left in a fork of it's branches. Sometimes a branch was pulled down and dipped in a kettle of cider. Some of the men may have bowed down as if carrying heavy sacks of fruit. Women and children danced and shouted. All this to ensure a plentiful crop the next year.

Virgin birth

In creation myth, the Virgin Goddess gives birth to her son on the Winter Solstice. The Virgin Mary, gives birth to her son, but being virgin in a very different way.

Wreaths use the symbolism of the circle, no beginning and no end. The circle has been used as such a symbol for 4,000 years or more. Scandinavian peasants used wreaths as decoration for Yule, using pine cones and fruits.

Other symbols

To insure growth and prosperity, burn a pair of bayberry candles.

If you see the sun shining through the branches of an apple tree on Christmas day, next season's crop will be good.

COLORS :

Gold, White, Green, Red

PLANTS :

Mistletoe, Balsam, Fir, Pine cones and needles, Chamomile, Comfrey, Sunflower, Apple, and any dried summer herbs.

STONES :

Clear quartz, citrine

It is a good time for goal setting magick, new ideas and projects