A magical thing occurs on the night of the winter solstice. This is the longest night of the year, the darkest night. But this darkness doesn't last forever, for when the peak of darkness is reached only light awaits. For a while, The Sun seems at a standstill, but then it again starts to ascend, reminding us that it is the darkest before dawn. The people rejoice, this calls for a festival, a celebration to invite and welcome brighter days ahead.
Ever since ancient times, this wondrous celebration is called by pagans Yule or Yuletide.
History and Origins
Yule or Yuletide is a midwinter festival somewhere around the end of the year and the beginning of the new one, basically during the time modern-day Christmas falls in our calendars. Historically, Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time" or "Yule season") was witnessed with the Germanic peoples. Furthermore, some scholars have found a connection to the Wild Hunt, the Anglo-Saxon's "Night of the Mothers", and god Odin.
When Christian religion came to be, Yule underwent reformation and thus, Christmas was first introduced. Of course, it had its religious elements, but modern-day Christmas basically derives from Yuletide. There are still many Christmas traditions and rituals which stem from pagan Yule traditions.
Today, Yule is celebrated in Heathenry (Germanic Neopaganism) and other forms of Neopaganism (Wicca), as well as in LaVeyan Satanism (a form of western esoterics).
The etymological origin of the word is a subject of controversy.
Some believe it is primarily from the Old Norse context. Norse God Odin, bears a lot of names, some of which are jólfaðr (Yule Father) and jólnir (the Yule one). But there is also evidence that inclines scholars to think that maybe the names refer to the Norse Gods in general. The word is often used as a synonym for "feast" in Norse poetry.
Other linguists suggest the word is derived from “Iul” the Anglo-Saxon word for "wheel". which is related to the Celtic calendar - the Wheel of the Year.
Practices & legends
There is a connection between Yule and the Wild Hunt. During the night of the Winter Solstice, there is believed to be an increased activity of "draugar" (Undead beings walking the Earth). The Wild Hunt was organized to hunt those undead creatures and take them back where they belonged. It was believed that this hunt prevented catastrophes for the living world. It was also believed that people who witnessed the Hunt could be abducted into the underworld or the fae kingdom. Furthermore, Yule was seen as the festival to honor all Norse Gods.
Another festival connected to Yule is Mōdraniht (Night of Mothers), an event focused on the collective female beings held by Anglo-Saxons and is believed to be similar to Christmas Eve. This event has been considered a symbol of fertility, even during the winter solstice.
Yule celebrations included bonfires, decorating with holly, mistletoe, and the boughs of evergreen trees, ritual sacrifices, feasts, and gift-giving.
One of the most emblematic Yule traditions is the Yule log. This was a whole tree that should be burned for 12 days in the hearth. The Celts believed that keeping the log burning for 12 days would encourage the Sun to move and make the days longer again. The remains of last years' log were used along with the new one and they would pour wine over it. The people of the household would take turns keeping the log burning. If the log would burn out it was considered really bad luck.
Many of the Christmas traditions we use today are borrowed from Yule traditions.
Those traditions include:
Decorating an evergreen tree - Vikings would decorate evergreen trees with food, carvings, and food for offering to the tree spirits to encourage them to return in the spring.
Hanging Mistletoe
Santa Claus - In Norse lore, The Viking god. Odin was described as a wanderer with a long white beard and is considered the first Father Christmas.
Christmas Stockings - on Winter Solstice's eve, Viking children would leave their shoes out by the hearth with sugar and hay for Odin’s eight-legged horse, Sleipnir.
Gifts - Children would go from house to house with gifts of apples and oranges.
Candles - a symbol of eternal flame, the light and warmth of the sun.
Wreaths - Symbolizing the wheel of the year and the completion of another cycle. They were made of evergreens and decorated with cones and berries. They were also gifts symbolizing the infinity of goodwill and joyfulness.
Bells - Used for driving away demons that surfaced during the dark time of the year.
Carolling - Young children would go through the villages, singing door to door. In return, they were given sweets and small gifts which symbolized food and prosperity given by nature.
Correspondences:
Herbs: Holly, Oak, Mistletoe, Ivy, Evergreens, Laurel, Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Frankincense, Pine, Sage, Yellow Cedar.
Food and Drink: Yule Log Cake, Gingerbread, Fruits, Berries, Nuts, Pork dishes, Turkey, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Spiced Cider, Wassail
Colors: Red (Holly King), Green (Oak King), White (Purity and hope), Silver (the Moon), Gold (the Sun) Crystals: Ruby, Bloodstone, Garnet, Emerald, Diamond
Deities: Goddesses: The Earth Goddess, Freyja, Gaia, Diana, Bona-Dea, Isis, Demeter Gods: Mabon, The Sun God, The Star (Divine) Child, The Oak King, The Holly King, The Green Man, The Red Man, The Horned One, Odin, Lugh, Apollo, Ra
Yule is the time when the year comes to an end, this is marked by the darkest night of the year. However, this is also the time of the year that celebrates the turning point and beginning of brighter days and the sun's ascension.
Everything that happens in Yule influences and creates the coming year, so careful what you manifest!
Blessed be Witches!
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