Celebrating Yule
Symbolically speaking and in accordance with Neopagan traditions, Yule represents the rebirth of God after his death in Samhain and it is the first seasonal ritual of the Wheel of the year, the 8 Sabbats, which correspond to solar feasts: Yule, Imbolc, Ostara , Beltane , Litha , Lugnasah, Mabon and Samhain. It is NOT about the rebirth of Jesus. This is a fairy tale and a new-age spin on the reason we celebrate this time of year.
During this time, nature is asleep so that is why it is a perfect time to meditate, recollect and make plans for the new year.
Yule is expected to last for twelve days which represents the twelve months of the year. During the corresponding TWELVE nights, the dead ones appear in different forms to visit their relatives. This is a time for religious-level initiations, whose necessary elements are constituted by the extinction and renewal of fire.
The main ritual performed in the Yule period is the ritual burning of the Yule log for 12 hours. This log is a large trunk commonly made of pine or willow, cut in the previous Yule and carefully guarded. The entire ritual is directed by the druid or dryad priest in charge of the celebration. The trunk is specially selected by the druid, who communicates with the trees to ask for their permission and know which log would be perfect for use. Later on, sacred symbols of rebirth, male figures and the sun are carved on it.
In Druidism, the Yule also means the time of the greatest amount of energetic power so magical rituals performed at this time are usually very powerful.
Correspondences
Colors:
Red / Green / Gold / Silver / White
Symbols of Yule: Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, Christmas cactus.
Foods of Yule: Biscuits, Caraway cakes ,roasted apples, fruits, nutmeg, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, or lamb’s wool.
Drinks of Yule: Eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).
Symbols
Yule is one of the Lesser Sabbats, it marks the Winter Solstice and is the time of the year when the God is reborn of the virgin goddess. The God is represented by the Sun which returns after the darkest night of the year, to again bring warmth and fertility to the land.
- Rebirth of the God
- The longest night of the year
Work:
- Plan for the future
- Reborn
- Peace, Harmony, Love, Happiness, Light.
Incenses and oils:
- Cedar
- Cinnamon
- Clove
- Incense
- Juniper
- Myrrh
- Orange
- Pine
- Ginger
Herbs :
- Laurel
- thistle
- juniper
- oranges
- lemons
- chamomile
- cinnamon
- evergreen trees
- holly
- ivy
- juniper
- mistletoe
- oak leaves
- pine pine
- cones
- poinsettia
- rosemary
- sage
Stones:
- Emerald
- Ruby
- Diamond
- garnets
- tiger eye
- zirconia
Deity:
Associated Deities: Mother Berta, Father Winter, Santa Clause, Kriss Kringle, St Nick, Kings of Holly and Oak, Aphrodite, Fortuna, Gaia, Hel, Holle, Ishtar, Isis, Apollo, Attis, Balder, Dionysus, the Green Man, Lugh, Odin, Ra
Gods:
- Baal-Bereth is the Father of the Yule season and the Yule (xmas) Tree
- Apollo
- Attis
- Balder
- Bacchus
- Dionysus
- The Green Man
- Helios
- Lugh
- The King of Oak
- Wotan
- Ra
- Sun
Goddesses:
- Brighid
- Isis
- Demeter
- Gaia
- Diana
- The Great Mother
- Athena
- Freya
- Frigga
Ritual Bath:
- Pine branches
- Laurel
- Leaves Rosemary leaves
Yule Activities
* Decorate a Christmas or Yule tree.
* Exchange gifts with family and friends
* Decorate with the colors Red, gold and green in honour of the God
* Add mistletoe, this is both protective and representative of fertility
* Sing carols
* Donate food and clothing to others.
* Private Meditation
* Light Candles
* Drink cider
* Ring bells to greet the Solstice Morning
* String popcorn and hang them on an outdoor tree for the birds.
* Hang little bells on the Yule Tree to call the spirits and fairies.
* For prosperity, burn ash wood.
* Make and burn a Yule Log.
* Bake a Yule Log Cake.