Yuletide
What is Yuletide
Yule marks the start of the Winter Solstice and it's a holiday many celebrate across the world. It originates from the 12-day festival, Yuletide, believed to be originally celebrated by Germanic peoples.
The Spirit of Yule
In Pagan tradition Yuletide is a Celebration of the Return of the Light, the promise fulfilled by Light birthing out of Darkness. It is a time to share Love and Celebrate with community of Family and Friends.
As was believed, and by many still is, at the Winter Solstice we reach the depth of darkness with the longest night of the year. But at Yule a wonderful thing happens. The Sun stops its decline and for a few days it rises in about the same place. This is the crucial time, the cusp between events. The Sun stands still, and everyone waits for the turning. The Sun does start north again and the light comes back. In the world, in our lives, the light comes back!
The Oak King and The Holly King
According to some Pagan records, it is believed that The Holly King rules over the dark part of the year from Midsummer to Yule, he is God of the Waning Year. At Yule he surrenders his life to the young light Oak King, God of the Waxing Year and his twin, who rules over the light part of the year from Yule to Midsummer. Both rule for half of the year, both fight for the favour and love of the Goddess and both surrender their life force for the well-being of the land. In truth, they are one.
Ancient Yuletide traditions today
Echoes of ancient traditions around Yuletide can be found in many today’s festivities.
Yule log
The custom of burning a yule log. It was originally an entire tree, that was carefully chosen and brought into the house with great ceremony, and the largest end of the log placed into the fire hearth, and lit with the remains of the previous year’s log.
Mistletoe and Bûche de Noël
Celtic druids would mark the winter solstice with the cutting of mistletoe and lighting a yule log – believed to banish darkness and evil spirits – whereas nowadays a chocolate yule log or ‘bûche de Noël’ is a popular Christmas dessert or pudding.
Candles
This is the festival of light out of darkness and the tradition of lighting candles is ever popular. Red, green and the gold of the Returning Sun are the colours of Yule. Deck your home and altar with evergreens and candles.
Gifts
Also, from ancient times the giving and exchanging of gifts has been a vibrant tradition of this festival.