Celebrating Yule

[SweetOwl]

Last year when I was away at college, my wiccan friends and I didn't have much time or supplies to go celebrating Yule. This year, however, want to celebrate it in it's full glory! I am very excited about this, and have decided on a few things that we would all like to do, but I just have a few questions for you all :-)

1. I found a Yule ritual on a website, and while it was okay, I was wondering if any of you have certain rituals you use for Yule, and which mean the most to you, and why? Which would you suggest doing for Yule?

2. Where did you get your Yule log, and how did you decorate it?

3. And last...favorite Yule practices. I'd just like to know what some of your favorite Yule practices are, and what your favorite memories are.

Thank you for all your help!

[dragonprincess]

See if you can get a copy of Yule- a Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison
All kinds of good stuff in there, even recipes for the Yule feats, all kinds of traditions and ritual help!

[smckim]

:reindeer: :reading: Thanks, sounds great I'll check Boarders tomorrow for it.
I have been looking for something like this, I hope they have it.

[SweetOwl]

Thank you for the book suggestion! I'm checking Amazon.com for it now. I'm sure Borders would have it. They have never failed to amaze me with their extensive collection of Wicca and Pagan books!

[Ivy Artemisia]

I second dragonprincess... I thought Yule was a lovely book.

Regarding your ritual, are you planning a solitary ritual or a group ritual? IT may or may not limit what you can do with your ritual. For instance, with a solitary ritual, its a bit difficult to do the Holly/Oak king battle. :) What I do when I write a sabbat ritual is focus on the ritual themes. For Yule, this includes, the longest night, calling back the Sun (with light, like candles), the fight between the holly and oak king, there are many more out there. Even looking at different rituals can help you isolate some themes that you might not think of on your own.

I've never had the chance to do the Yule Log, but here, at least people are already cutting the trees back so there seems to be wood everywhere. Maybe just do a drive around town.

Those are all the suggestions I have at the moment. :) Good luck with your ritual!

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

Yule tree! With lots of sparkly ornaments and solar symbols and stuff! And statues of the Mother With Child, of course! Many nativity sets can be viewed in a pagan fashion if you regard Joseph as the old Sun God giving way to the new one cradled in Mary's arms, and Mary may be seen as the Mother aspect of the Goddess. All the animals gathered may represent the fact that the God is Lord of the Beasts, and the Wise Men bring solar gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold - the gold being the shining of the Sun, the frankincense being the incense of solar majesty, and myrrh a bitter and mournful scent representative of death.

[demonique]

Yule tree! With lots of sparkly ornaments and solar symbols and stuff! And statues of the Mother With Child, of course! Many nativity sets can be viewed in a pagan fashion if you regard Joseph as the old Sun God giving way to the new one cradled in Mary's arms, and Mary may be seen as the Mother aspect of the Goddess. All the animals gathered may represent the fact that the God is Lord of the Beasts, and the Wise Men bring solar gifts of frankincense, myrrh, and gold - the gold being the shining of the Sun, the frankincense being the incense of solar majesty, and myrrh a bitter and mournful scent representative of death.

I never thought of it like that... but I do love the representation there!

[Silverfire Darkmoon]

I was telling a friend about the above nativity idea, and she pointed out that I didn't think of a reason for the angel Gabriel or the shepherds (okay, I suggested a lewd and evil reason for the shepherds that involved the sheep). Anyone?

[Raunijar]

Just on the subject of the Yule Log, where I am from, it is traditional to use a log cut from the base of last year's tree.

[Hazel BlueMoon]

For me this is the season to celebrate Angels and all of their glory. I know there is more to Yule than Angels, yet like celebrating and communing with Fairies at Beltane.....it's Angels for at Yule. I delve into research, I commune with them, I talk about and to them. That's just me though. Just thought I'd suggest...but great question. Anyone else have any more suggestions?
Blessed Be.