Yule

[SilentDreams]

First off it seems only yesterday I was enjoying my first (and very great) Samhain. Honestly Yule seemed to come so much sooner than I'd expected. So now I'm faced with a problem. Aside from hearing bits and pieces about Yule logs and what Yule truly is I don't know what I should do to celebrate. So if y'all could just give me some "basics" or some things you do I'd really appreciate it. I'm not looking for a step by step guide. Just some samples.

[Garden of Eden]

Hmm... well, in my opinion Yule is very much a time to celebrate birth and family in the rebirth of the God... But that's just me. ;) There are many different things you can do around Yule, but it's traditonal to acknowledge the return of the light and the fact that Winter's hold on the world is beginning to ebb away again after December 21st.

[badkitty]

I always keep a light burning all night on solstice, if possible I stay up with it.

I always try to do some sort of treat for the birds as well.

My teacher had a yule tree where all of the ornaments were forest animals and suns.

A lot of the traditions have pagan roots so if you've celebrated christmas in the past it is just connecting the things you've always done with new (old) meaning.

[LittleRhiannon]

To me, Yule is about keeping close to your family/friends during the darkest time of the year, and helping each other out.

And of course to welcome and encourage the light to return! Our family has a Yule/Midwinter tree, with bows and bells and my large collection of fairy ornaments. I don't know much about yule logs, but we do always have a fire burning during winter nights.

I don't do a whole lot ritual-wise for Midwinter, but at sunset on that night I like to light a candle and keep it burning until sunrise, and watch the sunrise. I sometimes fall asleep though...so it's good to have a partner so you can keep yourselves awake.

[Anubis RainHawk]

Here's a link to the Wheel of the Year class here at Mystic Wicks:http://www.mysticwicks.com/showthread.php?t=51036

Hope it helps and have a blessed Yule

Anubis RainHawk

[Aidron]

My ideas of the Winter Solstice are not very popularized, or perhaps common, I should say, at least not by my reckoning.

To me it represents a time of introspection (represented by the darkness being greater than light at this time of year), rest (the season Winter belonging to Earth is an element of rest, hearth, and home, a time of coming inside both metaphorically and physically), and of death. I decline to use the title of rebirth for the Winter Solstice and reserve that for the Vernal Equinox. Winter brings death to many things, plant, animal, and mankind. It cleanses us of the old and paves a path for the new to arise (the Vernal Equinox).

It is a time to let things go, give thanks for the previous year (I view winter as the end of the year, despite assumptions [and no, there are no concrete facts that the Celts referred to Samhain as the end/beginning of the year] as elemental Earth is finite, representing a finalized product or ending, while Air represents a dawn of things to come), and to pay special attention to yourself and your domain.

I do not pay homage to the Holly King as that is a Wiccan ideal (nor do I seperate any deities into a maiden, mother, crone, son, father, sage aspect) nor do I consider this a time of light as some people do. It is a dark time, and in ancient times was a very merciless time of the year. I do not associate it with the sun, either, but the moon (as the moon is part of yin, the feminine and receptive aspect of balance and corresponds with elemental Earth).

At this time of the year I honor my trials and failures, the bounty of the year, and attempt to let things go that may have hindered me in the past year before they do so again in the coming year.

[SacredWithin]

I too am not very familiar with step by step instructions. Around Yuletime, I have a feeling to honor the concept of the Sacred Mother and Child. So I'll have images like that wherever I can decorate. I like candles too and I associate the color blue with this time, so I'll be lighting a lot of candles. Up goes the lights on the house (originally a Pagan thing, not Christian, but I forgot the meaning) :bigredblu And lots of singing, dancing and being with family and friends is how I celebrate. I'm not familiar with any other way.*shrugs*

[BrigidMoon]

Yule for me is celebrating an ending and getting ready for a new beginning. It's about rebirth and reviewing yourself and what your goals were and are - where you are in life and how you feel about it. I make lots of gifts to give to friends and family too. Just tonight I made 6 pairs of earrings! Appreciating those that you love....things like that. :)

[BrigidMoon]

I always keep a light burning all night on solstice, if possible I stay up with it.

I always try to do some sort of treat for the birds as well.

My teacher had a yule tree where all of the ornaments were forest animals and suns.

A lot of the traditions have pagan roots so if you've celebrated christmas in the past it is just connecting the things you've always done with new (old) meaning.


I love this idea of keeping a light burning for solstice! That's awesome :)

[Romani Vixen]

It has very much to do with the sun, and it's returning. Put out all the lights in the house and then light your log (or candle) to help give strength to the new sun.