Lady Victoria Eclectic Pagan's blog: "Yule"

A celebration of the winter solstice has been held since time immemorial in the Northern Hemisphere. Throughout the ages the festival has had many names. It is certain that a mid-winter festival called Yule was celebrated in the Nordic countries well before the year 1000. Though challenged by some scholars, the fact that Yule/Jól was celebrated in Iceland and throughout the Northern Hemisphere well before the advent of Christianity is now widely accepted. The exact date, or dates, that Yule was celebrated is not certain, but it was probably connected to the full moon nearest the winter solstice. The calendar has been changed many times since, and it is impossible to reconcile the references to an exact date. The name itself has been retained in many languages-- Yule - Jól - Jul even if the cause for celebration has shifted from the sun reversing its downward path, shining ever longer each day, to the birth of Jesus. This linguistic retention of the name should be proof enough that the festival has always been an important one. For close to a thousand years people have tried to explain the meaning of the name "Yule" to no avail. Some scholars believe it comes from one of the names of Óðinn, others have even theorized that it came from the name of Julius Caesar. It has also been suggested that Jól is derived from the Old-Nordic word for wheel: Hjól, the theory being that the wheel of the year has come full circle, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. There have been more attempts at explanations than one can shake a stick at. Certainly the exact meaning of the original word is something we shall never know. This ancient festival is shrouded in mystery, but has left us a beautiful word describing a delightful occasion. History of Yule So where did this holiday come from? It started over 4000 years ago in ancient Egypt, the occasion being an extravagant party to celebrate the rebirth of Horus, the God who appeared in the sky as a fiery orb each day we know today as Sun. As Egyptians honored Horus with a twelve-month calender, the festival lasted twelve days with each day with each day symbolizing one month. Buildings were decorated with greenery of all sorts to honor the Sun. The Egyptians flourished & the word of their Sun-welcoming ceremonies quickly swept through Mesopotamia. Believing that the rituals were at the heart of their neighbor’s prosperity the Babylonians got in on the act calling it Zagmuk & incorporated their own Sun God, Marduk. The Babylonians believed that Marduk had created the world after defeating the monsters of chaos. The Zagmuk festival began five days before Winter Solstice and lasted six days after, with the peak of the festival falling on the Solstice itself. No longer after, the Persians & Greeks also caught on & celebrated in different way. Eventually words of these Sun-welcoming festivities spilled into the outside world & other folks took up the cause as well. Finally the ancient Romans decided to participate & that’s when the winter festivities really started to take shape. They combined most of their traditions of their predecessors & added a few of their own like exchange of God figures Jupiter for Zeus & Saturn for Kronos. This gave them the opportunity to honor Saturn because the God was responsible for the pulse of nature & its germinating properties. The festival began at the Roman temple of Saturn with a ceremony to remove the chains that had bound the God’s feet all year long. With that the whole of Roma was on holiday. As the sun gained power in the sky, Jupiter once again defeated Saturn. So it went with the popularity of the winter festivals spreading through Europe & gaining popularity. Then Christianity a new religion sprang to the forefront. No matter how good the new religion sounded to the Pagans, they were used to their old ways. The Christians (former Pagans) had a revelation around the 4th Century. Unlike the Pagan religion theirs was based on the workings of man-god Jesus, his death & resurrection & a Mother Goddess, Mary mother of Jesus. Since no one really knew when the Christ-child was born, the Christians set his birthday on December 25. They billed the festival as the “Birth of the Son” because “Son” & “Sun” were pronounced the same, the Pagans would think the new celebrations was just an addition to their own.

Modern-day astronomers sat that the famous star of Bethlehem wasn’t a star at all. More than likely, it was either a comet or an astronomical phenomenon caused by the conjunction of several planets at once. Because the British Parliament felt Christmas was a heathen holiday, they officially abolished all related festivities in 1643. The historical records of 1836 shows Alabama as the first state in the Union to give Christmas the status of holiday. Oklahoma was the last state to confirm; they didn’t declare it a legal holiday until 1907. The first commemorative Christmas stamp was issued in Austria in 1937. Donder (not Donner), which means thunder, was the original name of the reindeer who helped pull Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve. He was paired with Blitzen, whose name means lightning. The story of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer was written specifically as a sales gimmick for the Montgomery Ward Company in 1939 by one of their employees, Robert L. May. The little book was given freely to every customer who shopped there during the holiday season. The candy cane first gained popularity in churches, where it was given as a treat to children who behaved themselves during services. Eggnog wasn’t always the creamy, rich drink we know today. It’s a derivation of a seventeenth century ale called “nog.” The Irish celebrated each Christmas Eve by drinking a pint or so, for in their country all pubs were closed on Christmas Day. Gingerbread houses became popular holidays gifts during the 19th century after The Brothers Grimm released the story of Hansel & Gretel. St. Francis of Assisi introduced the singing of carols to holiday church services. The first American carol—a carol entitled “Jesus is born” – was written by Reverend John de Brebeur in 1649. At midnight on the Christmas Eve of 1914, Germany gunfire suddenly halted & was replaced by the singing of carols. At daybreak, the German soldiers began to call out “Merry Christmas” to their foes. Before long, both sides declared a truce, shook hands with each other, and exchanged gifts of food, cigarettes, & liquor. The merriment and goodwill lasted for three days. Irving Berlin wrote the popular carol “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas” in 1942 specifically for the movie Holiday Inn, in which Bing Crosby starred. Two years after World War II ended, the people of Oslo, Norway sent a holiday tree to the city of Westminster in appreciation of British support. This tradition continues today. Along the shores of the Mississippi River especially along the Louisiana coast line bonfires are lit on Christmas Eve. Their purpose is to guide the way for Father Christmas. The image of Santa as we know it today was popularized by none other than the Coca-Cola Company. The custom of Santa eating cookies on Christmas Eve originated in Germany where trees were decorated with fruit, flowers, and sweet confections. After leaving gifts for good children, he’d simply help himself to the goodies on the tree! Santa’s fur-trimmed suit, his cap, and his cloak were fashioned after the clothing of the Dutch saint, Nicholas, who wore a bishop’s mitre & vestments. St. Nick doesn’t get a vacation after the winter holidays. Since he’s also the patron saint responsible for Greece, Russia, sailors, merchants, pawnbrokers, bakers, prisoners, children, and wolves, he’s very busy spirit year ‘round.

Many common Yule symbols and traditions actually originated in Babylon, Persia, Greece, & Rome, but things like bells, holly, Christmas trees, candy canes, and Santa Claus were devised by Christians. Though Christians managed to convert the masses, a good many Pagans went on with their own festivals; they breathed fresh life into the ancient customs and added new symbols as they went. The Christians devised their own symbologies as well, and pretty soon, all the symbols, customs, and traditions melded together. Advent Wreath: Although Advent initially came from the Lutherans, many religious sectors adopted the tradition and adapted its function to suit their own purposes. Traditionally, the wreath is made of evergreens with four candles ensconced within, and its ritual begins four days before Christmas. A candle is lit each Sunday and burns throughout the week to welcome the “light of the world.” On the fourth Sunday, all four candles burn together in welcome. Evergreens: Decorating with evergreens dates back to earliest winter festivals. Because the green never faded from their branch & leaves, evergreens were thought to have power over death & destruction enough power to defeat whatever winter demons roamed the earth, and enough tenacity to urge the coming of the Sun. Candles: Because fire melted winter’s chill & was thought to encourage the Sun to shine, it was always an important part of the ancient winter festivals. Candles, however, are thought to have originated with the ancient Romans who gave them to each other as Saturnalia gifts. Their brightness was thought to chase away dark winter demons and urge the sun back into the sky. Holly: Since holly sports vibrant green leaves and bright red berries during winter’s deathly chill, it provides an excellent symbol of rebirth. The prickly shrub was a favorite amulet among early Europeans, and they often placed it in their homes to rid themselves of negative entities & nasty weather. Mistletoe: Although attributed to the Celts- the Druids, more specifically mistletoe was probably first used in the Greek winter ceremonies. When the holidays spread throughout Europe, though, the Druids gave the parasitic plant sacredness & new meaning. For them, the berried plant symbolized the semen of God, & was used to bring about great fertility & abundance. Poinsettia: Known for centuries as the Flower of the Holy Night, the poinsettia is the product of an old Mexican myth. Apparently, a young boy wanted very much to give the Christ-child a birthday gift. He was very poor, though, and couldn’t afford to buy Him anything. His intentions were so sincere that the Divine intervened & the flower sprang up at his feet. Ornaments : The Germans originally decorated their trees with fruit, candy, cookies, and flowers. These ornaments symbolized the abundance to come when the Sun shed His warmth. They decorated their trees with round, three-dimensional shaped ornaments replicating the shape of the Sun to honor it. Yule Log: Although normally attributed to the Scandinavian peoples, it might be said that Yule log actually originated with the ancient Greeks, who burned whole trees in an effort to hold off the mischievous Kallikantzaroi. However the Celts reinvented the custom, & gave it a whole new meaning. The log (a symbol of their Oak King) adored with traditions evergreens (a representation of the Holy King) signifies the death of darkness and the warmth of the Sun during the newly born solar year. According to tradition, the log should burn continuously for twelve days, and a bit of wood should be saved to start the next year’s fire. The first day of Yule varies depending upon religious belief. Pagans usually light the Yule fire on the Winter Solstice. Tree: The use of holiday tree is said to have originated in eighth century Germany. Legend has it that the Christian St. Boniface was trying to convert a group of Druids. Try as he might, though, he couldn’t convince them that the oak tree was neither sacred nor invincible. In desperation, he finally cut one down. When the tree fell, it crushed everything in its path but a single evergreen sapling. Boniface declared it a miracle, then proclaimed that the fir tree belongs to the Christ-child. After that, trees were brought into homes as holiday decorations. Tinsel & Icicles: The traditions of placing tinsel & foil icicles on holiday trees came from a seasonal story of unknown origins. The gist of it was that spiders weren’t allowed anywhere near the tree, not even close enough to take a peek. Upset at this discrimination, they whined to the Christ-child. Once the baby allowed their admittance, they climbed into the tree & covered it with webs. He was so delighted with their creativity that he turned the webs into strands of silver. Santa Claus: Although often associated with Norse Sun-god, Kris Kringle, the initial origins of Santa’s capabilities probably had much to do with the myths surrounding the Aryan God, Odin, Lord of the Winds. Legends contends that He was a nocturnal god capable of flying through the stormiest clouds on His gray 8-legged horse, materializing & vanishing at will, and that he held the whole of magic, even his forbidden secrets in the palm of his hand. Such origin explains why Santa flies through the sky, is never seen, knows who’s been naughty & nice, and has bag of toys that never runs dry. Reindeer: Although commonly associated with Santa Claus, many people believe that reindeer represent the stages that drew the chariot of the Norse gift-giving goddess, Freya. Another nothing is that they symbolize the abundance of the Celtic horned god, Cernunnos. No matter how you slice it, though, the presence of the horned, hooved beasts during the holidays definitely has Pagan origins. Sleigh: Santa’s sleigh is more than likely a holdover from the Norse myth of Freya. Legend has it that every year she spent the twelve days immediately following the Solstice giving gifts to the nice & doling out misery to the naughty. Her mode of transportation was a chariot drawn by stags. Snowflakes: According to legend, the snowflake was formed from the tears that Demeter cried after Persephone’s descent into the Underworld. The microscopic flakes have six sides, and since six is the numerological digit associated with affection, the snowflake was used by Pagans as a winter symbol of love. Stockings: Legend has it that 3 young ladies of meager means were terribly distraught over the probability of their spinsterhoods. They had no dowries & in those days no dowry meant no marriage. Somehow, word of their angst reached St. Nick. For 2 nights, he tossed bags of gold through their window. On the third night, however, all the windows and doors were locked. Not to be deterred, he climbed down the chimney & filled the stockings they’d left by the hearth to dry. This legend seems to be the first account of St. Nick being the Santa-like figure we know him as today.

There is a tradition of making a wish at the Winter Solstice, of burning pieces of paper with wishes or affirmations written on them. When creating a Winter Solstice candle, you will infuse the molten wax with your wish or intent and release it with the burning of the candle. This is a very basic recipe for creating candles at home using scraps of old wax or wax purchased from a craft store. It is designed for simplicity and to use items found in most kitchens. Items needed: * large metal pot – an old stew pot works well * old glass carafe (such as a coffee pot) or soup/coffee can(s) * candy thermometer * blocks of purchased wax or used candles (your choice of color) * small paper cups (Dixie Brand), or other molds * wicks (available at craft stores) * wooden spoon, oven mitt, towels, and waxed paper or newspaper to cover work area * ground frankincense resin (optional) The Wax The purpose of making recycled candles is to use all those scraps of wax left-over from old candles — and to save money. If you don’t have a lot of old wax lying around, start saving it. Have your friends and relatives save theirs for you and soon you’ll have more wax than you can use! Until then, you can buy blocks of wax from craft stores. This recipe is for basic paraffin wax only — however, beeswax can be included. Using recycled wax from spent candles is a bit of an adventure. Since wax type and quality varies, one good way for beginners to get started is to take one very large candle that has burned down, such as the large three-wick type, and make many smaller votives from it. Certain waxes will be harder or softer than others so to be safe always burn recycled candles in a heat-proof container. For example, wax designed to be burned in a container has a lower melting point and should never be used to create a votive or pillar candle. When mixing waxes, your candles may be harder or softer than you expect. When purchasing wax from a craft store to make votives, buy the type of wax for molded candles. The wax chunks should be small to medium-sized for quicker melting. A good way to break up large blocks of wax is to place the wax in a plastic bag and use a hammer to break it. This is best done outdoors on a safe surface. The Wick There are several types of wicking. You can buy long strips that can be cut to a specific size and these come in braided or wire (metal core). Wire is best for this type of candle. Wick tabs are small metal plates that you can crimp to the bottom of your wick to help it stand up but, for this type of candle and method, they are not necessary. Another easy method if you’re making votive candles is to buy wicks that have tabs already attached to the bottom. These are perfect for paper cup candles. You’ll probably get about a dozen in a package, so it’s cheaper to buy the long length of wicking and cut it. But the choice is yours. There are generally three sizes, small, medium, and large. The packages indicate what candle size each type is used for. Paper cup size is about 1 _ to 2 inches in diameter. Small or medium wicking works best. Ideally, your candle will burn evenly all the way down. If you use wicking that’s too large, you may end up with a runny mess. Wicking that is too small will cause the candle to burn down in the middle but leave an outer shell. This is often a desired effect since there’s less chance of a mess. However, a hole could form in the shell and liquid wax could still spill through. Medium wicking is the best choice for the paper cup style votive. But, you still may not get perfect burning, especially when using recycled wax. When mixing wax you never know what results you’ll get so always burn these types of candles in a safe container. The Mold This recipe simply requires a paper cup to create a basic votive candle. It can be expanded upon by using larger molds, just keep in mind that the appropriate wick size must be used in order for the candle to burn effectively. Just about any container that can withstand heat can be used for a mold – but remember: you have to be able to get the candle out. This can be difficult. That’s why paper cups and cardboard molds (juice cans) work so well – you just peel them off. Of course, you can invest in reusable molds that are sold at craft stores but keep in mind you’ll need several of them to pour many candles at once. The number of candles you can make in a batch depends on your mold size. Generally, a pound of wax will yield 8-12 standard votives. Paper cups are a bit larger than regular votive size. Creating the Candle First, cover the area you'll be using with waxed paper or newspaper to aid in clean-up. Wear old clothes, and use old towels. You can use a cookie sheet to set the candles on to cool, if you wish, and an oven mitt will also be useful. Add a couple inches of warm tap water to the pot and place it on the stove. Put the chunks of wax in the carafe (or can) and place the carafe inside the pot of water. This simulates a double boiler. Bring the water to a gentle boil – the water should remain at a low but steady boil to avoid water splashing up into the wax. Once the water is hot and the wax begins melting, adjust the temperature so the water stays hot, but not boiling. Use the thermometer to monitor the temperature of the wax. You must use a high-temperature thermometer – the kind used for making hard candy is ideal. If your thermometer has a clip you can attach it to the side of the carafe or can. Add water to the pot as needed – be careful not to let the pot boil dry. If your pot is large enough, you can melt several different colors at the same time by using two or three small soup cans. Use caution when handling these as they will become hot. Use an oven mitt or towel. While you're waiting for the wax to melt, cut your wicks to the appropriate length, a little taller than the rim of the cup. When the wax in the carafe is melted, carefully dip the wicks into it so all but the tip you’re holding is immersed in the wax, and lay them on waxed paper or a cookie sheet to dry. This is called priming the wicks and makes them stiff and easier to work with. Stir the wax occasionally as it is melting. When the wax reaches pouring temperature, about 160 degrees F, remove the carafe from the water and place it on a heat-proof surface. Now is the time to focus your intent and make your wish. Visualize your need being absorbed into the molten wax and make your Solstice wish or affirmation. At this time add the ground frankincense resin and stir the wax a few more times. Then, pour the wax into the mold(s) you have selected. You may cast a circle for this process if you like, but just remember not to let the wax cool down. If you decide to create a longer ritual for creating your candle, leave the pot in the water until you’re ready to pour the wax. If you’ve made a large batch of wax, create one candle for your personal Solstice wish by using special intent for pouring your candle, and then use this simple chant for the rest of the candles, to be given as gifts or saved for later: Molten wax, take shape anew, As I pour energy into you, Await a wish and hold it fast, Fulfill it when the flame is cast. Use caution when pouring to prevent wax from dripping onto the burner and catching flame. Always wipe the lip of the carafe or can after pouring and remember to wear your oven mitt. I have found it helpful when using cans to squeeze one side of the can to a point to make pouring easier. Be sure to reserve some liquid wax and keep it warm, as it will be needed later to "top-off" the candles. Wait about 20 minutes, or until the wax in the molds begins to form a thin "skin" on top, and then stick the wick down into the wax; even without a wick tab it will adhere to the bottom of the cup, where the wax is beginning to thicken. Make sure your wick is centered. The wick should be able to stand up on its own. If it doesn’t, then the wax isn’t thick enough yet. Wait a bit longer before trying to insert the wick. As the candles cool, a well will probably form around the wick causing the candle to appear sunk in the center. This is normal since wax shrinks as it cools. Simply pour a thin layer of wax over the top. Repeat this process as desired until the candles are cool and nearly level on top. The entire process could take several hours to complete. Of course, if you don’t care how the candle looks, don’t worry about topping it off. Although I recommend at least topping it off once since the wick could lean over if you don’t. Each time you pour, try to keep the wax the same temperature. Differences in pouring temperature can change the finished texture of the wax. Clean Up & Finishing the Candle You shouldn't need to wash your carafe and cans. Simply pour out all the wax - any that is left over can be poured into a paper cup to cool and used next time. Wipe the inside of the containers with a paper towel. When candles are cool, carefully peel off the paper cup. It’s best to wait several hours, or overnight. Trim the wick to about 1/4 inch and they're ready! Remember: Wax is very forgiving! You can always melt it down and start over if you don't like the results. These solstice candles also make great gifts, and your personal energy will make them extra special. Color suggestions for the winter solstice include yellow (to welcome the sunlight), white, red, or green. Tie a decorative ribbon around the candle and use a gift tag to announce the candle as a symbol to welcome the returning light. Don’t forget to have the gift recipient make a solstice wish when lighting the candle.

The season of Yule can be a mixed blessing to Pagan parents. Many of the holiday festivities, school parties and retail displays seem to be centered on the dominant culture. It might be a little difficult to explain to your children about our beliefs at this time of year, amidst the barrage of Santa Claus, shopping mania, and “Silent Night.” The Goddess and the returning Sun King may seem to take a back seat to opening presents. However, this is one of the best times to involve your children in Earth-based spirituality. Many Christmas symbols really did come from Pagan traditions, and several legends including Santa and the reindeer can be traced to pre-Christian origins. Not only is this a wonderful opportunity to share the holiday customs of many faiths, we can also teach our children the meaning of our own Yule celebrations. Llewellyn readers can find books with some excellent ideas for commemorating Yule. Dan and Pauline Campanelli’s The Wheel of the Year and Edain McCoy’s Sabbats describe many meaningful rituals and fun crafts. Dorothy Morrison’s Yule gives a detailed history of the holiday, as well as recipes, art projects and spiritual ceremonies. This article is geared toward Pagan parents with small children, and intended to supplement these existing sources. You can explain many of our favorite traditions to the youngsters while involving them in related arts and crafts or allowing them to help you in the kitchen. Many of these ideas can be shared with non-Pagan friends and relatives, without causing offense. That Jolly Old Elf The legend of Santa Claus may be based on Saturn, an elderly white-bearded Roman god who was responsible for distributing gifts. Santa may have been modeled on Odin of the German, Icelandic and Scandinavian pantheons. Santa’s reindeer chariot might have come from the Finnish legend of Vainamoinen, who lived in the north, had a magical workshop, and wore a long white beard. If you feel comfortable divulging Santa’s secret identity, you might want to teach your children about the “avatar” concept. An explanation we’ve found useful is: “You know how the priestess ‘becomes’ the Goddess in ritual? Mommy invokes the spirit of Santa Claus the same way.” Our kids enjoy being the avatar of Santa themselves, choosing gifts for classmates or grandparents. You can explain Santa’s history while creating these crafts: Paper Plate Santas Materials: A plain paper plate, construction paper, cotton balls, glue, felt-tipped markers. Method: Draw a jolly face on the paper plate. Give him a pointy red construction paper hat tipped with a cotton ball. Glue on more cotton balls for his beard, mustache and “fur” at the base of his hat. Santa Ornaments Materials: Craft foam in red, white, and black, and pink or brown for his face; scissors or craft knife, strong glue, your child’s school photo. Method: Cut out a round pink or brown face. Add black eyes, a smiling red mouth, a white beard and mustache, and pointy hat. Cut out a larger round red belly. Glue on black buttons and white fur trim. Glue the two together, then glue your child’s picture in the center of Santa’s tummy. Now she is Santa’s avatar. Glue a paper clip to the back, or punch a hole in the hat for a standard ornament hanger. Trim a Yule Tree If you’ve got ornaments you’ll need a tree to hang them on. Many families have an artificial tree, but you needn’t feel guilty over buying a live evergreen. Here in Michigan, holiday trees are just another farm crop, like corn, planted and harvested yearly. The Yule tree tradition really does have Pagan roots. In Ireland and Cornwall, many trees were decorated near sacred wells year-round. In Norway, evergreens were brought into the house, but hung upside down from the rafters to save space! You might want to decorate a tree outside for the birds. Smear peanut butter on pinecones and roll them in birdseed. Hang ears of field corn from pretty ribbons. String popcorn and cranberries. Attach a bell-shaped seed feeder to the top. During your child’s winter break from school, get up early to watch all the feathered visitors enjoy your outdoor Yule tree. Sled Ornament: Materials: Popsicle or craft sticks, glue, paint or felt markers, ribbon, scissors. Method: Cut four craft sticks to 3 inches, two sticks to 3 1/4 inches, and two more to 3 _ inches. You’ll need two more for “runners”. Paint the craft sticks all one color, or two complimentary colors, like red and green. Place the two longest sticks flat in the middle, two shorter ones on either side, and the two shortest on the outside. Place two short sticks across them horizontally, 1 inch from the top and bottom, and glue them in place. You may wish to cut the top of the vertical sticks so they are rounded, to resemble a sled. When the glue has dried, turn your sled over and glue the runners in place on the bottom. Use a ribbon to hang the ornament. Pipe Cleaner Ornaments Even the smallest children can do this. Materials: Red and white pipe cleaners for candy canes, other colors. Some craft stores sell neon and sparkly pipe cleaners, especially for crafts. Method: Twist red and white pipe cleaners around each other to form a candy cane. Older kids can create bells, stars, angels and fairies, or other Yuletide shapes. Pipe cleaners are also good to twist around holly and mistletoe sprigs. Caution: Real holly and mistletoe berries can be toxic to babies and pets. You might wish to use cloth holly leaves, found in most craft stores and holiday special sales. These ornaments can also be used to decorate wrapped gifts. Magic Reindeer Yule is a wonderful time to explain about the Horned Lord called Herne, Cerne, Cernunnos or Boucca in western Europe. You might also wish to discuss the importance of deer and other wildlife in many cultures. The Navajo have a sacred deer kachina. Finnish and Lapp people still use reindeer as herd animals, for meat, fur and milk. Folks in Bhutan, Mexico and South America revere an entity much like Herne, who appears in sacred dances and dramatizations. In Abbots Bromley, England, reindeer antlers are used in a ritualized folk dance that has been presented for over 900 years. Of course, children in America love the tale of Santa’s eight flying reindeer. You can make some of these crafts while singing about Rudolf and friends, or while an adult reads “The Night Before Christmas” aloud. (If you’d like, change the title to “Yule”.) Clothespin Reindeer Ornament Materials: Each ornament requires two old-fashioned clothespins, the kind without springs. Use commercial googly-eyes, and red pompoms for noses, or draw on their features with a marker. Red or green ribbons can adorn their necks or serve as hangers. Strong glue is needed to hold them together. Method: One clothespin with the pins facing up makes the face and antlers, another clothespin with the pins facing down, glued to the back of the first, makes the body and legs. Add eyes, noses and ribbon. These can be pinned directly to the tree branches or used as decorations on a wrapped present. Spoon Reindeer Ornament This project is easy for smaller kids, as well as craft-impaired grownups. Materials: A wooden spoon, brown pipe cleaners, googly eyes, pompoms or paint. Method: Make antlers out of the pipe cleaners, glue or tape them to the back of the spoon. Add eyes and a nose to the spoon bowl. You can also decorate your reindeer with ribbon, glitter glue, raffia or other materials. Reindeer Piñata This is a craft for older children, although toddlers will have a great time squishing in the paste. Materials: Newspaper strips, a balloon, paste made from flour and water, paint, googly-eyes, crepe paper or construction paper, paper towel rolls, ribbons, bowl, tape, scissors. Method: Mix flour and water in a bowl to make a thin paste. Tear black and white newspaper into strips (no slick ads). Blow up a balloon, which you might want to balance on another bowl. Dip the newspaper strips into the paste and apply in layers to the balloon. Don’t forget to leave a hole for the candy! Let it dry. Cut the paper towel rolls into antlers and tape or glue them onto one end. You can also use paper towel rolls for legs and a tail, if you wish. Paint the whole thing brown or tan. Again, let it dry. Using brown or tan construction or crepe paper, cut into strips, and make several parallel cuts along each edge to simulate fur. Glue these onto the deer’s body. Give him googly-eyes and a pompom nose, or paint on his features. If you want, he can have ribbons to hang him up, or to adorn his antlers. Fill him with candy, tape the hole closed, save him for a tabletop decoration. or hang him up and have at it! Yummy Yule Goodies We enjoy many traditional holiday foods at this time of year, including gingerbread cookies, figgy pudding, roast goose, candy canes and Wasshail. Your children may enjoy “wassailing the trees”, a British and Germanic custom for blessing the spirits of the woods. Splash some apple cider at the base of each tree, while calling “to your health!” Cocoa to Go This is a fun gift for a teacher or scout leader. Mix one cup cocoa powder, one cup dry milk, and one cup dry coffee creamer in a bowl. (Add more proportionally if you’re making a big batch.) You can use flavored coffee creamer if it’s something that tastes good with cocoa. If your brand of instant hot chocolate already has milk mixed into it, forgo the powdered milk and creamer. Add a few tablespoons of sugar, chocolate sprinkles, dry mini-marshmallows, and tiny peppermint candies. Mix well. Spoon the mixture into a zippered sandwich bag with Yule-themed decorations printed on the plastic. Stick a bow onto each bag. Viola, instant Yule presents. Wassail The original recipe includes alcohol, but you can make this beverage for kids and teetotaling adults using apple cider, red grape juice, orange juice, cinnamon, ground cloves (just a pinch) and ground nutmeg. You may wish to put the spices into a cloth bag and let it steep. Or push whole cloves into the skin of an orange, and let it float in a punch bowl. Experiment with proportions. Some folks like cranberry juice or allspice in the mix. This is a festive punch for a Sabbat party. Divination Pudding This is not a creamy milk-based dessert pudding; instead, this is a traditional English dinner pudding. You’ll need about a loaf of stale bread, three eggs, a half cup of heavy cream, a quarter cup of brown sugar, and spices such as cinnamon, ground cloves, ground nutmeg, allspice, mace, and ginger. Pick two spices, and use no more than a quarter teaspoon of each. You will also need some trinkets such as small toy cars, rings, large coins like half-dollars, or other prizes. Grease a quart baking dish. Tear the bread into small pieces – children really enjoy doing this. Beat the eggs until stiff. Fold in the heavy cream and add the sugar and spices. Place the bread into the baking dish, pour the wet mixture over it. Now comes the fun part. Hide the prizes in the pudding. Let the kids push them down into the gooey bread, then cover them over. Bake your pudding in the oven for about 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit, checking it frequently*. The top should be golden brown and an inserted toothpick should come out clean. Serve hot, with butter and whipped cream. Caution: WARN people about the prizes, so that nobody chokes on them! You might want to make a separate pudding for toddlers, or use prizes that aren’t small enough to swallow. The coins represent money, the cars mean a journey, and the rings signify love. * You might want to check a standard cookbook for a Yorkshire pudding recipe to find definite cooking temperatures. I cook with a wood stove, which has three temperatures: “hot”, “hotter still”, and “really honkin’ hot”. Bread pudding is best cooked at “fairly darn hot”. Dorothy Morrison has some really good recipes in her Yule book, too. More Timely Traditions Decorating with holly and ivy, lighting a Yule log, and commemorating the Goddess in her mother and crone or grandmother aspect are all delightful Pagan traditions. You can find representations of the crone Goddess in the form of Mrs. Claus and the good Scandinavian witch who brings candy and goodies. The Latvian people have a female elf who distributes presents. Besides the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, other cultures revere a Mother Goddess who gives birth to a son representing light, including the Egyptian Isis and Horus, the Persian Asura and Mithras, and the Welsh Rhiannon and Pryderi. Your children can honor the Goddess at this festive time of year by singing carols in a nursing home, or distributing goodies at a women’s shelter. Many carols have Pagan overtones, such as “Deck the Halls” and “Here We Come a Wassailing”. Others are religion-neutral, such as “Rudolf” and “Jingle Bells”. A nice present for an elder: Wrap a new washcloth around a bar of non-scented soap. Tie it with a pretty ribbon. Stuff the whole thing into a soft bedroom slipper. Fill the other slipper with a shampoo bottle. Put the gift into a pre-decorated paper sack, tied with more ribbon. You might also want to help your youngsters choose gifts for the local kids’ charity drive. Holly King and Oak King Staff Materials: A dowel or long stick, cloth or paper leaves, pipe cleaners, tape or glue. Each year, the holly king symbolically takes power at Yule, and rules until the Summer Solstice. Then the oak king takes over until the winter. If you wish to dramatize this event without an actual “fight”, your children can remove last season’s leaves from the staff and replace them with this season’s symbol. Real leaves don’t hold up well, and may be difficult to find out of season. Besides, cutting out construction paper leaves is half the fun. Use pipe cleaners, tape or glue to attach them to the staff. You can also use pipe cleaners and cloth or paper leaves to make oak and holly crowns for a dramatization of the Oak and Holly Kings in ritual. Yule Log This is a genuinely older Pagan tradition, probably brought to England by the Saxons. If you don’t have a fireplace, you can create a symbolic Yule Log for ritual or for your Solstice dinner table. Materials: a large dry log, bark removed, electric drill with a wide-boring drill bit, votive candles in metal holders, cloth holly leaves, ribbon, pine cones, other decorations. Method: With parents’ supervision, drill three holes a few inches apart in the top of the log, large enough to fit the votive candles. Place the candles in the holes. Decorate around the outside of the log with ribbon, holly, pine cones and anything else that looks festive. You can use all one color – gold is lovely – or mix two or three colors. If you plan on using your log year after year, you may wish to paint it and glue the decorations on permanently. Caution: Make sure flammable decorations are far enough from the candle flames to be safe. Keep it out of reach of toddlers and pets. If you want to re-use your log as a bird feeder, screw a large eye-bolt into one end to hang it, drill more holes, and fill the holes with suet, peanut butter and seeds. Moon and Star Mobile Materials: Gold paper foil or gold paint, cardboard, yarn, string or ribbon, a coat hanger, scissors, tape. Method: Cut out moons, stars and suns from the cardboard. This is a good opportunity to talk about recycling. Paint or glue paper foil onto the stars and moons to make them look heavenly. Glue or use clear tape to fasten the ribbon or yarn to each planet, then tie them to the hanger. This is another way to honor the Goddess as Queen of the Heavens, as Nimue, Artemis or Diana the Lady of the Moon, or to enjoy Ariarhod’s castle of stars. It’s also a good time to discuss the sun “returning” at the Winter Solstice. Festive Yule Wreath This can symbolize the Wheel of the Year and the beauty of nature. Decorating with greenery was a Greco-Roman tradition that spread north into Europe. Because some trees never lost their leaves, they remind us of the promise of spring. Materials: A wreath form or thick wire bent into a circle, the cutoff leftover greenery from the bottom of your Yule tree or commercial cloth evergreen garland, thin wire or bread ties, pine cones, nuts, craft birds, ribbon, bells, tiny gift boxes, seashells, or use your imagination! You can spray paint the pine cones, and nuts, and wrap the gift boxes, or leave them natural. Wire the evergreen boughs to the wreath frame. An advantage to commercial garland is sometimes it includes tiny electric lights. If so, be careful not to nick or expose the wires. Using bread ties, wire on the other decorations. Tie a festive ribbon around the top of the wreath. A ribbon with wire inside the cloth holds its shape well. This is a fun group project for a coven or a children’s Yule party. May you and your children enjoy a blessed, peaceful and merry Yule!

Bringing Light into the season of darkness (by Trish Reynolds - December 15, 2006) Let the candle flame light, the dark and longest night. Archeological indications are that the winter solstice in particular was a spiritually significant time. Neolithic observatories such as Stonehenge in England and Ireland’s Newgrange reveal that man has long known how to accurately calculate the solstices and equinoxes. During the early Roman Empire the winter solstice celebrated the birth of the Persian Sun god, Mithras or Sol Deus Invictus (The Invincible Sun) who was widely worshipped in the Mesopotamian provinces of the Empire. In the European regions, including the city of Rome itself, Saturn, the god of agriculture was honored with the Saturnalia Feast from December 17 through the solstice, which fell on December 24 or 25 of the Julian calendar. The designation of December 25 as a Christian holiday was first recorded in texts dating to 325 AD under Constantine, when Christianity was made the state religion of the Roman Empire. While made official under Constantine, it is widely held that Emperor Aurelian first decreed Christmas in 274 AD though early adherents to the new religion didn’t universally accept it. Since the indigenous religions of the time viewed this occasion as the rebirth of the sun, it made political sense for the Church to adopt the obvious symbolism and choose this period for the celebration of the nativity of the Christ Child. The Gregorian calendar replaced the Julian calendar in the late fourteenth century, but the date of Christmas remained the 25. In an agrarian society, the winter solstice marks a crucial point in the natural cycle. The word comes from the combination of Sol, the Latin name given to our sun, and ‘stitium’ a Latin word meaning ‘a pause’. For a few days twice a year the sun appears to do just that, pause in its journey through the sky. In ancient times the winter solstice was considered the mid-point of the winter season. The sun would stop its voyage toward darkness and cold and after a brief pause, begin to move back toward longer days, times of new growth and renewal of life. In a spiritual sense, it represents hope. The pause of the sun reminds us that the darkness will be banished, the light will be renewed, and that all things once dead will find life again. The Christmas tree, Yule log, mistletoe and other icons of the Christmas season have all been adapted from various solstice traditions. While usually viewed as purely decorative today, these items have deep symbolic significance in the elder faiths as well as to modern Neopagans. By lighting a ceremonial fire, our ancestors were encouraging the return of the sun. In Scandinavian lore the Yule log must catch fire on the first try and burn until dawn to illuminate the longest night. The word "Yule" may have roots in the old Germanic word ‘jul’ meaning to turn. The use of candles has always been seen as a symbol of divine light. In some cultures they focused on the spiritual belief that beings of light, warmth and new life, would turn the Great Wheel and the spring would come again. Today with most of us lacking the means to burn a log of that size, a simple decorative log with holes bored for candles to be lit and re-lit to last through the longest night is a fun, modern adaptation. Mistletoe was one of a group of plants including pine, holly, spruce, and yew, which were used to decorate and freshen homes during the cold season. Since these plants appeared to flourish during the winter months, they became symbols that life continued its cycle even in the coldest and shortest of days. Mistletoe grew on the bare branches of sacred oaks, making them appear to bloom even through the dead months, and was considered sacred by the Druids. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe seems to have originated in the late eighteenth century. While the actual bough used might just as easily have been holly, ultimately it was the bright berries and rich green color that made mistletoe the modern favorite. While decorating indoors with evergreens can be traced back to ancient times, and Vikings may have hung fruit in the branches of fir-trees for the wandering Odin, the custom of bringing an evergreen tree indoors is a fairly modern adaptation. It appears first in Germany in the middle of the sixteenth century as Christians brought evergreen trees into their homes and decorated them to honor the Christ Child. When Queen Victoria married Prince Albert of the German Royal family, he brought the custom to England. In 1841 Windsor Castle had its first Christmas tree, decorated with candles and a variety of sweets, fruits and gingerbread ornaments. Other fashionable families soon adopted the tree as their own and before long the custom made its way across the Atlantic to the United States. Feasting has long been associated with winter celebrations whether it was the Saturnalia of the Romans, the Solstice of the Gaels, Scandinavian Yule or Christmas dinner. In pre-industrial times, the winter months would have been lean. Survival meant subsisting on the last of the crops and meat harvested at the end of autumn. Taking from the precious provisions to feast in honor of the returning light was an incredibly courageous affirmation of faith in the divine. Whatever the specific symbolism, the birth of the Christ Child, or Sol Deus Invictus, the holiday remains today what it has always been - a season of faith and hope in the midst of darkness. This year’s winter solstice occurs on December 21 at 7:22 p.m. EST Trish Reynolds' e-mail address is reynolds@northjersey.com. Source: www.mtoliveweekly.com/NC/0/359.html

HARK THE NEW AGE PAGANS SING! "Coeis and Morrigant " (Tune: "Hark the Herald Angels Sing") Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King, Peace on Earth and mercy mild, God and Goddess reconciled, Hear us now as we proclaim, We have risen from the flames, Our ancient Craft now we reclaim, In the God and Goddess' names Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King! Herne by highest love adored, Herne the ever-reborn Lord, At all times behold Him come, Offspring of the Holy One, Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see, Hail Incarnate Deity! Our ancient Craft now we reclaim, in the God and Goddess' names Hark the New Age Pagans Sing, Glory to the Holly King! YE CHILDREN ALL OF MOTHER EARTH Ellen Reed (Tune: "It Came Upon A Midnight Clear") Ye children all of Mother Earth join hands and circle around To celebrate the Solstice night When our lost Lord is found. Rejoice, the year has begun again The Sun blesses skies up above So share the season together now In everlasting Love! GLORIA Snow lies deep upon the Earth Still our voices warmly sing Heralding the glorious birth Of the Child, the Winter King Glo -- ria! In excelsis Deo! Glo -- ria! In excelsis Dea! Our triumphant voices claim Joy and hope and love renewed And our Lady's glad refrain Answer winter's solitude Glo -- ria! In excelsis Deo! Glo -- ria! In excelsis Dea! In Her arms a holy Child Promises a glowing Light Through the winter wind so wild He proclaims the growing Light. Glo -- ria! In excelsis Deo! Glo -- ria! In excelsis Dea! Now the turning of the year Of the greater Turning sings Passing age of cold and fear Soon our golden summer brings. Glo -- ria! In excelsis Deo! Glo -- ria! In excelsis Dea! OH, COME, ALL YE FAITHFUL! Oh, come all ye faithful Gather round the Yule Fire Oh, come ye, oh, come ye, To call the Sun! Fires within us Call the Fire above us O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! Our Lord, the Sun! Yea, Lord, we greet Thee! Born again at Yuletide! Yule fires and candle flames Are lighted for You! Come to thy children Calling for thy blessing! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! O, come, let us invoke Him! Our Lord, the Sun! SILENT NIGHT Silent night, Solstice Night All is calm, all is bright Nature slumbers in forest and glen Till in Springtime She wakens again Sleeping spirits grow strong! Sleeping spirits grow strong! Silent night, Solstice night Silver moon shining bright Snowfall blankets the slumbering Earth Yule fires welcome the Sun's rebirth Hark, the Light is reborn! Hark, the Light is reborn! Silent night, Solstice night Quiet rest till the Light Turning ever the rolling Wheel Brings the winter to comfort and heal Rest your spirit in peace! Rest your spirit in peace! GLORY TO THE NEW BORN KING Brothers, sisters, come to sing Glory to the new-born King! Gardens peaceful, forests wild Celebrate the Winter Child! Now the time of glowing starts! Joyful hands and joyful hearts! Cheer the Yule log as it burns! For once again the Sun returns! Brothers, sisters, come and sing! Glory to the new-born King! Brothers, sisters, singing come Glory to the newborn Sun Through the wind and dark of night Celebrate the coming light. Suns glad rays through fear's cold burns Life through death the Wheel now turns Gather round the Yule log and tree Celebrate Life's mystery Brothers, sisters, singing come Glory to the new-born Sun. DANCING IN A WICCAN WONDERLAND "Alexander & Aarcher" Pagans sing, are you listenin', Altar's set, candles glisten, It's a Magickal night, we're having tonight, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland Blades held high, censer smoking, God and Goddess, we're invoking, Through Elements Five, we celebrate life, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland, Queen of Heaven, is in Her place, Triple Goddess, now the Crone Face, Above and Below, She's the Goddess we know, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland Now the God, is the Provider, Supplying game for our Fire, Above and Below, He's the Horned One we know, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland In a Circle we can light a Yule Fire, And await the rising of the Sun, It's the Great Wheel turning for the new year, loaded with abundance and great fun. Later on, by the fire, Cone of Power, gettin' higher It's a Magickal Night we're having tonight, Dancing in a Wiccan Wonderland SHARE THE LIGHT (The First Noel) CHORUS: Share the light, share the light! Share the light, share the Light! All paths are one on this holy night! On this Winter holiday, let us stop and recall That this season is holy to one and to all. Unto some a Son is born, unto us comes a Sun, And we know, if they don't that all paths are one. Be it Chanukah or Yule, Christmas time or Solstice night, All celebrate the eternal light. Lighted tree or burning log, Or eight candle flames. All gods are one god, whatever their names. MOON OF SILVER (We Three Kings) CHORUS: Oh, Moon of Silver, Sun of Gold, Gentle Lady, Lord so bold! Guide us ever, failing never, Lead us in ways of old. Maiden, Mother, Ancient Crone, Queen of Heaven on your throne, Praise we sing Thee, Love we bring Thee, For all that you have shown. Lord of Darkness, Lord of Light, Gentle Brother, King of Might, Praise we sing thee, Love we bring Thee On this Solstice night. JOY TO THE WORLD Joy to the world! The Lord is come! Let Earth receive her king! Let every heart prepare him room And Heaven and Nature sing, etc. Welcome our King who brings us life. Our Lady gives him birth! His living light returneth to warm the seeds within us And wake the sleeping earth, etc. Light we the fires to greet our Lord, Our Light! Our Life! Our King! Let every voice be lifted to sing his holy praises, As Heaven and Nature sing, etc. CHRISTMAS TIME IS PAGAN! (Gloria in Excelsius Deo) CHORUS: Glorious! Christmas time is pagan! Glorious! Christmas time is pagan! Christmas time is here again, Decorations everywhere. Christmas carols ringing out, Gentle pagans, we don't care. Modern folks all celebrate What they learned in Sunday School. In December, they don't know They are celebrating Yule! Let them have their Christmas trees, Decked in red and green and blue. We rejoice at every one! Christmas trees are pagan, too. Bowls of bubbly Christmas cheer, Fill your cup and quench your thirst. They think the tradition's theirs. Wassail bowls were pagan, first. CHRISTMAS TIME IS PAGAN! Every door and window bears Wreaths of holly, wreaths of pine. Circles represent the Sun. Every wreath is yours and mine. Christmas lights on Christmas trees, Candle flames burn higher and higher, Let us cheer along, my friends, As they light their Yuletide fire. There's a possibility That this song is yours and mine 'Cause the tune was known to all Back in A.D. one-two-nine. GOD REST YE MERRY, PAGANFOLK (God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen) God rest ye merry, paganfolk, Let nothing you dismay. Remember that the Sun returns Upon this Solstice day. The growing dark is ending now And Spring is on its way. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy! Oh, tidings of comfort and joy. The Goddess rest ye merry, too, And keep you safe from harm. Remember that we live within The circle of Her arms, And may Her love give years to come A very special charm. Oh, tidings of comfort and joy, Comfort and joy! Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!

The Winter Solstice The modern word Yule descends from the Germanic 'Yula', meaning 'wheel' of the year or sun. Yule occurs in the dead of winter, on the Winter Solstice (generally around December 21) when the world has reached its darkest time. And in the midst of this darkness springs hope, light, and flame. It is said that the darkest hour is just before dawn and the holiday of Yule acknowledges and counts on this as the world awaits the rebirth of the sun. Dates vary Yuletide, but it is generally thought to last about twelve days after the actual solstice. Yule is the holiday dedicated to the birth of the Sun God, who is the son of the good who died the year before. The Christian holiday of Christmas is not much different. Both holidays celebrate the birth of God's son and both holidays have many of the same customs. Of course, as with anything there are differences. For example, as written by the Anglo-Saxon chronicler Bede, the first night of the fest was entitled "Mothernights" and dedicated to Frigga and the disir (fore-mothers). This implies that the celebration of the goddess was every bit as important as the celebration of the return of the god. However, the similarities are so strong that Martin Luther and John Calvin both hated the celebration and spoke out strongly against it. The Purtians would not even acknowledge that the holiday existed and the celebration of Christmas was actually illegal in Boston at one time. Amongst the those who follow the old Germanic ways, Yule is the most important holiday of the year. It is believed that this is the time when the deities are closest to Midgard (the middle world where humans live). The Germanic gods are referred to as the "Yule Beings," and Odin himself is titled, "Jolnir," or "Yule-One." To the Germanic people, Yule is similar to the Celtic Samhain in that this was the time when their dead are free to pay visits and when magic beings such as Elves and trolls are thought to run free. These spirits and beings have to either be welcomed into the home or warded against as the householders see fit. If they are welcomed, they will be ritually driven from the house at the end of Yuletide to enforce the return of normalcy in the world. Yule is the time of year when the Wild Hunt of Wodan rides most fiercely and it is the border between years when the fates of men are set. In Ancient Rome, the holiday of Saturnalia was celebrated in mid-winter. The day was dedicated to the god Saturn and featured street celebrations and feasting. Homes were decorated with greenery and strands of lights abound. Also popular was the exchange of small gifts thought to bring luck on the recipient. The remnants of these customs are still strong in the modern celebration of Christmas despite the lengths that the Church went to in attempting to make Christmas a solemn day. To the Celtic peoples, Yule was the time when the Oak King defeated the Holly King. In the Celtic custom, the Holly King represents death and darkness while the Oak King stands for rebirth and life. Hence, with the Oak King returned to power light shall become prevalent and life return to the earth. It is a time of joy and hope. Yule is a holiday meant to uplift spirits weary from winter and a time to appreciate the wonders that will come with the spring. There are many customs of Yuletide practiced by the Germans, the Celts, the Romans, and later much of the world under the guise of a Christian holiday. One of the oldest customs is that of the Yule Log. A log of wood, usually Ash or Oak, is brought into the house. Carvings are placed on it to bring protection and luck to the house and every family member is allowed to make a wish upon it. The log is then placed on the hearth where it is to burn for no less than twelve hours and preferably until dawn. It's ashes and rekindling pieces are saved to place about the house or to be made into pendants for protection though out the year. This custom seems to date back to through the Roman Saturnalia and possibly even to ancient Egypt. This was well before the spread of Christianity although Christians have claimed that Martin Luther or Saint Benefice started the custom. The most obvious custom of Yule to remain as a Christmas tradition is the Yule or Christmas tree. It was a Germanic custom that spread into most of Europe well before Christianity. A pine or fir tree would be decorated with candles and tokens. Presents where sometimes left under the trees to be anonymously received buy those indicated. Originally, these trees where left outside, but after the spread of Christianity began many moved their trees indoors to avoid notice. A candle lit and ribboned wreath was sometimes used as a smaller reminder of the season. Plants of the Yule season are traditionally the evergreen, holy, ivy, and mistletoe. The mistletoe was seen by the Celtic Druids to be magical aphrodisiac (I stress the magic since mistletoe is lethal to ingest) and a symbol of fertility. It should thus be obvious that any maiden standing beneath a sprig of mistletoe would be expecting more than to be kissed. However, such albeitly pleasant activities as these fertility rituals where not the focus of the ancient Yule celebrations. It was a time of magic and ritual, but also of games and riddles. Divinations were cast for the coming Spring both through ritual means and through good-natured taunting and wagering. Caroling was popular and the carolers expected rewards, usually in the form of alcohol, from the houses they visited. Alcohol was important as there was much drinking at these celebrations the amount of which was rivaled only by how much people tried to eat. The most traditional solid forming was wild boar (the hunting of which was often a ritual in itself) and the most popular of liquids mulled wines and the wassail cup, whose name comes from an Anglo-Saxon term meaning "Be whole or hale." ] Another Germanic tradition was that of the Yule-oath. A hallowed bear, which was considered the emblem of Freya and Frey, was brought forth into the hall and oaths where sworn upon it. This custom is still alive in Sweden although it has begun to loose popularity in this century. The oaths sworn on the bear were considered even stronger in binding than those sworn at other times of the year due to the proximity of the deities. Particularly binding oaths would also be sworn on a horn or cup while drinking at the Yule feast. It is thought that this custom is very likely to be the forefather of the New Year's Resolution practiced in the modern world. Yule is a time for hope, joy, and celebration. And like Christmas it has become a time of caring and gift. It is a time to forget differences and come together in peace. May the deity/concept of your choice bless you this Yule.

THE SPIRITS AND GHOSTS OF YULE By Montague Whitsel Synopsis: The Winter Solstice has long been associated with ghosts and sprits in Pagan as well as Christian Traditions. "Christmas" has its ghosts, as does the Yule; when there are spirits behind every door and in every closet as well as dancing in the flames of candles and hearth-fires. What are these spirits and who are these ghosts, and why are mortals haunted in the tides of Winter's Solstice? In this article we will explore these questions, becoming acquainted with some of the more traditional Yuletide ghosts in Celtic traditions as well as reclaiming one of the more well-known spirit entities in our secular western "December Holiday" celebrations. We are all familiar with "Christmas" ghost stories from Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol to Tim Burton's "The Nightmare before Christmas." I have often been asked, though, why there should be ghosts and hauntings at this time of the year when many people want to be focused on family, the return home (either actual or in their imaginations) and deeper quests for personal and spiritual renewal. "Isn't Samhain (31 October) the night of haunting?" One answer "at least from the perspective of Celtic mysticism & mythology" is simple, and has to do with the nature of the Winter Solstice (21 December). This festival "called Alban Arthuan in Druidic traditions" has long been thought of as a time of death & rebirth when Nature's innate powers and our own souls are renewed. This event "which marks the moment in the spiral of earthen time when the Old Sun dies (at dusk on the 21st of December) and when the Sun of the New Year is born (at dawn on the 22nd of December)" frames the longest night of the year. The birth of New Sun is thought to revivify the aura of the Earth in mystical ways, giving a new "lease on life" to spirits and souls of the dead. As such, Yule is probably the second most haunted time of the Celtic year, Samhain being the first. The haunting begins in early December, as if in anticipation of the rebirth of the Sun's powers. Spirits become more animated in the days leading up to Alban Arthuan (from the 6th to the 20th of December). As practitioners of earth-based spiritualities light fires in their hearths and decorate their huts of dwelling for the advent of New Sun, spirits and the deer come near, communing with us as we prepare ourselves for the death of Old Sun. These spirit-visitants gather with us near fires in the hearth and around the Yule Tree. They haunt us in the glow of the Yule's festivities. What are the spirits and what is the "modus operandi" of the ghosts that come to our abodes and haunt the landscapes of our inner and outer worlds at this mysterious time of the year? This haunting is not of the same character as that which happens during the Season of Samhain; I.e., it is not a general "walking of the dead" or even a general return of any and all ancestors & relatives, friends & lovers from beyond the veil. The spirits that come out during the Yule are often connected in one way or another with the mystical and psychic logic of the Winter Solstice Season. Yes, Celtic people are prone to experiencing visits from ancestors, relatives, spirit-guides and anamchara (soul friends) as Alban Arthuan draws nigh. Most of the spirits haunting this season, however, are closely linked to the main poetic theme of the death & rebirth of the Sun. One of the most pervasive stories of Yuletide hauntings in Celtic traditions is that of the Sluagh-Sídhe of Brug na Bóinne. "Sluagh-Sídhe" means "People of the Sídhe." A "sídhe" is a mound or barrow where the dead have been interred. All sídhe in Celtic mythological traditions are essentially haunted; they are gateways through which spirits and souls of the dead “and even living mortals like you and I“ can pass, back & forth E from one world into another. On the otherEside of the sídhe is the Otherworld; a "Land of Youth" or the "Isle of the Blessed," where living souls continue in their quest for wisdom, wholeness and self-realization. "The People of the Sídhe" is one way of naming the Faeryfolk; that strange race of people living perpetually in the sídhe or just beyond them, in ráths (partly submerged roundhouses) or dúns (Faery "fortresses" magical castles) in the Otherworld. Brug na Bóinne is a great Faery Mound located in the northeast of Ireland, along the Boyne River. It is often connected to the burial mound called "Newgrange." In pre-Celtic times it functioned as a place to lay the bones of the dead to rest. Irish Celtic mystics later believed it to be the residence of a tribe of the Sluagh-Sídhe. The mound is riddled with passageways and burial niches, one of which is lined up with the rising of New Sun on the morning of 22 December. As such, Brug na Bóinne can be seen as symbolically linked into the Celtic logic of the Winter Solstice Season and the mythos of the Sun's Rebirth. Celtic saints later connected the Brug with the birth of Christ, seeing its passageways, metaphorically, as "the Cave [or Labyrinth] of the Nativity." The Sluagh-Sídhe of Brug na Bóinne are Faery People who come out of their spectral domicile as Winter's Solstice approaches, going off to visit the hearths of devout mystics and practitioners. They are said to come in pairs, one to haunt the kitchen and one to haunt the room in which the fire glows in the hearth during the long nights leading up to Alban Arthuan. Their role is to chant magical runes and in other ways inspire mortals to keep the season of Yule well; inciting us to engage in acts of kindness, compassion and hospitality, going beyond our usual conception of what it means to be human in earthen ways. They are probably the original mythic impetus behind our persistent idea that "elves" are connected with the Yuletide season. The Sluagh-Sídhe of Brug na Bóinne are often said to be dressed in the traditional Celtic colors of Yule; yellow, green and red. Red and green symbolize animal and plant life, respectively. Yellow stands for the light of New Sun, and is generally not prominently displayed around the house in decorations until after Alban Arthuan. The Sluagh-Sídhe who come to us from Brug na Bóinne bless our meals and encourage dreams of a better world as Yuletide observations clarify our spiritual perceptions. They invite other spirits that are friendly and kindly disposed to the celebration of Alban Arthuan to visit your house. They may be imagined standing at the doors of your place of dwelling, receiving spectral guests. Among these is the "Guardian of the Hearth" the soul of a representative ancestor or anamchara (soul-friend) who will then establish a connection between your hearth and anyone you may know in the Otherworld. Another Celtic spirit of Yule is The Wandering Stranger, also called the "Mysterious Stranger" and "The Unexpected Guest." This spectral visitor is understood as a manifestation of "need" in the world. It usually comes to haunt us in the guise of a hard-working middle-aged man or woman not quite in great health, perhaps, as some difficulty has overtaken them in life. To dream of encountering the Wandering Stranger out of doors, perhaps along an open road, is said to signify that someone needs shelter. One response to this visitation is to do something toward the sheltering of homeless people in your area. To dream of the Wandering Stranger coming to your door may signify that you need to engage more heartily in acts of hospitality (perhaps by hosting a meal) as the Yuletide unfolds. Sometimes the Wandering Stranger is symbolic of the mysterious presence of "the divine" in the world with us, rather than signifying "need or "loss." In this guise, the Wandering Stranger is said to come to people who need inspired to open up to wider mystical horizons at the tides of Winter's Solstice. In ancient Celtic times it was said that gods & goddesses would visit mortals in their huts of dwelling at crucial crossEroads of the year. One of the Faeryfolk might also come to visit mortals unawares, as might the local chieftain, a Druid or a Gwrach ("wise woman"; the counterpart of a Druid). To be so visited was to be honored, and so it was thought that one must be ready, at all times "according to Celtic codes of hospitality" to receive guests at one's door, whether lowly or grand. When at home at night during the Yule (13 - 25 December), listen for strange knocks at the door; especially during storms or windy weather. The door-latch may rattle, and you think you hear a voice "not a threatening one; perhaps just a murmur or a word" but when you go to the door, there is no one there! In Celtic mysticism this is said to indicate the coming of the Mysterious Stranger. If it happens twice or thrice, you might invite the invisible presence into your abode, saying, "May the gods who sent you come and bless this hearth!" Sometimes a kind of strange "rapping" may be heard at a windowpane on dark Yuletide nights. If you hear it "especially at a window above ground level" throw open the sash and allow the night air to flood briefly into your room. Say as you do so, "May the Mysterious Stranger come in and warm herself/himself at our hearth." If you are out walking along a lone and rustic road or woodpath at any time during the Yule "but especially at dusk or dawn" keep your eyes open for any sign of a strange visage or "ghost" as you go along your chosen course, as the Mysterious Stranger is wont to appear briefly to travelers during the Yule, awakening them to supernal possibilities in the mundane rounds of daily life. The Stranger sometimes comes and appears, just briefly, along a path or road you are taking, perhaps standing by a tall Oak or Willow. Yet when you turn to look, there is no one there! If this happens, say, "Hail, Mysterious One, I bless your journey; prosper mine in return." The appearance of the Mysterious Stranger is thought to signify the presence of divine beings (e.g., gods & goddesses) in your vicinity. By hailing the Stranger, you may address deities in their nearness without danger of affronting them. Today this Mysterious Stranger may be imagined by those of us practicing earthen spiritualities in the guise of the ever-popular "Saint Nicholas" or "Santa Claus." While this idol of our materialistic and consumer-driven society has been debased into a cartoon caricature of its former mystery, there is much about the "Santa Claus" legend that is Pagan and that might still be quite edifying for those of us living close to the Earth today, provided we reclaim the stories of Santa Claus in symbolic terms. If you care to engage in such a mythic reclamation, perhaps the following story will help. Imagine, if you will, a mystic of Christ in the 4th century CE named "Nicholas" living in what is now Turkey, along the Mediterranean coast. As he grows in spiritual awareness, he finds himself inspired to help the unfortunate, disowned children in his town. He begins to beg money from merchants to help feed and clothe the young who are living in the streets without means. At one point "and here comes the Pagan element into the story" a troop of Sluagh-Sídhe from Ireland, on quest for wisdom out in the wide world, join up with Nicholas to help him distribute food and clothing to abandoned and needy children. These Faeries find fulfillment of their quest in this work of charity, and so they remain in Turkey until Nicholas dies. Then "by way of their Celtic magic and mysticism" they help him to crossover into the Otherworld. Once on the Otherside, they travel "North" in search of the place of their discarnate dwelling beyond the sídhe. Now, "north" in Celtic mythology is the direction of mystery and darkness. "Out of the north have we come, and back into it we shall go," the ancient Celts would have said. Thus it is extremely significant "from a mythical point of view" that Saint Nicholas (now Santa Claus) has his "workshop" at the "North Pole." Once in the wild northlands, the Sluagh-Sídhe and Nicholas set up a ráth (Faery hut) as a "home base" from which to carry on the saint's work. Using Reindeer "a manifest form of the Celtic god Cernunnos from more northerly lands" to drive a magical sleigh, they come back across the veil each year during the Yule, hoping to inspire mortals with the kind of generosity and hospitality that once characterized Nicholas's incarnate life. As these Sluagh-Sídhe, of course, got called "Elves" in English speaking countries, you can see that the stories we tell of "Santa Claus" have a certain Pagan ambiance, and that his traditional "mission" in the world is very similar to that of the old Mysterious Stranger. All during the Yuletide Season, a "spirit" is growing; an aura of magic and mystery, that crescendos on the 21st of December and then maintains a climactic intensity until after midnight on 24 December; the night called Matrum Noctem ("The Night of the Great Mother"). This "spirit" is collectively called the Spirit of Yule; a term that applies to the particular animaloci of this sacred time of the earthen year. "The Spirit of Yule" is a metaphor for the Presence of Mystery among us "or perhaps a symbol of the essence of the Universe itself" becoming present to us in our devout earthen sojourns near the Hearth and the Yule Tree as Old Sun's powers wane. Just as all of the Faeryfolk (Elves) of Yule may be seen to come from Brug na Bóinne, so all of the general spirits that haunt us during the Yule can be said to be manifestations of this "Spirit of Yule." This is the "spirit" that inspires visions of a better world in our hearts and minds. It causes magical apparitions meant to inspire us with joy and encourage us to throw off our shackles and any self-imposed limitations with which we may be struggling. It is the "spirit" of psychic clarification that aids us in our soul's quest for rebirth & renewal; a degree of transformation or perhaps self-realization each year as we path our way through the Yule to the thresholds of Alban Arthuan and beyond. To be inspired to keep the Yule in Pagan Celtic ways is to be infused with this "Spirit of Yule," which is to say, "to be attuned to the Mystery of the Universe as it presences to us." The Spirit of Yule often becomes manifest in the hearth. The hearth has long been a Celtic icon of authentic domestic life, signifying the value of earthen dwelling. It was thought of as the "center" of the house and the "heart" of the household's collective psyche. To gather around the hearth during the long nights leading up to Alban Arthuan is to draw close to the source of life itself; for "in Celtic oghams of Wisdom" "life begins in a spark; a fire is the light of the soul." "The Spirits in the Hearth" are a characteristic theme in Celtic tales of the Yule. This is because the fire in the hearth is thought to attract spirits of all kinds; elves and helping-spirits, gnomes and faery-lights, spriggans and leprechauns, and many others. Thus the hearth is a good place to sit and engage in anal- duccaid (i.e., "breath prayer"; meditation) during the Yule. There you can commune with these spirits and engage in taghairm (i.e., "divination"), seeking wisdom from these spectral visitors. If you have a fireplace and the space to spare in front of it, cast a ritual circle. Then imagine Spirits of the Hearth dancing with you as you go round and round. Imagine such spirits leading you on out-of-body journeys, perhaps running with great reindeer herds through the wilderlands or maybe going in search of the Ráth of Nicholas at the top of the world, hoping for a glimpse of the Faery-Workshop! If you do not have a hearth in your house or apartment, set up a "Yule Table" with plenty of candles on it, along with various symbols of the Season (e.g., pine cones, evergreens, a sprig of mistletoe, holly and cinnamon sticks, etc.). Consecrate this table by sprinkling it with salty water in the name of Mabon, a Divine Child in Celts myths and the god of Winter's Solstice. Then practice anal-duccaid (i.e., "meditation"), either sitting before the table or on a chair near it, seeking to commune with the Spirits of the Hearth. Cast a circle in front of the Yule Table and then dance, going off on wild, imagined journeys during the dark nights leading up to Alban Arthuan (21 December). The Yule Tree is another place where the Spirit of Yule becomes present to us as Winter's Solstice draws near. Though originally a Germanic custom, the erection of a pine tree in the house during December has been adopted into the mysticism of many spiritual traditions around the world. This tree, being green and never losing its needles, represents the powers of life that never fade and never wane during dark, cold seasons. The Yule Tree is a representative of the primary masculine forces in the Earth, just as the Hearth (or Yule Table) represents the primary feminine forces in Nature. By bringing it into the house we invite this ever-present natural power into our abode, to keep us "charged" and healthy as Old Sun dies and then as New Sun grows in power after Alban Arthuan. Bring the Yule Tree into the house on the 14th of December; the Second Day of Yule, which is called "Cedar Day" or "Lighting Day" in "the Thirteen Dayes of Yule" (for a description of this spiritual paradigm based on ancient Celtic symbolism, see my book, The Fires of Yule, 2001). One old custom is to decorate it in the evening and then "leave it alone" until midnight, at which point you may return to the room where it is set up and turn on the lights on the tree. Then sing an olden carol (a song intended to accompany circle dancing). At this point the Yule Tree is said to "come to life." It will now be filled with the Spirit of Yule and remain green until after Matrum Noctem (the night of 24 December). It is at this point that the Yule Tree becomes the "house of Yuletide spirits" in our mortal dwellings. The Tree itself represents both this world and the Otherworld, in that it normally grows in natural soils, but is now being "fed" in part by the basic power of reality, called shunnache in Celtic mysticism. The Yule Tree is also a "house" for any spirits that have come to stay with us during the Yule. You can imagine that you "see" these spirits in the blinking of the lights and in the light reflected in the shiny glass ornaments and other trinkets adorning the tree. When you trim the Yule Tree, think of its mystical symbolism and decorate it accordingly. As the tree itself is important as a symbol of the presence of "life," try to avoid so covering the Yule Tree with wrappings (e.g., angel hair or foil icicles, etc.) and garlands that the green of the tree ends up obscured from view. Consider trimming the Yule Tree in such a way that the tree itself is primarily what you see when the lights are unlit, but so that there is as much light as possible reflected in the various decorations when the lights are lit up. This will facilitate the impression that this natural icon is "alive" with the Spirit of Yule, thus encouraging mystical communion with the spirits that dwell in it. Another manifestation of the Spirit of Yule is what is called the Gifting Stag; a revelation of Cernunnos, the Horned God of the Celts "at the tides of Winter's Solstice. This Stag comes to inspire moderation and balance in our hearts as Alban Arthuan approaches. This is necessary, as it is so easy to go to extremes as the days get darker and we find ourselves seeking for ways to keep ourselves buoyant and more or less on an even keel, emotionally and mentally. We can go toward excess in our decorating, in our eating and drinking, and in our buying of gifts. What the Gifting Stag represents is a spirit of good sense as the days get darker and ever shorter. He comes to show us a "middle path" through the wildwood of spiritual desires at the darkest time of the earthen year. The Gifting Stag usually shows up on the eve of the 6th of December, the Feast of Nicholas and the Elves. The Stag may be imagined as standing at the edge of the woods in the Otherworld that surround our place of dwelling in this world, peering in toward (usually) the kitchen window, his eyes flaming yellow with compassion and spiritual succor! If he appears to you "in either dream or apparition" accept him as an anamchara for your journey toward Winter's Solstice. On the 13th of December "the First Day of Yule" the Gifting Stag may be imagined as coming to the side door of the house and "knocking" with either his hoof or his antler. If you hear such a "knock" near dusk on this day, go to the door and open it, saying, "Hail Cernunnos, Stag of the Wildwood, come to our hearth, we pray you." Then, as you proceed through the Season of Yule, imagine the Gifting Stag as standing by your Hearth (Yule Table) or Yule Tree whenever you need to regain a sense of natural or spiritual verve as the days wane away. The Season of Yule is a time to go into darkness and experience its wonders and its power; but we must adjust to this lack of light if we are to avoid getting either depressed or else too listless to enjoy the Season's deep spiritual ambiance. Seeing the Gifting Stag as an icon of what it means to be "balanced" as you journey through the Yule can aid you in this adjustment. As Pine is an ancient icon of this god, to bring the Yule Tree into the house is also to invite the Gifting Stag to come and dwell with you. If you go out to select your own Yule Tree "perhaps at a local Christmas Tree farm or at a Mall parking lot, for instance" invoke the Gifting Stag when making your selection. He knows which tree is best for you; just as he is said to know what you need during any particular Yuletide Season and he will help you to attain it, if you allow him to be your guide. If you spot deer in a snowy field or along the road as you bring the Tree home, consider yourself "visited" by the Gifting Stag. After you set up the Yule Tree and decorate it, chant the names of Cernunnos as an evening anal-duccaid (meditation). You might repeat these names, for instance: "Herne-Cernunnos-Downie Hornie" each day at dusk near the Yule Tree. Chanting his names, you may experience a deep communion developing between yourself and this mythic icon of Yuletide moderation and balance. As the Season of Yule passes, The Gifting Stag will help you maintain a sense of decorum in the midst of revelry. It is important at the tides of Winter's Solstice not to exhaust yourself, as most people experience a falling-off of vigor and energy as the days grow ever darker. It is absolutely ridiculous that, in our society, the "Holidays" of December have become such a hyperactive time! Too many people allow themselves to get caught up in endless tasks and activities. No wonder people experience such exhaustion at this time of the year! Pagans should know better, however. If you desire, ask the Gifting Stag to help you maintain a more contemplative approach to the keeping of Yule. If you celebrate the Yule in a quieter, more contemplative way, you will find that you have lots of energy for the all night dancing, caroling and magical rites of Alban Arthuan. These celebrations may begin at dusk on 21 December and need not end until dawn the next morning. A good way to begin this night's festivities is by lighting a fire in the hearth (or else by lighting the candles on the Yule Table) about half an hour before dusk. Then, chant the names of Winter Solstice deities (perhaps "Mabon-Coventina-Nerthus-Bran") and sing songs that reflect your connection with the mysteries of the Yuletide Season. Then, set up your circle and begin with a spiral dance, going widdershins (counterclockwise) to represent the death of Old Sun. After Midnight, dances should then turn deosil (clockwise) to symbolize the coming birth of New Sun. As dusk turns to night, invoke the spirits and ghosts of Yule that we have discussed in these pages, inviting them to "become present" to you in imaginative ways. If you know the name of your "Guardian of the Hearth," invoke their name and pour them a glass of good wine or beer. Set this glass by the hearth or on the Yule Table at dusk. If you want, drink it at midnight in honor of your Guardian. This is said to insure that the spiritual revels that take place around your hearth and Yule Tree during the next few nights will bring no harm to you or anyone else living under your roof. This is an old ritual and may be one myth behind the secular custom of leaving an offering out for Nicholas and his Elves on Christmas Eve. ***************************************************************** A rush of spiritual energy is released at the birth of New Sun at dawn on the 22nd of December, as a result of which it is believed spirits & ghosts become much more active for the next few days, presencing to mortals more frequently than they did before Alban Arthuan. It is during these days that the ghosts of relatives and ancestors, lovers and friends usually come visiting. Then "beginning on the 26th of December" all of these discarnates will begin to grow quiet and then depart, going back beyond the sídhe. At dusk on this day, say “farewell†to the Gifting Stag. At last, on the night of the 6th of January, say goodbye to all of the Sluagh-Sídhe (Elves) who have spent the Yule in your place of dwelling, as they must return by midnight to their spectral homes in "the Hinterlands" and to Brug na Bóinne.

Yule log plays a vital role in the celebration of Christmas. It is said that Yule Log was taken from ancient Sun worship rituals. Yule Logs are supposed to be cut from red oak trees There is a custom that on the Eve of Christmas a huge log of freshly cut wood called the Yule log would be fetched and carried to the house with great ceremony and after that it would be burned all of the Christmas Eve and into Christmas Day by the master of the house. In some families, the young girls of the house lit the log with splinters from the preceding year, which they had carefully tucked away. In other families, the mother had this privilege. It is believed that the cinder of the log protects the house from lightning and the malevolent powers of the devil. Regarding the choices about the variety of wood and the rituals related with the burning vary from region to region. This custom of burning the Yule log began long ago in Scandinavia. Where there is a custom of burning a huge log once a year in honor of their god Thor. Afterwards the Christians, made the Yule log an important part of Christmas celebration. Later the word Yule came to mean Christmas. In some countries lively and elaborate ceremonies accompanied the custom of dragging the great log into the house. It was considered good luck to keep an unburned part of the log to light the next year's Yule log. The unburned part was believed to protect the home from lightning and fire during the year. . Today also the custom of burning a special log on Christmas Eve is followed. People decorate the log with ribbons or bows. Some people use decorated logs as table centerpieces, often with candles that can be burned instead of the log. According to legends Yule Log was considered as the magical source of fuel for the sun, and therefore symbolized the sun's light, warmth, and life-giving power. It is also referred to as the ale drink in the ancient period. After the Christians adopted the Yule Log as a part of their Christmas celebration it became customary to place it on the hearth on Christmas Eve It is kept burning till the next day, the warmth and the glow enhances the atmosphere of the festival. Some rules must be followed while performing the ritual. They are it is never purchased it has to be received as a gift. It had to be kindled with a fragment of the previous year's log, which had been specially preserved for this purpose, and its fire is never to be permitted to go out by itself.