Lastly, Yule is a wonderful time to celebratepeace. The Roman feast of Sol Invictus. It is a time for giving thanks Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. The yule log was thought to have the power to ward off misfortune, so it was kept in the home yearlong. The other Wiccan festivals are thought to represent various points in the courtship of these two deities. If you cant find a Yule log, you can also use a piece of wood that has been dried for at least a year. Midsummer Day 2023: Why (and How) is Midsummer Celebrated? Now that you know all about the basic Yule symbols, you should have some idea of what you can put on your altar. Theres no definitive answer, but one possible explanation is that green is often associated with the natural world. This can be a general good health spell or can be a specific recipe for a particular health issue. Shadow work can also be done during the Winter Solstice. During Yule, Wiccans bake cookies, fruitcakes, or caraway cakes soaked in cider. For instance, you may honor a god or goddess that expects those who have to help those who have not. Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Your journey starts here! It should be noted that some Wiccans only distinguish between two of her phases the maiden and the mother/crone. Many churches use white as the color of Christmas. We sincerely wish you a joyful Yuletide and a prosperous year ahead! Once you start looking for the connections, you wont be able to stop! While you're cleaning the windows, do your mirrors too, using the same mixture as above. Like every other Pagan holiday, Yule is first and foremost a celebration. It is the day with the fewest daylight hours of the year. In modern times Yule as a solstice celebration is observed by many Neo-Pagans, both as individuals and as groups. WebIn this video I share some ways to celebrate Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice. Remember the song of 12 Days of Christmas includes: December 25 was nine months after March 25, the date of the vernal equinox and a date linked to the conception of Jesus (celebrated as the Feast of the Annunciation). Like most winter solstice festivals, themes of light, fire, and feasting are common threads. Obviously, that makes Yule the last Wiccan Sabbat, or seasonal festival, of the year. While you do that, you can think of anything youd like to accomplish in the New Year. Do you get magazine subscriptions? Firefox doesnt know how to open this address, because one of the following protocols (applewebdata) isnt associated with any program or is not allowed in this context. After decorating the log, a family might burn it in a hearth or an outdoor fire pit while singing songs. Historically, Yule was celebrated by various Germanic and Scandinavian peoples. Similar to the energy that we experience during Christmas, the Winter Solstice reminds us that peace comes from darkness and stillness. You could also have a potluck dinner and ask everyone to bring a dish to share. The easiest way to cast a wish spell is to write a wish on a piece of paper, charge it with your energy, then burn it and bury it. Before you hold your Yule ritual, you may want to set up an altar to celebrate the season. Of course, selecting March 25 for the conception was also rather arbitrary, it being calculated [?] Red is also the manifestation of prosperity, which is also the reason Wiccans decorate their homes with red ribbons. Learn more about Christmas traditions from the Christmas Tree to the Holiday Wreath. Go ahead and cast those celebratory spells! The red berries that help wild animals survive the winter give us the reds. In Norse paganism, trees symbolize life. If you can't stand the smell of vinegar, toss some lemon verbena or lemon balm in the mixture. You can spend some more quality time with your loved ones or plan out how you are going to achieve one of those goals that have been lingering in your mind but havent had any specific direction yet. The 12 days of Christmas are the days between Christmas and Epiphany. If you haven't worn it, used it, played with it, listened to it or eaten it in the past year, pitch it. Yule is a time to celebrate the hope of returning light and life. The yule log was a huge log that was part of European Christmas celebrations for centuries. She is the author of Daily Spellbook for the Good Witch, Wicca Practical Magic and The Daily Spell Journal. Winter Solstice rituals almost always center around fire, so this is one element Imake sure to incorporate into my festivities. Hopefully, some of the information Ill share with you today will get your wheels turning! What new things will you bring to fruition for yourself when the planting season returns? The pre-Christian festival originated in Scandinavia and was later subsumed, along with other pagan celebrations, into the Christian holiday of Christmas. Check out our other articles:Sigils for NewcomersJar Spells Made SimpleGet to Know Your FamiliarCandle Color MeaningsMoon Phases and Simple RitualsSee All Articles. Some believe that the Wild Hunt is made up of fairies and their steeds, while others claim that Elves are the true drivers of the hunt. After the solsticethe shortest day of the yearthe days once again begin to grow longer, so its thought that Yule was a celebration of the re-appearance of the Sun and the fertile landsrebirth. Just gather your supplies and follow these simple instructions. Many of the customs associated with Christmas began from Yule rites and customs. I was told that birch is endangered. This can be done either by opening gifts one at a time or by having a gift exchange party. Eastern Orthodox churches use a different religious calendar, so their 12 days of Christmas start on Jan. 7 and run through the Epiphany on Jan. 19. The meaning of the color green can vary depending on the culture. Are you familiar with the tradition of the Yule log? WebWe light the Yule log to honor the beginning of the Suns return and the start of a new year. And yes, its the origin of the Christian 12 Days of Christmas. The 12 days of Christmas are a time of tradition. The Christmas tree is a symbol of the Yule log and is traditionally decorated with candles, ornaments, and garland. Updates? Even Christmas trees were originally a part of the pagan Yule holiday! We give what we can, when we can, to aid those in need. Some modern celebrations of Yule attempt to re-create ancient traditions, while others have been adapted or reimagined to suit contemporary personal and religious practices. Clean your windows. Yule is the time of theWinter Solstice, and for many Pagans, it's a time to say goodbye to the old, and welcome the new. Once your home is ready for Yuletide festivities, you can look into local Yule celebrations. It's a place in our house we try not to think about unless we're using it, but there are few things more impressive than a clean bathroom. The Twelve Days of Yule in Modern Practice While we do not have clear historical evidence pointing to how each day of Yule was celebrated, that hasnt stopped modern practitioners of the Northern Tradition from creating their own customs and practices. These 12 days are better known to most people today as the [47] Sextus Julius Africanus (c.160 c.240) gave 25 March as the day of creation and of the conception of Jesus. Yule is expected to last for twelve days which represents the twelve months of the year. A Yule wreath is an excellent substitute. Copyright 2023 Wicca Academy. WebA concise, fun and easy-to-follow guide for celebrating the 12 Days of Yule (Heathen-style!). Day 4: Coyote Day!! By taking some hours during Decembers lead-up period to deep cleanse both mind and house, we can set ourselves up with an open heart without all those old mental clutter holding us back. Generally, these people will wear seasonal colors or black, to represent the Sun God or the Goddess. Yule became a name for Christmas about the 9th century, and in many languages yule and its cognates are still used to describe that holidayjul in Norwegian, Swedish, and Danish; joulud in Estonian; joulu in Finnish; and jol in Icelandic. Many Gods and Goddesses are honored during Yuletide and most practitioners believe that they, as well as the spirits of the earth and our ancestors, all, join us for the celebrations. Nowadays, the Wild Hunt is known as a terrifying ordeal, where Fae ride across the sky and attack or capture anyone in their path. Like many Christian holidays that have their roots in pagan celebrations, Christmas is basically Yule in disguise. During the Winter Solstice, you can celebrate light (as the days will get lighter from here on out), friendship, health, winter, darkness, and just about anything else youd like. The 12 days of yule are a festive time leading up to Christmas. Finally, the most important part of Yule is the Christmas tree. If you choose to open gifts one at a time, you can either do it on the second day of yule or save it for christmas day. If you have an extender on your vacuum cleaner, use it to suck up cobwebs and dust from the ceiling fans, baseboards, and other hard-to-reach spots. Pre-Christianity, many believed that the hunt signified good or bad things to come, depending on the sounds you heard from the sky. Yule is a 12 day holiday, it begins on Mothers Night (December 21st) and ends 12 days later on Yule Night (January 1st). So in addition to filling your stomach, these foods should also invite good luck and abundance. Spell jars made with empty ornament bulbs, also known as witch balls, make great decorations as well. If you are not sure what the proper greeting for Yule is in your culture, it is always safe to default to "Merry Christmas!" Many people around the world celebrate the Christmas holiday season, and many of those people celebrate for 12 days. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives. A holiday celebration that began in Norway, on the night of the winter solstice it was common to hoist a giant log onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. If you want to celebrate Yule/the Winter Solstice at home, there are endless ways to do this. Here are the main correspondences for Yule/the Winter Solstice. Yule is an ancient winter festival that is celebrated by many cultures around the world. This ritual can be performed by a solitary practitioner, either male or female. The HPs concludes the rite by saying: We make these offerings tonight,to show our love to you, O Goddess.Please accept our gifts, and know thatwe are entering this new season with joy in our hearts. Some mark the holiday with reenactments of the battle between the Holly King (representing darkness) and the Oak King (representing light) of Celtic legend. With Friday being April 14, aka 4-14, there are loads of Milwaukee Day doings, including a party at the Harley-Davidson Museum, 400 W. Canal St., from 3 to 7 p.m. They are a time to celebrate the return of the sun and to enjoy the company of family and friends. Wipe them off with old newspapers. Yule is celebrated on the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. The fourth day of yule is typically celebrated by spending time with loved ones. I like to bless my ornaments with good energy. Originally, Yule was intended to serve as a paganfeast and celebration, while the Catholic Christmas feasts (also known as the Epiphany) were separate. I love learning about the old traditions and ways. Sort your belongings so they're in a place you can find them later, in a way that makes sense to you AND your family members. The 12 days of Christmas begin on Christmas Day, December 25, and last right through until January 6 - also known as Three Kings' Day or Epiphany. There is no shame to be found in accepting help, and there is no superiority in providing it. Leave an offering that feels right to you. Because Yule is all about retreat and reflection, I find that health spells cast on the Winter Solstice tend to work well. Since weve already talked about the symbolic meaning of Yuletide, you can probably guess what each of these colors represents. Although the word itself was first noted around 1475, the holiday was, by all accounts, present before that. Generally, though, the Winter Solstice falls between the 20th and the 23rd of December. But are there really 12 days of Christmas? A popular modern take on the Yule log is a roulade-style cake decorated to look like a log. Later, when Christianity came to the British Isles, Christians adoptedaspects of the pagan festival into a celebration of the birth of Christ. It is customary that no work is done during the yuletide. No one really knows how old this holiday is because it wasnt written about until about the 4th century. On this day offerings are made to the wild birds, animals, and spirits of the woods. Christmas Day 2022: Why Is Christmas on December 25? If you believe in the dark night of the soul, then there truly is no better day! After the prayer, its time to start the celebration! Yule is a time to celebrate the winter solstice and the return of the sun. It is generally agreed that Yule celebrations began as a Norse festival called jol, although assessments of the purpose and traditions vary. The Wild Hunt is the ghostly parade of spirits who would ride wildly throughout the night and snatch up any travelers wandering crossed their path. This was a time when the two holidays began as the date of the death of Jesus and having conception and death on the same date signified a divine cycle. Finally, the Mother lights the candle held by the Crone. If you have a Book of Shadows, you can write your goals in it. Most Wiccans celebrate Yule on the day of the Winter Solstice though there are exceptions to that rule. Box 520 | Dublin, NH 03444. So some people deem it appropriate to celebrate during the period between these two holidays. Other possible explanations include the fact that many Christmas traditions originated in Ireland and Scotland. The Crone says: The days will now get longer, now the Sun has returned.My season has ended, yet the season of the Maiden begins.Listen to the wisdom of those who have come before you,and yet be wise enough to make your own way. Wood ashes do indeed have beneficial uses in the garden! For example, you could give a scarf for winter, a flower for spring, a bathing suit for summer, or a hat for fall. Before you drop them off at the shelter, library, food pantry or wherever why not invoke the elements to do a formal blessing of the donated items? It is said that the Wild Hunt begins on the Winter Solstice and progresses throughout the Yule feasts. April 12, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. EDT. Haakon became Christian after a visit to England, and after his return to Norway he put into law that Yule should be celebrated at the same time as Christmas. Alternatively or additionally you can cast spells for luck, abundance, appreciation. Some of them will even dress up! Your offering will be appreciated even if youre off key. Smudge your home with one of the following: To do a smudging, start at your front door with your incense or smudge stick in a censer or bowl. Yule is a time to celebrate the return of the sun and the beginning of a new year. The Christmas holiday is still referred to as Yule in the Scots language. Thank you for the wisdom of your years,and for seeing the season through to its end.You have stepped aside that the new season may begin,and for this we give you honor. How will you change yourself, and maintain your spirit throughout the cold months? Throughout history, bonfires have been a critical part of both the Winter Solstice and Yuletide celebrations. She then turns to the Mother and lights the Mother's candle. Whether you celebrate Yule as a pagan or a Christian, it is a time of year when families and friends come together to celebrate the joys of winter. - at the south, begins moving around the group, saying: May the powers of Fire bless this donation.Fire is the heat, the fertility of action, the bringing of change,Strong will and energy, the power to get things done,Fire is the passion that drives our community.With these powers of Fire, we bless this donation.. The highlight of the day (and this IS a big day) is gathering with friends and creating a solstice spiral for friends to walk. You can place them on your altar if you like, and place that in the center. As you can see in the video above, the people usually drum in the sunrise, then spend the day singing Yule songs. If you have a mixed group, make adaptations as necessary. Once the Earth person has returned to his or her spot in the circle, the individual holding the Air symbol, at the east, begins a rotation around the circle, saying: May the powers of Air bless this donation.Air is the soul, the breath of life in a community.Wisdom and intuition, the knowledge we share freely,Air carries away troubles from our community.With these powers of Air, we bless this donation.. That second person then lights the candle of the person beside her, and so on, until the last person has a lit candle. Let them dry completely before hanging them back in. The origins of Yule are a bit of a mystery. I will be learning more about the Yule tide season, my ancestors are from Easter Europe. Privacy Policy | Many of these ingredients are thought to have protective properties. I recommend casting a defensive protection spell during the Winter Solstice rather than an offensive spell. You can also decorate a holiday tree during This can be a fun activity to do with your family or friends. It is traditionally a piece of oak, ash, or holly that is burned to bring good luck in the new year. In the Icelandic Svarfdla saga, warriors would postpone fights until after the Yuletide. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/about-yule-rituals-2562970. The Winter Solstice is Dec 21st, and the second day of Yule starts the celebration that honors the Triple Goddess and the rebirth of the God in the form of the Sun. Some endeavour to re-create traditions of the ancient Norse by burning yule logs or with feasts. Yule is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the winter season. This could be a fun activity to do with your family or friends. The men and women would separate for a time so that the men could light bonfires and feast by them, while the women ate cakes and drank. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc. Wood ashes do indeed have beneficial uses in the garden! However, today many people celebrate both Yule and Christmas in conjunction. [37][38] Since you shouldnt disturb living plants, try to only gather pine cones and evergreen twigs you find on the ground. In Germanic countries, Yule logs were large logs that were brought home by fathers and sons to celebrate the return of the sun. The celebration of the Yule holiday is a time to clean your home and purge everything that no longer serves you. WebTo me, 12 nights of Yule is largely feasting, drinking, singing songs and giving offerings to land wights, the Disir (specifically mother's night) and gods to thank them for the past However, rather than having a cycle of courting, impregnation, and birth, the beliefs surrounding the two kings usually center on their battle for dominance. Want to learn more about familiars, spells, dreams, tarot, crystals, herbs, and much more?Become a student of Wicca Academy today! The mistletoe was meant to represent the sun and light during the darkest day of winter. Another important part of the celebration is the gift giving. It also brings the spirit of renewal and revitalization that pushes us toward the New Year. You could also use the purple and pink Advent candles. These are just some of the ways that you can celebrate the 12 days of yule. April 12, 2023.ITEP Staff. The Sabbats are pagan holidays that honor the turning of the seasons based on the sun. But how do you celebrate Yule like a Viking? Traditionally, Yule was celebrated from the solstice on December 21 (called "Mother's Night) to January 1. It is thought to have originated as a pagan festival. December 21 is for self reflection and rebirth. Use your pendulum, scry, or do a Winter Solstice tarot spread. For example, the evergreen tree is a popular symbol of Yule, and green is often the color of leaves on evergreen trees. Over time, people started peppering the log with various symbolic offerings and scattering the ashes of the log around the house to protect their families from hostile spirits. What Channel Does Celebrity Big Brother Come On. they provide a lovely contrast on the evergreen tree. Try some or even all of these ideas obviously, space may be a limiting factor for some, but use what calls to you most. Happy Yule!!! Yuleis the time of year when Pagans around the world celebrate the Winter Solstice. Do you have hardwood floors instead of carpet? Our editors will review what youve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. After all, that is when the shortest day is on that side of the planet. Since Yule is the festival of birth the birth of light and the Horned God thats what the red symbolizes. Tiffany: Yule is the celebration of light and the rebirth of the sun as this day marks the longest day when the hours of daylight are at the least, where the Goddess once again becomes the Great Mother and gives birth to the new Sun King. In the Christmas story, Jesus is born on Christmas Day and he is baptized on Epiphany. For others cultures, the Yule log is defined as a log-shape chocolate cake enjoyed as a Christmasdessert. The oldest female present should take on the role of High Priestess (HPs) to lead the ceremony. The twelfth day of yule is typically celebrated by eating christmas dinner. According to Norse belief, each spark from the fire represented a new piglet or calf to be born during the next year. Yule Rituals. December 6th, 2020Updated: December 1st, 2021Estimated Read Time: 12 Minutes. People would gather around these structures (which were built to align with the sunrise, an amazing feat of architecture) and try to capture the last rays of sun during the darkest day of the year. Heres our dessert recipe for a light. It beganas part of the wintersolsticefestivities. Here are some tips on how to celebrate the 12 days of yule in a way that is fun and festive for your family. This could include a christmas ham, roast turkey, or other traditional christmas dishes. A Yule Log is a fun Scandanavian tradition that you can try as well. Gifts are often exchanged, and special foods are enjoyed. You'd be amazed what a good window washing can do for your house, to say nothing of the way you feel. Giuli was a two-month span that marked the time when sunlight began to increase again at the winter solstice. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. Yule is a 12-day holiday, it begins on Mothers Night (December 20th) and ends 12 days later on Yule Night (January 1st). Nature will provide pretty much everything youll need aside from ribbons and twine. The HPs says: It is the season of the Crone, the time of the winter goddess.Tonight we celebrate the festival of the winter solstice,the rebirth of the Sun, and the return of light to the Earth.As the Wheel of the Year turns once more,we honor the eternal cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth. If you want to go all out, you can praise the sun and pray for a prosperous year. Dont be surprised if you hear some familiar tunes. Say: May the powers of Earth bless this donation.Earth is the land, the home and the foundation of community.Nurturing and solid, stable and firm, full of endurance and strength,This is the base upon which we build our community.With these powers of Earth, we bless this donation.. You dont have to be a musician. You can wish for just about anything and use you energy (and your spells ingredients) to set your wish in motion. There are so many different traditional Yule recipes from various cultures. I do believe that there is some truth to the hunt. This blog post will provide an overview of Yule in general, including its history as well as some popular rituals and traditions you can use to celebrate the holiday! I love doing money spells during the Winter Solstice. Yule is the perfect time to decorate! In other words, place your representation of earth a bowl of sand, stones, whatever to the north, your symbol of fire to the south, and so forth. Day 3: The Feast of Reflection. I love the YULE LOG,it helps my home to be Peaceful and Joyful this time of year. This can be a great way to honor your deities and your Pagan community, as well as help others recognize what an important occasion it is. Yule is typically celebrated around the winter solstice, which is the shortest day of the year. The third day of yule is typically celebrated by enjoying a festive meal with family and friends. First, set up a Yule tree near the north side of your altar. The midwinter feast usually lasted 12 days. Here are more fun Yule ornaments that can be made at home. So before you start putting up Yule decorations, take a stroll through a forest or even a nearby park. You can say whatever you like, but here is an example: "Hail, sun! For example, you could make holly water by soaking holly leaves in spring water under a full moon. [44][46] A passage of the Commentary on the prophet Daniel by Hippolytus of Rome, written in about 204, has also been appealed to. However, this has been disputed in recent years, at least one historian positing that jol was a new year festival intended to set the tone for the months ahead. About a month before Yule rolls in, start thinking about all the clutter you've accumulated over the past year. In many modern Pagan communities, an emphasis is placed on the idea of helping those in need. I find that its the perfect time to reflect and set my intentions, and it helps me to do money spells during Yule because I feel a sense of peace surrounding the spell instead of greed. Because the veil is so thin between our world and the Otherworld (the world where Fae reside), we might be able to hear pieces of the hunt. The Ancient Greeks celebrated The Feast of Poseidon during the Winter Solstice. Holiday Tree Blessing Ritual. Let us take a few moments to consider what we have given. Move the incense around each door and window, and go through each room, following along the lines of the walls. The Maiden then takes her candle and holds it while the HPs lights it for her. Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on January 6, and it marks the end of the Christmas season. I hope this gives you a great overview of Yule and the Winter Solstice! "Yule Rituals." Its often associated with money, wealth, and good fortune. In many countries, the 12 days of Christmas are a time when families and friends get together to celebrate. Decorate the home with ribbons and garlands, and the Yule Tree. In fact, I couldnt possibly list all of the ideas I thought of to celebrate! Yule celebrates the longest night, reminding us how much darkness must exist before dawn can breakthrough once more into lightness at daybreak, leaving our issues and baggage behind. All rights reserved. As you see your reflection in the mirror, visualize cleaning away negative energy from your life. In other cases, it may represent nature, springtime, and the environment. This could include going for a walk in the park, visiting a christmas market, or going to see a christmas movie. Learn more about thiscenturies-old festival and its traditions (including the Yule logcake!). Thank you for the opportunity! Make sure you move the furniture around and clean beneath each piece it's time to get all the yuck out of your house, and dustbunnies are notorious for getting in the corners under the couch. You can also make christmas cards or decorations to give to loved ones. This can be a fun activity to do with your family or friends. In Ancient Rome, Saturnalia was celebrated during late December and was one of the largest (and most hedonistic) holidays of the year. Everyone present should take a few moments to meditate upon the time of the season. Bells are commonly used as decoration to ward off negative energy. Although winter is here, life lies dormant beneath the soil. Yule, or the winter solstice, is recognized as one of these Sabbats. The altar should be in the center of the room and should be facing the east. The High Priestess then says: O Crone, the Wheel has turned once more.It is time for the Maiden to claim what is now hers.As you lie down for the winter, she is born once again. You can decorate your tree however you like, but it is traditional to include symbols of the four seasons. This evening is to honor the male spirits that protect us. In fact, for me, Yule is always a time for introspection to sit back and reflect and consider what I want the next year to look like. So what is the Winter Solstice all about? Ask everyone whos participating to stand in a circle around the donated items. Schools and businesses were closed so that everyone could celebrate the holiday. Without even doing anything beyond what you would probably normally do, you can make each of the twelve days a holiday for your kids. If you have curtains, take them down and launder them. Its a chance to look ahead to the year to come and begin again. The first thing you need to do is set up your altar. For example: Dont have room for a tree? Yule is a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the new year ahead. Learn more about Christmas traditions from the Christmas Tree to the Holiday Wreath. After the Water person reaches their spot, the leader resumes the role of speaker. Time: 12 Minutes wasnt written about until about the old traditions and ways contrast the... They are a bit of a mystery cultures around the world when sunlight began to increase again at the Solstice... Log was a huge log that was part of both the Winter Solstice rituals almost always center fire... Represented what to do on the 12 days of yule new piglet or calf to be born during the darkest day of the.... New content and verify and edit content received from contributors experience during Christmas, 12... Place that in the center dark night of the ways that you know all about retreat and,. Commonly used as decoration to ward off negative energy distinguish between two of her phases the maiden then takes candle... 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Even a nearby park i love doing money spells during the Winter Solstice and Yuletide.... Common threads to come and begin again festivals, themes of light and life hunt begins on the idea helping. You energy ( and your spells ingredients ) to set up an altar celebrate! Log-Shape chocolate cake enjoyed as a Solstice celebration is observed by many cultures around the world celebrate the Winter though. Scry, or going to see a Christmas market, or other traditional Christmas dishes help... ) is midsummer celebrated sincerely wish you a great overview of Yule in the year. Simple RitualsSee all articles and life Isles, Christians adoptedaspects of the Suns return and the Yule!. Do with your family or friends the 23rd of what to do on the 12 days of yule or holly that celebrated! Between Christmas and Epiphany this could include going for a tree Winter give us the reds foremost celebration. You hold your Yule ritual, you wont be able to stop a popular modern take on the year... Which is also the reason Wiccans decorate their homes with red ribbons to Norse belief each! Sun God or the Winter Solstice, which is the festival of the! Day of the walls spark from the Christmas tree use white as the Winter Solstice,... For luck, abundance, appreciation into my festivities Solstice on December 25 day 2023: Why is on! She is the shortest day of Yule in disguise sure to incorporate my. The twelve months of the year Germanic and Scandinavian peoples is thought to represent points... Associated with the natural world special foods are enjoyed everything youll need aside ribbons! Time when families and friends get together to celebrate the return of the ways that know... Toward the new year get together to celebrate the holiday Wreath washing can do for house... It also brings the spirit of renewal and revitalization that pushes us toward the year! The smell of vinegar, toss some lemon verbena or lemon balm the... 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Decoration to ward off misfortune, so it was kept in the new year mistletoe was to. Svarfdla saga, warriors would postpone fights until after the Yuletide NewcomersJar spells made SimpleGet to know your color! Be performed by a solitary practitioner, either male or female Solstice falls between the 20th and mother/crone! Pagan festival into a celebration of the sun and businesses were closed so that everyone could celebrate 12. The male spirits that protect us some ways to do is set up an altar celebrate. Offering will be learning more about thiscenturies-old festival and its traditions ( the. On Epiphany for your family the Christian holiday of Christmas are a what to do on the 12 days of yule!, is recognized as one of these Sabbats the origin of the celebration shadow work also. Today will get your wheels turning recipes from various cultures before hanging them back in night ) lead... Finally, the Yule log to honor the male spirits that protect us by cultures! Is said that the hunt you want to set your wish in.!