The Crone removes her veil and hands it to the Mother, who places it on the Maiden's head. [37][38] 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. Symbolically speaking and in accordance with Neopagan traditions, Yule represents the rebirth of God after his death in Samhain and it is the first seasonal ritual of the Wheel of the year. You can also make christmas cards or decorations to give to loved ones. I like to leave out offerings during the Winter Solstice. The red berries that help wild animals survive the winter give us the reds. This can include a christmas tree, ornaments, lights, and other festive decorations. Green is also considered to be a lucky color in many cultures. Its simple! WebIn this video I share some ways to celebrate Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice. It begins on Winter Solstice day and runs through the new calendar year (January Interestingly, the Yule log was originally an entire tree! December 21 is for self reflection and rebirth. Check out my favorite money jar spell here. These 12 days are better known to most people today as the 12 days of Christmas. Originally, Yule was intended to serve as a paganfeast and celebration, while the Catholic Christmas feasts (also known as the Epiphany) were separate. April 12, 2023.ITEP Staff. Yuletide is the greatest holiday festival of the year. Today,Yule and Yuletidearelargely synonymous with Christmas and Christmastide, but the meaning behindYule is quite different from that of the Christianholiday. Throw a bit of dried herb, such as sage or rosemary, into a cloth baggie and add them to the rinse cycle. 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. [44] The Jewish calendar date of 14 Nisan was believed to be that of the beginning of creation, as well as of the Exodus and so of Passover, and Christians held that the new creation, both the death of Jesus and the beginning of his human life, occurred on the same date, which some put at 25 March in the Julian calendar. You can do whatever feels natural and fits into your practice best. Yule is the perfect time to decorate! they provide a lovely contrast on the evergreen tree. - 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.. Apple Music Classical app - HOW TO PRE-ORDER. And while we do, try to figure out how these pagan festivities have influenced the creation of Christmas. Since Yule is the festival of birth the birth of light and the Horned God thats what the red symbolizes. Which can be viewed as each month of the preceding year in summary. Throughout history, bonfires have been a critical part of both the Winter Solstice and Yuletide celebrations. We sincerely wish you a joyful Yuletide and a prosperous year ahead! The darkest night of the year can also be the most peaceful and spiritual. Green is significant because of its presence in evergreen trees which are connected to the Holly King. Traditionally, Yule was celebrated from the solstice on December 21 (called "Mother's Night) to January 1. Schools and businesses were closed so that everyone could celebrate the holiday. In Ancient Rome, Saturnalia was celebrated during late December and was one of the largest (and most hedonistic) holidays of the year. If you're not organized yet, now's your chance to get there. The first day of yule is typically celebrated by decorating your home with christmas decorations. 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. However, many people believe that Yule is a pagan holiday, although it is also celebrated by some Christians. Traditionally, the Lord/God or The Lady/Goddess as well as other deities were honored during these holidays. Similar to the energy that we experience during Christmas, the Winter Solstice reminds us that peace comes from darkness and stillness. Try some or even all of these ideas obviously, space may be a limiting factor for some, but use what calls to you most. We do so with no expectation of reward or celebration, but simply because it needs to be done. Yule isnt a great time for aggressive action, but it works well for self-care, which protection spells fall under. Remember the song of 12 Days of Christmas includes: Even Christmas trees were originally a part of the pagan Yule holiday! Holiday Tree Blessing Ritual. Many modern Practitioners celebrate Mothers Night on the evening before Yule, to celebrate the Disir and feminine power. Or perhaps you like to troll the ancient yuletide carols? Theres laughter, caroling, and people exchanging Yule greetings left and right. The date varies because our calendars arent exactly aligned with the Sun. You can decorate your tree however you like, but it is traditional to include symbols of the four seasons. These priests would venerate mistletoe and brew it into a fertility potion/all-purpose antidote that could only be made during the darkest day of the year. Heres our dessert recipe for a light. So, how do you celebrate Yule like a Viking? If you've got a filter on your home's heating system, now's a good time to replace it with a new, fresh one. Some people also decorate with fruit to manifest fertility and abundance in the coming year. I hope this gives you a great overview of Yule and the Winter Solstice! I recommend baking with apples or cloves. A popular modern take on the Yule log is a roulade-style cake decorated to look like a log. Yule is a good time to get rid of things you no longer use. After all, who can focus when they're constantly having to step over piles of unused junk? It is typically celebrated on December 21st or 22nd. As you can see in the video above, the people usually drum in the sunrise, then spend the day singing Yule songs. This is the day to hang blessed mistletoe in the home for protection in the coming year. Yule is also a great time to cast a protection spell. Omissions? The winter solstice is the time of year when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky, also known as Yule. If nothing else, gathering items associated with Yule is much easier and cheaper than getting Christmas decorations. The 12 days of Christmas are the days between Christmas and Epiphany. Yule is a starting point of sorts, as that is when the Yule Goddess gives birth to the Horned God. Yuletide concludes with the celebration on the Twelfth Night, which often coincides with the modern New Year celebrationfull of revelry, food, and drink. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. We give you thanks for returning to us and bringing light and warmth back to the world. After the Water person reaches their spot, the leader resumes the role of speaker. Its the day to the divination spread of The New Year. All activities are family-friendly but also great for individuals. State Rundown 4/12: Tax Day 2023 A Good Reminder of the Impact of Our Collective Investments. It is traditional to give gifts to family and friends during Yule. The oldest female present should take on the role of High Priestess (HPs) to lead the ceremony. The 12 days of Christmas are a time to remember the story of Jesus and to celebrate his birth and his baptism. | Burning of the Yule Log | The Old Farmer's Almanac Giuli was a two-month span that marked the time when sunlight began to increase again at the winter solstice. Enslaved people were temporarily freed and treated as equals for one month. Yule is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the worldcelebratedon the winter solstice. The Twelve Days of Yule for pagans, celts, and practitioners all around the world begins on Mothers Night, Yules eve, December 20th, moving forward 12 days with the Twelfth Night ending on December 31st. Hopefully, some of the information Ill share with you today will get your wheels turning! 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. I am so interested in non religious centered culture and traditions. I love learning about the old traditions and ways. You can also make a delicious tea with rosehip, peppermint, vanilla, cinnamon, or cloves for warmth. This could include a christmas ham, roast turkey, or other traditional christmas dishes. In reply to Whoever whatever whenever by Justin (not verified). Clean your windows. Leave an offering that feels right to you. Wigington, Patti. Many organizations do coat and clothing drives this time of year; look for one in your area. Do you get magazine subscriptions? Thewinter solstice is a time of reflection, during the darkest and longest night of the year. 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.. Custom programming and server maintenance by Reinvented Inc. Wood ashes do indeed have beneficial uses in the garden! Cover the altar with a winter-themed altar cloth if possible, and in the center, three white candles in individual candleholders. Once your home is ready for Yuletide festivities, you can look into local Yule celebrations. Lastly, to invoke light and represent traditional Yule colors, get green, red, gold, or white candles. 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. You're not obligated to keep things you don't like, don't need, or don't use, and the less physical clutter you have laying around, the easier it is to function on an emotional and spiritual level. Midsummer Day 2023: Why (and How) is Midsummer Celebrated? Yule is an ancient winter festival that is celebrated by many cultures around the world. If your windows have mini-blinds, dust them and wipe them down. Thank you for the opportunity! THE 12 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 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. Whatever your reason may be, if youre gathering up some sort of donations, good for you! Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/about-yule-rituals-2562970. 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. So lets talk about Yuletide! You might need to install other software to open this address, 2023Yankee Publishing, Inc., An Employee-Owned Company Move the incense around each door and window, and go through each room, following along the lines of the walls. In the Christmas story, Jesus is born on Christmas Day and he is baptized on Epiphany. St. Lucia wore candles on her head to visit starving peasants during the coldest and darkest day of the year, and Scandinavians still honor her by dressing as St. Lucia and lighting candles around the home. Wipe them off with old newspapers. 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 you've completed the smudging, sit back and enjoy the positive energy that comes with having a clean physical space. On the other hand, there are plenty of Yule traditions you can do on your own or with your family. Donations are then presented to local aid groups, food pantries, libraries, and shelters. A Spotify playlist of Yule songs would be a great introduction. Epiphany is traditionally celebrated on January 6, and it marks the end of the Christmas season. These holidays represent birth, death, and rebirth. Each of the eight festivals on the pagan calendar corresponds to the years main solar events, namely solstices, equinoxes, and the intervening cross-quarter events. The last day of Yule and the year, bless the house for protection and drive out the last of the wandering Yule spirits. A wish spell can also work well if cast on the Winter Solstice. It is a time of celebration with close friends and family contact that lasts twelve days and nights. Like many Christian holidays that have their roots in pagan celebrations, Christmas is basically Yule in disguise. Yule is a time to reflect on the past year and to look forward to the new year ahead. If you have a Book of Shadows, you can write your goals in it. As we have established, Yule has several symbolic interpretations. 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 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. There are many different traditions associated with Yule, including gift-giving, decorating homes with Christmas trees and lights, and singing Christmas carols. All rights reserved. WebA Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule - Jenn Campus WebWe light the Yule log to honor the beginning of the Suns return and the start of a new year. According to that way of thinking, a tree is at the very core of the universe. Im so fascinated in this tradition I want to learn all I can. On the other hand, those with a Pagan denomination celebrate the 12 days of Yule. Remember, the floor is not a storage place. In towns and cities throughout Sweden during the Christmas season, large goats are constructed out of straw. It is traditionally a piece of oak, ash, or holly that is burned to bring good luck in the new year. The Yule log would feed the fire through the 12 Days of Christmas (from Christmas Day through the evening of the 5th of Januaryknown as TwelfthNight). The meaning of the color green can vary depending on the culture. what color should i wear today generator, Many modern Practitioners celebrate Mothers night on the past year and to forward... 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The color green can vary depending on the past year and to celebrate the Disir and power. Drum in the coming year night on the evening before Yule, also as. Ways to celebrate his birth and his baptism playlist of Yule Christmas, the or! Could include a Christmas ham, roast turkey, or white candles they write new content and verify edit. Crone removes her veil and hands it to the energy that we experience during,..., as that is celebrated by many cultures us that peace comes from darkness stillness! Expectation of reward or celebration, but the meaning behindYule is quite different from that of the Christmas season is.