Post by estatigua (Tiggy) on Jan 31, 2007 5:21:01 GMT -5
Yule is one of the four minor Sabbats; it celebrates the rebirth of the Sun and the Sun God and honors the Horned God. It is celebrated between December 20 and 22; the exact date varies from year to year depending on when the Sun reaches the southern most point in its yearly cycle. The longest night of the year falls on Yule; it is when we celebrate the coming light and thank the Gods for seeing us through the darkness. It is a time to look on the past year's achievements and to celebrate with family and friends.
This day is the official first day of winter. The Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for new light is born. Yule is also known as the Winter Solstice, Alban Arthan, Finn's Day, Festival of Sol, Yuletide, Great Day of the Cauldron, and Festival of Growth. The origins of most of the Christian Christmas traditions are in the Pagan Yule celebration, such as the Christmas tree, the colors red and green and gift-giving.
Whether you're designing a pagan or Wiccan ritual, want to incorporate some truly traditional elements into your holiday celebrations, or are just curious, the following are natural elements associated with Yule for many years.
Symbols used to represent Yule are evergreen trees, yule logs, holly, eight-spoked wheels, wreaths, and spinning wheels.
Traditional foods for the Yule feast are roasted turkey, caraway rolls, mulled wine, dried fruit, egg nog, pork, beans, and gingerbread people.
The plants and herbs associated with Yule are holly, mistletoe, evergreens, poinsettia, tropical flowers, bay, pine, ginger, myrrh, valerian.
For Yule incense and oil, you can use any of the following scents, either blended together or alone: rosemary, myrrh, nutmeg, saffron, cedar/pine, wintergreen, ginger, bayberry.
Colors associated with Yule are red, green, white, gold.
Stones associated with Yule are bloodstone, ruby, garnet, cat's eye.
Animals and mythical beasts associated with Yule are stags, squirrels, wrens/robins, phoenix, trolls, memecolion.
Appropriate Yule Goddesses are all Spinning Goddesses. Some Yule Goddesses are:
Angerona (Roman),
Eve (Hebraic),
Pandora (Greek),
Zvezda (Slavic),
Metzli (Aztec),
Yachimato-Hime (Japanese),
Tiamat (Babylonian),
NuKua (Chinese)
Appropriate Yule Gods are all Re-Born Sun Gods. Some Yule Gods are:
Apollo (Greco-Roman),
Balder (Norse),
Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic),
Ra (Egyptian),
Saturn (Roma),
Jesus (Christian-Gnostic),
Helios (Greek),
Ukko (Finnish-Yugoritic).
Altar decorations may include mistletoe, holly, a small Yule log, strings of colored lights, Yule/Christmas cards, a candle in the shape of Kris Kringle, a homemade wreath, presents wrapped in colorful paper.
Traditional activities during Yule are decorating the Yule tree, exchanging gifts, storytelling, making wreaths, throwing holiday parties, sending greetings.
Taboos on Yule are extinguishing fire and traveling.
Spell work can be for divination, a healthier planet, peace, joy.
