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December 21  The Goddess gives birth to the God, the returning sun of winter solstice. Gifts are given by the departing Holly King {Santa Claus} as he rides his solar sleigh pulled by the eaight Sabbats personified as reindeer.  ~altar candles should be red,green,red~ ~incense should be bayberry~ ~circle may be decorated with holly,mistletoe,ivy,pine,pine cones,etc.~ ~place ash twigs in cauldron~ ~lay out items,create circle,call elements and dieties~ Raise arms and say, "Welcome Yule for the turning point of winter is here at last. The end of the solar year has come, and a new year has begun" Lower arms and say, "This is a new beginnings, and I send mu power forth to join with the energies of the Sun God that the suns rebirth rekindles my strength" Take the center altar candle and light the kindling in the cauldron saying "This new fire is lit to bid farewell to the Dark Lord of the solar night and to greet the rebirth of the sun. May my power be added to the strength of the newborn Lord as his is mine" Return candle to its proper place, take athame in both hands and hold aloft saying "Hail to the Sun God. Hail the movement of time eternal. Hail the death and rebitrh of Yule. Hail the God" Return athame to its proper place, Let altar candles burn low then snuff the red candles, replace them with new green candles, and light them from the still lit green candle. Then snuff the center green candle, replace it with a new red candle and light it fresh from a new match saying "May the Yule bring light and may all good enter here. Good health, good cheer, and good fortune in the coming year. For as I will it, so must it be" Put away all tools, close circle, give blessings to all present. ~string popcorn and berries and hang outside for the birds~ ~decorate pine cones with glue and glitter as symbols of the faeries and place on the Yule tree~ ~hang little bells on the Yule tree to call the good spirits and faeries~ ~glue the caps on acorns and attach red string to hang on the Yule tree~ ~consecrate the Yule tree. asperse with salted water, pass smoke of incense through the branches, and walk around the tree with a lighted candle saying "By Fire and Water and Air and Earth, I consecrate this tree of rebirth"~    |
