Yule

Our modern customs of Christmas comes from many sources, including the first settlers that came to the new world, and later modified by the European immigrants during the 19th century. We (the United States) adopted the holiday from the immigrants.

All customs that surrounds Christmas, no matter what country you look at date back to early Europe during pagan times, where peoples lives depended on knowing the natural rhythms of nature. That knowledge became there religion, which included the worshipped of the Sun. They held feasts to aid its return from distant wonderings. As winter approached (mid-December), the days become noticeably shorter, the people lit giant bonfires to help strengthen the Sun. On the winter solstice (December 22nd) that day is the shortest of the year. From that time on the days begin to grow longer, the people celebrated this day as the rebirth of the Sun God. The Winter Solstice was a time of great celebration.

When Christian missionaries went into northern Europe they attempted to destroy the pagan religions by forbidding the old celebrations. However, some practices were so important to the people that they refused to give them up. When this happened, the missionaries merrily changed the reason for the celebration. Since no one knew when Jesus was born, it was desired to celebrate his birth following the Solstice. So that a celebration of the rebirth of the Sun God became the birth of the "Son of God".

With this in mind it easy to see that our modern customs of Christmas are in reality, pagan customs. The evergreen was used to represent the Sun God while he was "dead" between the summer solstice (June 20th) and the winter solstices (December 22nd). Another evergreen is the Holly. The Holly in pagan times represents the Holly King. The Holly King rules during the winter. The Holly King has only one rival, The Oak King. When the oak trees drop their leaves, the Oak King is said to be dead, so the Holly King takes over his rule. This custom has also been adopted by the Christian religion that it now represents the crown that Jesus wore on the day of his crucifixion. The burning of the Yule Log is another pagan custom. The Yule Log was made from Oak. Along with the Yule Log, was an un-burnt portion from last years Yule Fire. The Yule Log represented the the rebirth of the Sun God and the piece from last year represents the past year going by. Any part of the log that is not burnt in the fire is set aside for next year and as an amulet against any danger that enters the house.

The use of an Christmas tree started in Germany back in the 8th century. St. Boniface, a Christian missionary who tried to stamp out the pagan rite of sacrificing people to the Oak showed his followers a fir tree. He told them that it pointed to the "Christ Child". By the beginning of the 19th century, nearly all Germans had adopted the tree. The custom spread through Europe but was still unusual in Italy, Spain, and Latin America.

The only custom left that has been unaffected by Christianity is the Mistletoe. Passed down from the Druids, the Mistletoe was used for an amulet against any danger that enters the house. It was hung above the door to keep any negative influences out, and to promote fertility. Before cutting the Mistletoe from the tree, a white cloth was spread out so if the Mistletoe fell, it wouldn't touch the Earth. If it did, the power returns to the Earth.