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Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, is the longest night of the year. It is the second of two solar equinoxes (The first being June 21st). Needless to say, this night is normally a cold, dark and hungry evening. The older and even ancient civiliations would spend this evening feasting and merry making knowing that the sun would start coming out for longer and longer periods of time until Spring would..well..spring.
Now, no one was stupid. They knew winter was far from over, and many cold and dark days lay ahead, but this was the definitive night that good days were definitely ahead. These people were agriculturally based, so it makes sense to celebrate the turning of winter. Today, we celebrate this same night with songs, lots of light, dance, music and food; just like they did...
I don't know about YOU, but Yule to me means food:
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Betty Crocker's No-Roll Sugar Cookies
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
2 1/4 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose flour
Cinnamon-sugar, powdered sugar or baking cocoa, if desired
1. Heat oven to 375ºF. Mix granulated sugar, butter, vanilla and egg in large bowl until smooth. Stir in flour.
2. Shape dough by teaspoonfuls into balls. (If dough is too soft to shape, cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour.) Place about 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet. Flatten cookies with bottom of glass dipped in sugar.
3. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set and edges just begin to brown. Cool 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely, about 30 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
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I love simmering this on the back burner...I didn't get to make it this year, but next year...look out!
Wassil:
1 gallon apple cider, divided
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground allspice
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 6-oz can of frozen lemonade, thawed
1 6-oz can frozen orange juice, thawed
Cinnamon sticks, lemon slices, orange slices
Brandy or some other liquor (if desired)
Mix all in a study pot and simmer...I don't boil it since it evaporates too fast and gets rather syrupy.
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I love fresh baked bread in winter...and orange cranberry is my favorite.
All Recipe's Cranberry Orange Loaf
1/4 cup margarine
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup orange juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries
1/2 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
1 Whisk together flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Stir in orange rind, cranberries, and nuts.
2 In a large bowl, beat together butter or margarine, sugar, and egg until smooth. Stir in juice. Pour in flour mixture, stirring until moistened. Scrape into a greased 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
3 Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) oven for 1 hour, or until the bread tests done. Let stand 10 minutes, and then remove loaf from pan to a wire rack to cool.
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And what is a holday without laughter?
MARTHA STEWART'S HOLIDAY TO-DO LIST
December 1
Blanch carcass from Thanksgiving turkey. Spray paint gold, turn upside down and use as a sleigh to hold Christmas cards.
December 2
Have Mormon Tabernacle Choir record outgoing Christmas message for answering machine.
December 3
Using candlewick and hand-gilded miniature pine cones, fashion a cat-o-nine-tails. Flog gardener.
December 4
Repaint Sistine Chapel ceiling in ecru, with mocha trim.
December 5
Get new eyeglasses. Grind lenses myself.
December 6
Fax family Christmas newsletter to Pulitzer committee for consideration.
December 7
Debug Windows '95
December 10
Align carpets to adjust for curvature of Earth.
December 11
Lay Faberge egg.
December 12
Take dog apart. Disinfect. Reassemble.
December 13
Collect dentures. They make excellent pastry cutters, particularly for decorative pie crusts.
December 14
Install plumbing in gingerbread house.
December 15
Replace air in mini-van tires with Glade "Holiday Scents" in case tires are shot out at mall.
December 17
Child proof the Christmas tree with garland of razor wire.
December 19
Adjust legs of chairs so each Christmas dinner guest will be the same height when sitting at his or her assigned seat.
December 20
Dip sheep and cows in egg whites and roll in confectioner's sugar to add a festive sparkle to the pasture.
December 21
Drain city reservoir; refill with mulled cider, orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
December 22
Float votive candles in toilet tank.
December 23
Seed clouds for white Christmas.
December 24
Do my annual good deed. Go to several stores. Be seen engaged in last minute Christmas shopping, thus making many people feel less inadequate than they really are.
December 25
Bear son. Swaddle. Lay in color-coordinated manger scented with homemade potpourri.
December 26
Organize spice racks by genus and phylum.
December 27
Build snowman in exact likeness of God.
December 31
New Year's Eve! Give staff their resolutions. Call a friend in each time zone of the world as the clock strikes midnight in that country.
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I think Santa Claus is a woman.......
I hate to be the one to defy sacred myth, but I believe he's a she. Think about it. Christmas is a big, organized, warm, fuzzy, nurturing social deal, and I have a tough time believing a guy could possibly pull it all off!
For starters, the vast majority of men don't even think about selecting gifts until Christmas Eve. Once at the mall, they always seem surprised to find only Ronco products, socket wrench sets, and mood rings left on the shelves. On this count alone, I'm convinced Santa is a woman. Surely, if he were a man, everyone in the universe would wake up Christmas morning to find a rotating musical Chia Pet under the tree, still in the bag.
Another problem for a he-Santa would be getting there. First of all, there would be no reindeer because they would all be dead, gutted and strapped on to the rear bumper of the sleigh amid wide-eyed, desperate claims that buck season had been extended. Blitzen's rack would already be on the way to the taxidermist.
Even if the male Santa DID have reindeer, he'd still have transportation problems because he would inevitably get lost up there in the snow and clouds and then refuse to stop and ask for directions.
Other reasons why Santa can't possibly be a man:
-Men can't pack a bag.
-Men would rather be dead than caught wearing red velvet.
-Men would feel their masculinity is threatened having to be seen with all those elves.
-Men don't answer their mail.
-Men would refuse to allow their physique to be described even in jest as anything remotely resembling a "bowlful of jelly."
-Men aren't interested in stockings unless somebody's wearing them.
-Having to do the Ho Ho Ho thing would seriously inhibit their ability to pick up women.
Finally, being responsible for Christmas would require a commitment. I can buy the fact that other mythical holiday characters are men.......
-Father Time shows up once a year unshaven and looking ominous. Definite guy.
-Cupid flies around carrying weapons.
-Uncle Sam is a politician who likes to point fingers.
Any one of these individuals could pass the testosterone screening test. But not St. Nick. Not a chance.
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Symbols and Symbolism
The sights and symbols seen at this time of year have roots so old...many cannot even be found now. It is an ancient solar rite that really didn't become well-known until the Roman's adopted a version of it called Saturnalia. Saturnalia was a 12 day holiday that celebrated the end of the old year and ushered in the new. We can see this in the old carol: The Twelve Days of Christmas. Another tradition of the year is the yule log. It was supposed to be lit on the eve of the solstice (first try!) and burn/smolder for twelve days to ensure luck for the coming year. Most people nowadays have no place to burn a log in their living rooms, so a yule cake with candles is used instead. If you really want to have the twelve hour burn, pillar candles would be an excellent choice.
Ah, the yule tree. It is most definitely my favorite part of the whole experience. Since evergreens stayed green all year, these trees were used to symbolize life even in the depths of death. Many pagans today have replaced the yule log with the yule tree, and burn the tree after the holiday. (Most of us just use electric bulbs to light the tree since having the fire department over when your candles set your house on fire can be most inconvenient) To decorate the tree is to rejoyce in the vitality and wonderfulness of life.
Wassil is the traditional beverage. Farmers made it to annoit apple trees as they went caroling and merrymaking. Feasts were also common at this time, as today, to celebrate family and success for the coming year.
Ah, to be kissed under the mistletoe. This is one Druid herb specialty. Mistletoe has the unenviable distinction of being an aphrodisiac, magickly speaking. (Please don't eat this plant, as having paramedics over is as inconvienent as the fire department) Holly is also to be found strewn around mantleplaces and across doorways. This herb is the perfect complement of male (leaves) and female (berries). (Please observe the above mistletoe warning and don't eat this plant)
I suppose the most obvious part of Yule is the fat old guy in the red suit. (**smile**)
Santa Clause is easily as old as any other symbol, but is much more evolved. (Did you know that the current image we have of Santa is thanks to Coca-Cola? They finally drew a Santa Clause that actually stuck in our collective consious). There are many "human" representations for this time of year. Some traditions have the Holly King and Ivy King fighting it out. Some have the baby God being born of the Goddess to be reuinited with Her at Beltane. Some have an old man (Father Time) being exchanged with a baby (Baby New Year). Some have an old fat guy in a red velvet suit. Either way, they all sybmolize the coming of the New Year and all the promises thereof.
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Setting Your Own Traditions
Now, I don't know about what y'all do, but I watch "A Christmas Story" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". It just isn't Yule until I see these movies ten times.
You're a mean one, Mr. Grinch.
You really are a heel.
You're as cuddly as a cactus,
You're as charming as an eel.
Mr. Grinch.
You're a bad banana
With a greasy black peel.
You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.
Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You've got garlic in your soul.
Mr. Grinch.
I wouldn't touch you, with a
thirty-nine-and-a-half foot pole.
You're a vile one, Mr. Grinch.
You have termites in your smile.
You have all the tender sweetness
Of a seasick crocodile.
Mr. Grinch.
Given the choice between the two of you
I'd take the seasick crockodile.
You're a foul one, Mr. Grinch.
You're a nasty, wasty skunk.
Your heart is full of unwashed socks
Your soul is full of gunk.
Mr. Grinch.
The three words that best describe you,
are, and I quote: "Stink. Stank. Stunk."
You're a rotter, Mr. Grinch.
You're the king of sinful sots.
Your heart's a dead tomato splot
With moldy purple spots,
Mr. Grinch.
Your soul is an apalling dump heap overflowing
with the most disgraceful assortment of deplorable
rubbish imaginable,
Mangled up in tangled up knots.
You nauseate me, Mr. Grinch.
With a nauseaus super-naus.
You're a crooked jerky jockey
And you drive a crooked horse.
Mr. Grinch.
You're a three decker saurkraut and toadstool
sandwich
With arsenic sauce.
Now, with THAT being said...what traditions do your family observe? Setting traditions is a great way for family to get together and work as a unit. Some people volunteer at local soup kitchens, some people visit shut-ins, some people carol...some people just sit and meditate. It all depends on what makes you grow as a person and family.
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