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Yule Date: Dec 21 thru 23 or so... The history of... Yule means wheel, for now the wheel of the year has reached a turning point, with the longest night of the year. This is the time of greatest darkness when we seek within ourselves to comprehend our true nature. In virtually all Pagan religions, this is the night the Great Mother Goddess gives birth to the Baby Sun God and from this day forward, the days begin to lengthen, light is waxing. The Ancient Pagans lit fires or candles to welcome the Sun's returning light and the onset of nature and earth beginning to awaken although the Goddess was believed to be resting after her delivery since this is the shortest day of the year...Yule is the remnant of early rituals celebrated to hurry the end of the winter and the bounty of spring, when food was once again readily available. Modern Pagans celebrate Yule as a reminder that the ultimate product of death is rebirth, a comforting thought in these days of unrest. Traditional foods... Fruits such as apples, pears, and oranges are served as well as Ginger Tea, Cider, and Pork. These items can be prepared and served in many different ways. Herbs and flowers... Holly, Mistletoe, Ivy, Cedar, Bay, Juniper, Rosemary, and Pine Incense... Lilac, Bayberry, Cedar, Pine, and Rosemary Yule Incense Recipe... 2 parts Frankincense 2 parts Pine needles or resin 1 part Cedar 1 part Juniper Berries Woods and Herbs Burned... Cedar, Rosemary, Pine Sacred Gemstone... Topaz Special Activities/Rituals... Decorate a Yule tree. For ornaments, use natural items, such as pine cones, acorns, string popcorn, berries, or suns and cresent moons. Also, white lights are sometimes used to welcome back the Sun God's return. Green lights and bells are also tied onto the tree for the Fae. String popcorn and cranberries for outdoor trees Decorate pine cones with glue and glitter as symbols of the Fae and put them on the Yule tree. Remove the caps from acorns, insert the middle of a long string. Glue the cap back and, and after it has dried, hang it on the Yule tree. For prosperity in the coming year, burn Ash Wood For Yule blessings, hang a Yule wreath on the front door, hang mistletoe indoors, make food and clothing donations, place bird seed outdoors for the birds that stay near your home for the winter, ring bells on Solstice morning to greet it, and perform magick for a peaceful planet
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