Yule Lore
In Celtic tradition, Yule is the time when the Oak King reigns over the Holly King. The Holly King represents the death and darkness that has ruled since the onset of Samhain. At Winter Solstice, the Oak King brings the opportunity to be reborn and begin new life. The Yule Season raises one's spirit and brings tidings of comfort and joy as the carol goes...It is a period of reflection. During Samhain, one has recognized the lessons given in past experience and now Yule brings the opportunity to be reborn with new light. The customs created at this time are what are now identified with Christmas. A Yule tree is decorated and the house is adorned with holly, ivy and candles to represent the approaching light. Father Winter, complete with a white beard and red coat trimmed with fur, visits each home bringing gifts. The Yule log, which is made of oak from the previous year is burned into the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son.
Another version of the Oak/Holly King theme is the ritual hunting and killing of a Wren. The Wren, little King of the Waning Year, is killed by the Robin Redbreast, King of the Waxing Year. The Robin finds the Wren hiding in an Ivy bush (or as in some parts of Ireland - a holly bush).Yule, or Winter Solstice, represents
the rebirth of light. During this longest night of the year, the Goddess gives
birth to the Divine Child of Promise. His is the promise of summer and the
return of the sun.
In early human civilization, as the days grew colder and the nights grew longer
and darker, candles and fires were lit to lure back the sun. At this "time
of darkness", while the Earth was sleeping, many did not survive. Winter
was a time of death and stagnation. Shelter was drafty, disease was common and
food was scarce. The night of the sun's "rebirth" was celebrated with
much joy. From this day forward, the days would become longer. Even though the
cold and darkness still prevailed, hope was renewed and the people began to look
forward to the warmth of summer.
Yule was not celebrated in early Celtic traditions. It was brought to Britain by
the invading Saxons who viewed Yule as the "turning time". Yule
literally means "wheel" in Old Norse. Because the symbolism of the
wheel was so important to this Sabbat, it became a day sacred to Goddesses of
the spinning wheel. Wreaths were a popular representation of the endless
cycle…the Wheel of the Year.
Evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not "die" thereby
representing the eternal aspect of the goddess. Mistletoe represented the seed
of the God, and at Midwinter, the Druids are said to have gone deep into the
forest to harvest the mistletoe. They cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle and
caught it in a white cloth for it was not to touch the ground in deference of
its sacredness.
The Yule log, a phallic symbol, was usually cut from the God-related oak tree.
Originally, the Yule log was brought into the home amid much dancing and
ceremony before being lit in the fireplace. Later, the Yule logs became smaller
altar relics with three holes, one for each aspect of the Goddess (one white,
one red, one black candle were placed in the holes). The log was then decorated
with holly, mistletoe and evergreens to represent the intertwining energy of the
Goddess and the God.
Other Names: Midwinter, Alban Arthuran, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Yuletide
Symbols: Evergreen trees, Yule log, Holly, Wreaths, Spinning Wheels
Colors: Red, green, gold, white, and silver
Deity Types: Newborn God, Triple Goddess
Activities: Decorating Yule tree, Gift giving, storytelling
Taboos: Extinguishing Fires, Traveling
Animals: Stags, Sqirrels, Wren/Robin
Mythical Creatures: Phoenix, Trolls, Mermecolion
Stones: Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds
Plants: Holly, Ivy, Evergreens, Mistletoe, Poinsettia, Myrrh
Deities: Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother, Mary, Amaterasu, Pallas Athena, Rhea, Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Balder, Father Christmas, the Lord of Misrule, Jesus, Mithras, Santa Claus
Foods: Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, and turkey. Click here for delicious Yule recipes!
Drinks:
Eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar,
nutmeg, roasted apples).
Yule
Tree
Yule
Log
Yule History
The Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule
celebration. Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood
spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months. Bells
were hung in the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present. Food and
treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star,
the pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop the tree. The colors
of the season, red and green, also are of Pagan origin, as is the custom of
exchanging gifts.
Another reason that trees were first decorated with fruits, nuts and artificial
flowers was to bring about the return of spring and fertility, warmth, and
light, and to restore and maintain the balance between darkness and light,
coldness and warmth, and death and rebirth.
Yule trees are cut and decorated with images of what we wish to receive during
the next year, such as love charms to draw love, nuts for fertility, fruits for
a successful harvest, or coins to ensure wealth and prosperity.
Santa
Claus
The Legend of Santa Claus
Santa is the Holly King
The sleigh is the Solar Chariot
The eight reindeer are the eight Sabbats
The North Pole symbolizes the Land of Shadows and the dying solar year
The gifts are meant both to welcome the Oak King as the sun reborn and as a
reminder of the gift of the Holly King who must depart for the Oak King to rule.
Yule is a solar festival; Yule
is celebrated by fire and the use of a Yule log. A piece of the log is saved and
kept throughout the year to protect the home. That piece is used to light the
next year's log.
Some Wiccans drill three holes in the Yule log and fill them with three white
candles, or one white, one red, and one black candle to symbolize the Triple
Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone). The Yule logs are then decorated with holly
and evergreens to symbolize the intertwining of the God and the Goddess who have
been reunited on this day. Bayberry candles are burned to ensure wealth and
happiness in the coming year.
