Yule is the winter solstice, the longest night and shortest day of the year. This is a turning point. A time of birth and renewal.
The word Yule may have derived from the Old English word géola which was a heathen feast at the solstice. It may also have come from the Old Norse hjól, meaning wheel and is representative of the Wheel of the Year at its lowest point, ready to turn. Whatever the etymology may be, the idea of celebrating the solstice is much older than the word.
The days begin to lengthen at Yule, as this is the time when the Goddess gives birth to the new Sun God, bringing light back to the land. In some pagan traditions, this is the night when the Oak King, ruler of the light and the Holly King, ruler of darkness, battle for supremacy. At Yule, the Oak King is victorious, bringing light to the land until they battle once more at Litha, when the Holly King prevails.
Many of the traditions and symbols of Yule will already be familiar as they are still widely practiced today, though you may not have realized how they came to be.
Bells would be rung to drive away any malicious spirits that may be around as well as attract and invite the Goddess.
A carol originally meant a song of praise or joy, or to dance in a ring from the old French carole. Pagans sang and danced carols long before The First Noël was written. You'd be very hard pressed to find any of the original pagan songs (at least I haven't found any yet), but some carols sung today have obvious pagan references and may be Christianized versions of older songs. There are many talented artists writing original music today to celebrate pagan beliefs and in a “turnabout is fair play” sentiment, I have found many Paganized versions of Christmas carols!
Candles were burned to help bring warmth to the cold of winter, and to encourage the light to return to the land.
Boughs were cut from evergreen trees and brought into the home. They were often woven into a wreath, decorated and displayed. These cuttings of pine, spruce, mistletoe, holly and ivy were thought to hold the magick of life as they stayed green while other plants turned brown and died. Some pagans decorated trees outside their homes with candles and fruit to honour the gods. Many believe that the practice of cutting a tree down and bringing it into the home began in Christian Germany in the 16th century. This practice surely derived from the original pagan tradition, though this would likely have been seen as too destructive of nature for ancient pagans.
The Yule log played an important part in the celebrations. A large log was brought in and ceremoniously set alight with a brand from the previous year’s Yule log. This symbolizes the return of the sun and the continuity and connections of life, death and rebirth. The ashes of the Yule log were kept and used in protective, healing and fertility charms.
Mistletoe was considered sacred by many cultures as it is an evergreen. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe may have come from the legend of the goddess Frigg and her son Baldur from Norse mythology. Baldur is killed by an arrow of mistletoe and Frigg proclaims the plant as a symbol of love so that it wouldn’t harm anyone again. To kiss under the mistletoe is to receive Frigg’s blessing.
Holly was also held sacred as a symbol of rebirth and eternal life due to it being an evergreen. As the white berries of the mistletoe were thought to symbolize the essence of the God, the red berries of the holly symbolized the blood of the Goddess.
Holly was also held sacred as a symbol of rebirth and eternal life due to it being an evergreen. As the white berries of the mistletoe were thought to symbolize the essence of the God, the red berries of the holly symbolized the blood of the Goddess.
Santa Claus, Father Christmas, St. Nick, Kris Kringle, whatever you call him now, his origins go far deeper than many realize. He has evolved into the modern vision of the jolly old man in the red suit and hat, but his origins are likely an amalgamation of many different figures across many cultures.
The Norse god, Odin, along with his eight legged horse, Sleipnir, lead a party across the sky in a celebration called the Wild Hunt. Children would place boots full of treats for Odin and Sleipnir near the chimney, and would be rewarded with food, candy and gifts for their kindness.
St. Nicholas was a 4th century Greek bishop who had a reputation for giving gifts, and eventually became the patron saint of children.
Frau Holle is the Germanic goddess of winter. It is said that she makes snowflakes by plucking her geese, or by shaking out her down pillows and comforters until the feathers fly. Some of the lore has this goddess depicted in red, flying through the night and descending chimneys to leave gifts for children. Leaving food and milk for Frau Holle on December 24 (Mother Night) is also a common practice. Not only is the legend of Holle an obvious part of modern day Santa Claus, she is also thought to be the inspiration for Mother Goose.
Le Befana is a figure in 13th century Italian legend. She flies on a broomstick and enters homes through the chimney. She offers candy and gifts to children, but a naughty child may receive a lump of coal instead.
Make a Yule Log Candle Holder
Burning a Yule log is not an option for many pagans today, especially those living in urban areas. A Yule log candle holder is an excellent alternative that will allow everyone to take part in this lovely tradition.
You'll need these tools and materials to make your Yule log candle holder:
You'll need these tools and materials to make your Yule log candle holder:
A log – the size is up to you, but make sure it's big enough to fit the candles you choose. The type of wood is also up to you, though Oak or Ash have special meaning to many. I've also seen beautiful Yule logs of Birch, the bark adds a unique look.
A wood chisel and hammer
A spade bit, Forstner bit or large drill bit – this depends on the candle size.
A drill
A wood chisel and hammer
A spade bit, Forstner bit or large drill bit – this depends on the candle size.
A drill
Once you have chosen your log, the first step is to figure out how to keep it from rolling. There are several options.
- Using a wood chisel and hammer, peel a strip of bark from one side of the log. Depending on the thickness of the bark, this will make a natural stop to keep the log in place.
- You can also use a table saw, planer, or a chisel and hammer to flatten one side of the log.
- Another option is to use wedges or a stand to keep the log from rolling.
The next step is to clean up the log as you see fit. First, make sure there are no critters in the log! Give it a good shake or thump to drive out any insects, spiders or other creatures. There may be some moss or lichen you'd like to remove, some may prefer to remove the bark and have bare wood only.
Once the log is cleaned up, measure out where you want to place your candles and mark the log where you need to drill the holes.
You'll need a spade bit, Forstner bit or a large drill bit that is about the same size as the candles you've chosen. Drill the holes where you've marked them out.
Clean out the holes with the chisel as necessary. You can also use some sandpaper to clean it up.
You'll need a spade bit, Forstner bit or a large drill bit that is about the same size as the candles you've chosen. Drill the holes where you've marked them out.
Clean out the holes with the chisel as necessary. You can also use some sandpaper to clean it up.
Decorate your Yule log with some small pine or spruce branches, pine cones, holly, ivy, mistletoe or whatever else strikes your fancy! Put your candles in and enjoy!
Please be safe, don't leave candles burning unattended!
Whether you say Happy Kwanzaa, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Season's Greetings, or something else, I wish all your lives be filled with joy and peace.
Merry Yuletide and Solstice Blessings!
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