[Ivy's Pentacles]

          Yule

          See a Yule ritual

          Yule Factsheet

          Date: Winter Solstice, on or around December 21st (Northern Hemisphere).

          Lore: Yule is when the God is born to the Goddess. It is the longest night of the year, and afterward the days get longer and longer until midsummmer (Litha). Most Pagans believe in reincarnation, so the God is not really "born" at this time; He is simply returning from being recycled. The Goddess sleeps at this time after Her birthing.

          Special Time:This is a time to celebrate the light as well as to revere the night (as it is the longest night of the year). We accept both sides of our nature. We honor the God, who has been reborn, and it is a reminder of rebirth and continuing recycling. Yule is a time to honor the Mother and all mothers and to call back the light of the Sun. The old year is banished and the new year is begun.

          Activities:Many people have a Yule tree, a Yule log, or both. The Yule Tree is often lit up with candles on Yule, and the log is decorated and later burned. It is customary to exchange Yule gifts and to make wreaths, and to hang mistletoe over doorways. The altar and other areas of the house can be decorated with holly, mistletoe, evergreen, pine cones, ivy, berries, and ribbons. Also, holly and mistletoe represent different things: Holly is representative of the "holly king," the king of the waning or old year, and the mistletoe is representative of the "oak king," the king of the waxing or new year.

          The Yule season:

            Yule Herbs
              Ash, bay, chamomile, frankincense, hazel, holly, juniper, milk thistle, mistletoe, oak, pine, pine cones, rosemary, sage, sandalwood, walnuts

            Yule Incense
            • Bayberry
            • Pine
            • Cedar
            • Rosemary
            • Juniper

            Yule Colors
            • Red
            • Green
            • White
            • Silver
            • Gold

            Yule Decorations
            • Yule log (oak or pine)
            • Mistletoe
            • Wreaths
            • Strings of dried flowers and cinnamon sticks
            • Apples
            • Oranges
            • Yule tree
            • Holly
            • Lights

            Yule Foods
            • Nuts
            • Apples
            • Oranges
            • Caraway rolls
            • Mulled wine
            • Gingerbread men cookies
            • Roast turkey
            • Yule Cookies
            • Pears
            • Pork
            • Wassail
            • Eggnog
            • White grape juice
            • Honey cakes

            Yule Sacred Gemstones
            • Cat’s eye
            • Ruby

            Spellwork appropriate for Yule
            • Harmonious future
            • Peace
            • Tolerance
            • Respect
            • Love
            • Unity

          All these graphics were either made by me or acquired at Silverhair's Borders (site now dead).

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