Yule: The winter solstice
Yule tree 2018. File photo
Yule tree 2018. File photo
The scent from the small pine tree is filling the air while being adorned with tiny white lights, sprigs of holly, pine cones, and deer, owl and bird ornaments, topped with a small pentacle sun or metal antlers. The candles – and you can’t have too many – and there are many, glow as the flames grow and shrink; the illumination and warmth from the light of the candles are symbolic of the sun and bring light to the longest night of the year, the winter solstice.
There’s the incense ... blends of myrrh, pine, frankincense, cinnamon and sage. And the ritual observing the birth/rebirth of the Sun God, child of the Goddess, who will slowly increase the hours of daylight as it grows stronger through the winter months. It’s Yule. A time to celebrate the sun as it’s been done for centuries by many cultures, and we of modern times following a non-Christian spiritual path, for over 4,000 years going back to the Egyptians who celebrated their Sun God Horus’ rebirth ... The Solstice was also a day to honor his mother, Isis.
Yule, in old texts or almanacs, was represented by a wheel representing each solar year coming full circle. The spokes of the wheel, then and now, represent the festivals/sabbats, solstices, and equinoxes within each year. Observances and honoring the cycles of the natural world and the gods and goddesses associated with the cycles and nature were part of daily life. Rituals usually included performing rituals to pay homage to the gods and goddesses associated with the sun and other natural forces; and sacrificing crops and/or livestock as offerings to those gods and goddesses, to bring the people a coming year full of healthy and abundant food for the winter.
Yule, like all festivals and holidays, includes decorating a pine Yule tree that represents the world tree with white lights, a reminder of the life and warmth that will return in the spring when the newborn Sun is stronger. Adornments include pine cones, seashells, birds, feathers, seasonal flowers, cinnamon sticks, snowflakes, a stag ornament for the god and a moon ornament for the goddess; with holly sprigs arranged around and within the boughs. The fresh greenery of the tree and garlands, are places for the nature spirits to rest out of the cold. And in my home there is an abundance of holly – I’m a holly, green and variegated, fanatic. Can’t get enough. Magically speaking, holly is associated with death and rebirth and is potent. Save for one branch, the holly is burned at Imbolc, Feb. 1, to discourage those nature spirits I mentioned from becoming mischievous in your home; it encourages them to make their way back outdoors.
Colors associated with Yule are red, green, white, silver and gold. Why? Red for the Holly King whose reign during the dark half of the year (summer solstice/midsummer to Yule); green for the newborn Oak King; white for the new light; silver for the moon and the goddess, and gold for the sun.
There is feasting and merrymaking; meditation, divination, gift giving, music and dancing on the solstice. This is the perfect time to add my friend and co-worker Gina Hamilton’s “Song For Yule” again this year ...
Up on the hillside the fires burn bright, come, Sun, rise up on this cold and dark day, from earliest sunset to first morning light, and the light's getting brighter and spring's on her way.
Snow covers the Earth for her winter's sleep long come, Sun, rise up on this cold and dark day, Her moon guards her rest as the wolves sing their song, and the light's getting brighter and spring's on her way.
Here in the cottage the pine tree is bright, come, Sun, rise up on this cold and dark day, The yule log burns honoring death and new life, and the light's getting brighter and spring's on her way.
The sweetness and light of the honey and wax, come Sun, rise up on this cold and dark day, through the candled window we see the stag's tracks, and the light's getting brighter and springs on her way.
The bells on the shins of the dancers outside Come, Sun, rise up on this cold and dark day, tells us the feast and the singing is nigh, and the light's getting brighter and spring's on her way.
Come, holly, come, ivy, come Bridie the maid, come, Sun, rise up on this cold and dark day, Come bless us with springtime and sunlight and shade, and the light's getting brighter and spring's on her way.
The solstice marks the first day of the Yuletide, 12 altogether, this year it is Saturday, Dec. 21 at 11:19 p.m. EST (eastern standard time) and Sunday, Dec. 22 at 4:19 a.m. Universal Time (the solar time standard used in astronomy and that defines Earth time). The first day of winter according to the Gregorian Calendar. For some of us, winter and the new year began on Nov. 1, the day after Samhain (Halloween), for centuries known as the final harvest, the eve of the new year – and winter.
Here’s to the coming newborn sun, here’s to the lengthening of daylight ‘twill bring! Bright blessings one and all!
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