Celebrate Yule: Feasting, Festivities, & Rebirth for the Winter Solstice

Yule Season and the Winter Solstice, is such a wonderful and magical turn of the wheel.

A season blanketed in warmth, love, giving and unity. A time when the world celebrates, the light returns and the human spirit shines.

Winter is official and it’s time for rest. Rest for Mother Nature as well as for yourself. A time to reflect, regroup and rejuvenate. 

What is Yule?

Yule celebrations begin each year to coincide with the Winter Solstice, the first official day of winter, on December 21st.  

The Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night of the year before the sun’s return, and the days begin to get progressively longer again until the Summer Solstice.

Yule is a celebration honouring the rebirth of the sun and another turn of the wheel.

Celebrations happen around the solstice all over the world to welcome back the sun and the onset of winter.

The time is widely considered as a moment for feasting, merriment, honouring nature, rebirth and reflection.

Yule History & Traditions

Yule has been around for thousands of years and the Celtic Pagans honoured this time long before the word came into play.

There are many discussions surrounding the origins of Yule and it is hard to pinpoint exactly when it began.

Very early customs of the Celtic Pagans are not well known. There is, however, much significance put on Norse, Roman, and Germanic traditions that the Celtic Pagans seem to have took on along the way and as the celebration progressed.

Yule celebrations begin on the night of the solstice and go for 12 days (hence the 12 days of Christmas).

There are many traditions associated with the season. In early times, people would dress up as the spirits of gods and go through the villages mumming (acting out plays).

They would be rewarded with food and drink for their efforts. Our modern version of this would be caroling.

Decorating was also a big part of the festivities. People of all walks would use evergreen boughs and a tree, holly, mistletoe, and candles to get their homes into the spirit.

One very important tradition is that of the Yule Log. People would travel into the woods to find the largest log they could and this is what would be used to light huge hearth fires in the households.

It was decorated in greenery and a piece of the log from the previous Yule was used as kindling to start the fire for the new log. The fire would burn for the full 12 days of celebrations and represented the light of the sun.

And Then Came Christmas…

Yule is, perhaps surprisingly, not one of the great Sabbats in the Pagan calendar.

However, we also have Christmas, which was essentially invented to make the transition into Christianity an easier one for people of the time who were already used to celebrating at this time of year.

Bringing Christmas into the mix has made the time of Yule a much bigger deal and as such it holds a very special place in the heart of many Pagans, including this one 🙂

Yule is one of my absolute favourite times of year. And we also celebrate Christmas in our house…now our celebrations have nothing to do with baby Jesus and everything to do with the traditions that come with it. It’s just how I was raised lol 😉

So, we honour the Solstice and use the term Yule, we have the tree, decorations, gift giving, feasting, family time, rest and reflection. In my opinion, a happy marriage between the two holidays and a time so filled with positive energy and joy I can’t help but have a soft spot for all of it.

Symbols of Yule

Yule has some incredibly special and unique to it traditions. There are SO many amazing ways to celebrate and honour this turn of the wheel.

So let’s see shall we 🙂

Gods/Godesses Celebrated:

• Goddesses – Bridhid, Diana, Freya, Demeter, Gaea
• Gods – Lugh, Odin, Holly King, Oak King, Old Man Winter

Herbs:

• Thistle – protection and healing
• Sage – wisdom, dispels negative energy, cleansing, improves mental ability
• Holly – luck, love, protection, use to decorate around the home
• Frankincense – protection, cleansing, success
• Rosemary – healing, love, removes negativity, purification

Incense:

• Pine – success, strength, new beginnings, cleansing
• Cedar – cleansing, calmness, confidence, abundance, protection
• Bayberry – abundance, healing, success, luck
• Cinnamon – strength, prosperity, love, healing, strength
• Myrrh – healing, meditation, increases magical abilities, spiritual opening

Colours:

• Red
• Green
• Silver
• Gold
• White

Crystals:

• Emerald – harmony, success, prosperity, protection
• Bloodstone – healing, courage, confidence, strength, wealth
• Diamond – resilience, self development, personal growth
• Ruby – wealth, courage, passion, sexual energy, joy
• Garnet – protection, love, hope, strength

Creatures Honoured:

• Squirrel
• Wolf
• Stag
• Wren
• Trolls
• Elves

Food & Drink:

• Fruit
• Nuts
• Squash
• Cookies
• Eggnog
• Cider & Mulled Wine

Ways to Celebrate

As we have established, Yule is a pretty special sabbat with unique and gorgeous traditions.

The beauty of the season is not only in the meaning but also in the atmosphere of warmth and light that is created around us at this time.

So, here are a few ideas to get you going on your own celebrations 🙂

Decorate a Yule Tree

One of my favourite parts of the holiday! Whether you go to the forest and chop down your own or purchase one an artificial one, whether it be big or small; make it grand, beautiful, and personal to you.

It is a beacon of the holiday and should bring you joy, happiness, and beauty.

Enjoy Festive Activities

Go caroling, walk around the neighbourhoods and take in the lights, hit up a holiday gathering, plan get togethers with friends, create DIY gifts and decorations, watch festive movies, listen to festive music…be joyous and be creative!

Build your Yule Altar

Transform your altar or set up a dedicated one to Yule. Fill it with some of those symbols I mentioned above. Make it meaningful, inspiring and yours.

Perform a Ritual

Performing a ritual to honour the turn of the wheel, the return of the light, and rebirth is customary.

It can be simple or elaborate; you can incorporate the burning of your Yule Log (more on that below) or simply light a candle and say a blessing.

Whatever actions feel right to you, and whatever you choose, do it with heart and create your own magick.

Have a Feast

What Sabbat is complete without one really lol and food is a huge part of Yule!

The perfect time to feast and be merry; invite your nearest and dearest, indulge and treat your self to the special, delicious foods of the season.

Burn a Yule Log

Now we may not all have fireplaces like the days of old but we can create our own Yule Log using candles instead.

Its also no longer recommended letting it burn for 12 days, nor would it be possible but you can light it on the solstice before completing your ritual (if you do one) and let them either burn all the way down or until bedtime (safety first!).

There are tutorials online on how to create your own Yule Log or you can purchase one if DIY is just not your thing. No judgement here!

Bake Solstice Cookies

Yes! No Yule holiday is complete without cookies!

If you don’t have a traditional family recipe that is made religiously each year, check out Pinterest for some seriously stellar recipes for all tastes.

A Season of Giving

Volunteer at a shelter, soup kitchen or donate to the homeless. Give to those who do not have as much as you do and help spread the love, light and cheer this holiday season.

Exchanging gifts with loved ones is also a much loved custom.

Take a Moment to Reflect

This is a time of death and rebirth. Take some time to reflect on the things in your life you are ready to let go of and what new things you would like to welcome.

Prepare yourself to fully let go, release the old, and make room for the new. Set new intentions, think about what you would like to accomplish, and what new things you would like to start.

So indeed, Tis the Season

In the spirit of the season, be joyful, be present and appreciate all that is around you.

There is no other time of year that is quite as warm (metaphorically of course lol) and filled with beautiful bright light and kind spirits.

Cherish the time, the memories, the return of the sun, and be grateful. Use your time for self reflection and rebirth. Let the old unnecessary things in your life die fully to allow space for the new.

Let your soul, your energies, be rejuvenated and fully open to all of the possibilities and adventures that are to come.

I want to hear from you!

What does Yule time mean to you? Do you have any favourite Yule time traditions or will this be your first time celebrating? I always love to know your thoughts, so please leave a comment or drop me a line. There are lots of ways for us to connect. And if you want even more Yule and winter inspiration check out my Shop Page!

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Yule time Blessings pixie dolls.

Yours in health and magick,

Krystle xo