Creating Circles and Ceremonies: Rituals for All ... - reading...

250 Creating Circles & Ceremonies
7. Yule (Winter Solstice)
Introduction: Yule
By Oberon Zell-Ravenheart & She’ D’Montford
Yule (meaning “wheel” in Norse) is the Festival of Winter Solstice and the longest night of
the year, occurring around December 21-23. One of the most universally celebrated festivals,
Yule is the most important in the northern countries, as it commemorates the birth of
the infant Sun God from the womb of Night. Yule is also known as the Festival of Lights, for
all the candles burned on this night. In ancient Rome it was called Natalis Solis Invicti—“Birthday
of the Unconquered Sun”—and it took place during the longer festival of the Saturnalia, the
greatest festival of the year, and from which we get our New Year’s image of old Father Time
(Saturn) with his scythe. Yule is opposite from Litha, and while the emphasis now is on the newborn
Sun God, Mother Earth is still honored as the Madonna (mother with child on her lap).
In Ireland, the sun does not even crest the horizon on Winter Solstice. It is a day without
sunlight—truly the Longest Night! The Yule Log is burnt in our darkest hour, representing the
god Lug laying down his life in the battle to maintain warmth and life for us. On this day, the wise
god Lug does battle with the darkness on its home territory and dies on the 23rd, the “No Name
Day,” the day without sun. Then late on the 24th the sun/son rises and is reborn again. Celebrated
on the 25th, Christ’s birth (or “Christ Mass”) is the Christianized narrative and celebration of this
event, which finds its culmination in the crucifixion and regeneration of Eastertide.
Yule was the first Pagan festival to be Christianized, in 354 CE, when the birthday of Jesus
(probably in late September) was officially moved to the date of the Winter Solstice and
called Christmas. The many customs associated with Yuletide (candles, decorated trees, the
Yule log, wreaths, pine bough decorations, gift-giving, wassail and caroling, costumed
mummers’ plays, mistletoe, “decking the halls with boughs of holly,” etc.) are all Pagan, and
provide a rich store of material for our contemporary celebrations. This is Yuletide. ’Tis the
season to be jolly. The sun is reborn—it is generous to all, and we are its children. Evergreens,
holly, ivy, and mistletoe all symbolize immortality and resurrection—and the eternal
life of nature—as they are still living and green in the dead of winter. These Pagan customs
were forbidden to Christians, but in 1644, they had become so widespread in England that
they were outlawed by an act of Parliament. There is no record of Christians decorating their
homes with evergreens, holly, ivy, and the “Christmas” tree before 1605.
At Raven Haven
We set up a big Yule tree and hang it with special decorations we’ve been collecting and
making for decades. Often I have climbed up into an oak tree and cut down a big mistletoe ball,
decorating it with foil ribbons and hanging it from the rafters.
A ritual drama may enact the story of the first Yule, when the sun went away and the children
had to go and bring it back. Some of the characters in our Yule ritual may include the Wint’ry
Queen, the Queen of Night, Father Winter, Father Time, Lucia (a maiden with a crown of candles),
and always, of course, the young Sun God. We bring in the Yule log amid singing and toasting.
We have a big pot-luck feast; drink hot mulled cider and Atholl Brose (traditional Scotts wassail);
exchange gifts; and share songs and stories around the fire, holding vigil until the dawn. We
maintain that somebody has to stay up all night to make sure the sun comes up in the morning!
At Your House
Since Yule is the original version of Christmas, practically anything you might do for