Yuletide Musing 8th December 2009

Merrie Meet to one and all at this special time of year.

As is often my practice I have sought out input from varying sources for this Musing on the subject of Yule. What has resulted is something that I believe is a fairly comprehensive guide to the symbolism of this time of our year. I have drawn heavily from a web posting in 1997 by Akasha Ap Emrys on the topic and would like to publicly acknowledge this inspirational article.

Yule Lore (December 21st)

Yule, is the time of year when the dark half comes to an end and the light half begins. Every day, beginning with the next sunrise, the sun climbs a little higher and stays a little longer in the sky each day. Solstice Night, or the longest night of the year, is a night of much celebration. The long awaited rebirth of the Oak King, the Sun King, the Giver of Life who warms the frozen Earth and makes her bear forth from seeds protected through the fall and winter in her womb. Bonfires are lit in the fields, and crops and trees are "wassailed" with toasts of spiced cider.

In former times children were escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun, the boughs were symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks portrayed the harvest, and the flour symbolised the accomplishment of triumph, light, and life.
Holly, mistletoe, and ivy not only decorates the outside, but also the inside of homes. It extends an invitation to Nature Sprites to join the celebration. A sprig of Holly can be kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to pay visit to the residents.

The ceremonial Yule log is the highlight of the festival. Traditionally, the log must either have been harvested from the householder's land, or given as a gift... it must never have been bought. Once brought into the house and placed in the fireplace it can be decorated in seasonal greenery, doused with cider or ale, and dusted with flour before set ablaze using a piece of last year's log, (kept for just this purpose). The log is allowed toburn throughout the night, then smolder for 12 days before being ceremonially put out. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. Also known as an herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice.

A different type of Yule log, and perhaps one more suitable for modern practitioners would be the type that is used as a base to hold three candles. Find a smaller branch of oak or pine, and flatten one side so it sets upright. Taking great care (I still bear the scars from doing this – Merlin), drill three holes in the top side to hold candles of red, green, and white (season); green, gold, and black (the Sun God); or white, red, and black (the Great Goddess). Continue to decorate with greenery, red and gold bows, rosebuds, cloves, and dust with flour.

Deities of Yule:

Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother. Gods-Apollo, Ra, Odin, Lugh, The Oak King, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon.

The Newborn Gods, Sun Gods, Mother Goddesses, and Triple Goddesses. The best known would be the Dagda, and Brighid, the daughter of the Dagda. Brighid taught the smiths the arts of fire tending and the secrets of metal work. Brighid's flame, like the flame of the new light, pierces the darkness of the spirit and mind, while the Dagda's cauldron assures that Nature will always provide for all the children.

Symbolism of Yule:

Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule:

Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herbs of Yule:

Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:

Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:

Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:

Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule:

Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule

Spellworkings of Yule:

Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

And so my dear friends, let me take this opportunity to wish you all a fantastic Yule, thank you for reading these pages and to wish you all the best things that life can give you.

May the Goddess protect and care for you throughout this and every season.

Love and light to all

Blessed Be

Merlin