YULE Winter Solstice December 21st

Yule coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration because the early Christians sought to win the allegiance of the populace by placing its festival at or around the time of the already existing Pagan festivals.

This festival represents the rebirth of light. Here, on the longest night of the year, the Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for a new light to be reborn.

Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind.

Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule celebration: Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months. Bells were hung on the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present.

Food and treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star, symbol of the five elements was placed atop the tree.

The colors of the season (red and green), also are of Pagan origin, as is the custom of exchanging gifts.

A solar festival, Yule is celebrated by fire and the use of a Yule Log. A piece of the log is saved and kept throughout the year to protect the home. That piece is used to light the next year's log.

Go to: YULE for a full explanation of this festival.
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