The Pagan holiday Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, is a celebration of the rebirth of the sun. It is observed on the shortest day and longest night of the year, usually around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. Yule has its roots in ancient Pagan traditions and was later incorporated into the festivities of Christmas. The word "Yule" comes from the Old Norse word "jól," which referred to the feast of the Winter Solstice. Many Pagan cultures around the world have their own unique celebrations and rituals for Yule. The Winter Solstice is a significant event in nature, as it marks the turning point where the days begin to lengthen and the sun's power grows stronger.
Evergreens are popular decorations during Yule because they remind us that life continues through the cold and dark winter. Traditions of decorating with evergreens date back to many ancient civilizations, including the Romans. Today, Pagans decorate a pine, fir, cedar, juniper, or spruce as their Yule tree. One way to celebrate Yule is to craft a magical ornament to hang on your Yule tree.
Christmas Trees also became popular in England in this period, the origins of the practice developing from the importance of evergreens in pagan Yule festivities. In addition, géol or geōla , was the name attributed to a month of the year which fell between modern December and January So you can see, it s hard to pin the etymology down for sure.
The Winter Solstice is a significant event in nature, as it marks the turning point where the days begin to lengthen and the sun's power grows stronger. It symbolizes hope and rebirth, as the darkness of winter gives way to the light of spring. Yule is a time to honor the cycles of nature and the passage of time.
Yule – Christmas’ Pagan ancestor
Like with many pagan beliefs, Yule is centred around the sun. The modern word ‘Yule’ has a few possible etymological origins; in Old Norse Jól or Jul could refer to a feast to the sun, and formed part of one of the many names given to the chief god Odin who was often known as the Jólfadr or Yul-father due to his strong association with the sun. It could also be used as a general term attributed to the gods associated with the Yule festival – the Jólnar or ‘Yule-Ones’.
In Anglo-Saxon, the word hwéol is attributed to meaning ‘wheel’, and was associated with the ‘wheeling points’ that the sun travels through throughout the year (the summer and winter solstices being two such points). In addition, géol or geōla, was the name attributed to a month of the year which fell between modern December and January… So you can see, it’s hard to pin the etymology down for sure!
Yule and reverence to the sun
Though the possible origins of Yule may be varied, in Germanic, Celtic and Saxon societies, the significance of the Yule period and the celebrations attributed to the festival are all broadly the same. Rather than being observed on a single day, Yule begins on the Winter Solstice, and lasts from 12days to a month, depending on the belief system. Interestingly, though the Winter Solstice normally falls on the 21 st /22 nd December in our modern calendar, under the Julian Calendar (named after the emperor Julius Caesar), the solstice actually fell on the 25 th December itself.
Die Gartenlaube (1880) Illustration of an ancient Nordic Yule Festival
For early societies, December was a bleak and uncertain time of the year, and the fear that the sun may not return unless appeased drove the practices associated with Yule. On the solstice and the 12 days following, Celts welcomed the ‘new’ sun, though its arrival was by no means guaranteed. This was a time to pray to the Yule deities to ensure the sun’s return, and that it would bring with it fertile and bountiful lands in the year to come. Feasts were thrown, and fires lit to symbolically ‘recall’ the sun.
The Yule Log
The most well-known tradition associated with Yule involves the ‘Yule Log’, though unsurprisingly, this hasn’t always been made of chocolate like the version that many enjoy today. During the 12day period of Yule, Celtic tribes believed that the sun stood still in the sky, and it was tradition to keep a Yule Log burning to coax it back into moving again, as well as to conquer the darkness and banish evil spirits. Anglo-Saxon tales of the Yule Log, or geolstocc, attest to whole tree trunks being used as the ‘log’, which were progressively fed into the fire as they burnt down. The end of each year’s log was kept in order to light the log in the following year. This, along with the ashes from the log, were kept in order to ward off a range of misfortunes from toothaches and chilblains to hail and even lightning!
Other practices that we’re familiar with today included bringing evergreens, such as holly, ivy and mistletoe, into the home as a reminder of the return spring and new life in the new year. Mistletoe in particular was hung above doorways as a symbol of hospitality and to ward off evil spirits.
Wodan’s Wilde Jagd (Wild Hunt) by F. W. Heine
The ‘Wild Hunt’
For both Norse and Anglo-Saxon societies, certain gods (like the Jólnar mentioned above) were associated with Yule. The chief god Odin (or Woden in Anglo-Saxon) was believed to lead a host of other deities on a ‘wild hunt’ across the night sky, which would carry away the souls of the dead, along with any unsuspecting members of the living if they strayed too far from the hearth at night! Sacrifices were therefore made to ensure the safety of the household, and a ‘Yule Boar’ centrepiece was often part of Yule feasts as a symbolic recognition of the hunt.
Introduction of Christianity
With many pagan traditions such as this, however, the introduction of Christianity ensured that Yule began to take more of a back seat in December celebrations, though references to Yule or ‘Yuletide’ are found peppered throughout history. In Robert Herrick’s book ‘Ceremonies for Christmas’ written in the late 16 th century, he makes reference to the Yule Log, saying:
“Come, bring with a noise,
my merry, merry boys,
the Christmas log to the firing”
Yule Log from Robert Chamber Book of Days 1864
Victorians were also keen on the idea of the Yule Log, bringing albeit smaller versions into their homes to burn for 12hours, rather than the 12days as originally practiced. Christmas Trees also became popular in England in this period, the origins of the practice developing from the importance of evergreens in pagan Yule festivities. As for the cake form of the Yule Log, it’s recorded as early as the 19 th century, first appearing in the bakeries of Paris.
You may not recognise Yule itself, or celebrate the birth of a new year at the solstice, but elements of the festival will certainly be present in your home. Whether you go for that chocolatey dessert, decorate a Christmas Tree, or have greenery (the real deal or representations) around your home, these elements can all be traced back to this pagan festival celebrated long before Christmas…
However you celebrate the festive season, we wish you a happier and healthier 2021!
https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Die_Gartenlaube_1880-Illustration-of-an-ancient-Nordic-Yule-Fesitval-scaled-e1608045894637.jpg 1548 2457 Kelly Garner https://www.stneotsmuseum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/st-neots-museum-logo.svg Kelly Garner 2020-12-16 14:03:46 2021-12-09 13:33:01 Yule – Christmas’ Pagan ancestor
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In Pagan myth Yule marks the journey of the Sun King to bring light into the world. The days following would gradually grow longer and lighter as the Sun King journeyed across the sky. This idea of bringing light into a dark world would emerge as theme in Christianity, where Jesus as the bringer of light. As such candlelight and fire plays an important theme in Yule celebrations.
One of the most common traditions associated with Yule is the burning of the Yule log. The Yule log is a large log, often made of oak or other sacred woods, that is decorated and lit on the eve of the Winter Solstice. It is believed to bring warmth, protection, and good fortune to the household. Another common practice during Yule is the decorating of evergreen trees. This tradition dates back to ancient Pagan cultures, who believed that evergreen trees had magical properties and symbolized eternal life. Today, the decorated evergreen tree is a central feature of Christmas celebrations. Yule is also a time for feasting, gathering with loved ones, and exchanging gifts. It is a time to celebrate abundance and to give thanks for the blessings of the past year. Many Pagan traditions also include rituals and ceremonies to honor the sun, the Earth, and the elements. In modern times, Yule is celebrated by many different spiritual and religious traditions. It is a time to reconnect with nature, to honor the cycles of life, and to find hope and renewal in the darkest days of winter. Whether it is observed with Pagan rituals or incorporated into Christmas festivities, Yule is a time to celebrate light, warmth, and the promise of new beginnings..
Reviews for "Yule Gift Giving: Meaningful Presents for Pagan Holiday Celebrations"
1. Stephanie - 2/5 - I was really disappointed with "Pagan Holiday Yule". The plot was slow-paced and lacked any real excitement. The characters were also poorly developed and I found it hard to connect with any of them. The writing style was also quite bland and lacked depth. Overall, I was expecting a lot more from this book and felt let down by the end.
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3. Sarah - 1/5 - I couldn't even finish "Pagan Holiday Yule". The writing was dull and uninspiring, and the characters felt flat and uninteresting. The plot dragged on and nothing seemed to happen for the majority of the book. I found myself constantly skimming through the pages just to try and find something remotely engaging, but unfortunately, it never came. This was a big letdown for me and I would not recommend wasting your time on this book.
4. Mark - 2/5 - "Pagan Holiday Yule" had a promising premise, but it fell flat in execution. The pacing was incredibly slow, and the plot seemed to meander with no clear direction. The characters lacked depth and I found it hard to care about their fates. Additionally, the writing style was tedious, with long, descriptive passages that added little to the overall story. Overall, I was disappointed by this book and would not recommend it to others.