Pagan winter holiday traditions have deep roots in ancient cultures and continue to be celebrated by modern-day Pagans. These traditions are characterized by a connection to nature, the changing seasons, and the cycle of life. One prominent winter holiday tradition is Yule, which is celebrated around the winter solstice. This holiday marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Pagans often celebrate Yule by lighting fires or candles to symbolize the return of the Sun and the hope for the coming spring. The Yule log is a traditional part of this holiday, where a large log is burned in the hearth to bring warmth and light.
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As the solstice represents a change in direction for the solar year, communities would gather as a way to welcome back the sun, celebrate life and share food knowing that the season will soon change. Mistletoe, which represents the female element, also holds much importance as it was used by Druid priests in special ceremonies during the Winter Solstice.
The Yule log is a traditional part of this holiday, where a large log is burned in the hearth to bring warmth and light. Another winter holiday tradition is the celebration of Imbolc, which falls around the beginning of February. Imbolc is a time to celebrate the first signs of spring and the return of life to the earth.
Traditions and Symbols of Yule
Note: This is an updated version of our very popular post about Yule traditions, “Traditions and Symbols of Yule”. We have spared the original title. Photos and information herein have been updated for educational purposes. Happy Yule and enjoy your holiday!
Yule is a traditional holiday holding roots in various northern European traditions, particularly that of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples. When the days grew colder and the nights grew longer, people of ancient times would light candles and gather round fires to lure back the sun. They would bring out their stores of food and enjoy feasting and festivities. Dances were danced and songs were sung and all would delight in decorating their homes. Such were the Yule traditions of those times—traditions similar to what we call Christmas (Yule eventually underwent Christianised reformulation).
Evergreens for Yule: Symbols of Renewal
Evergreens were cut and brought indoors to symbolize life, rebirth and renewal. They were thought to have power over death because their green never faded, and they were used to defeat winter demons and hold back death and destruction. Because of their strength and tenacity, they were also believed to encourage the Sun’s return.
Yule Symbol of Hope: Holly
Holly, which represents the masculine element, was often used to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces. Because of its prickliness it was thought to capture or ward off evil spirits before they could enter a home and cause harm. The holly leaves, symbolic of the Holly King, represent hope, while the red berries represent potency.
Yule Traditions: Mistletoe
Mistletoe, which represents the female element, also holds much importance as it was used by Druid priests in special ceremonies during the Winter Solstice. They believed that its green leaves represented the fertility of the Mother Goddess, and its white berries, the seed of the Forest God or Oak King. Druids would harvest the mistletoe from sacred oak trees with golden scythes and maidens would gather underneath the trees to catch the falling branches, preventing them from falling to the ground; for if this happened, it was believed that all sacred energy in the plant would pour back into the earth. The branches and sprigs were then divided and distributed to be hung over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. Mistletoe was also worn as an amulet for fertility, or hung above the headboard.
Yule Tree: An Important Pagan Symbol
The Yule Tree was also another important symbol in pagan tradition. Originally, it represented the Tree of Life or the World Tree among early pagans. In ancient times it was decorated with gifts people wanted to receive from the gods. It was adorned with natural ornaments such as pinecones, berries and other fruit, as well as symbols sacred to the gods and goddess. In some holiday traditions, garlands of popcorn and berries were strung around the tree so that visiting birds could feed off the tree as well.
To Honour and Protect: The Yule Log
The custom of burning the Yule Log began with the ancient Scandinavians who burned a huge log, felled from and Ash tree, to honour their god Thor. In the Celtic tradition, a continual hearth fire was kept to prevent spirits from entering the home. In order for the fire to keep burning, a large Oak tree was felled and brought into the home where the tree was placed trunk first into the hearth, with the last remnants set aside to burn with next year’s fire. It was also believed that the longer the Yule log burned, the faster the sun would come to warm the earth.
Other Yule Traditions and Symbols
Candles were another way to have an eternal flame within the home. They symbolized the light and warmth of the sun and were used to chase away evils and lure back the returning sun/son.
Wreaths were also traditional in ancient times for they symbolized the wheel of the year and the completion of another cycle. They were made of evergreens and adorned with cones and berries and hung as decoration throughout the home. They were also given as gifts to symbolize the infinity of goodwill, friendship and joyfulness.
Bells were often rung during the Winter Solstice to drive away demons that surfaced during the dark time of the year. They were rung in the morning as everyone began to wake to chase away the dark days and herald in the warmer, brighter days following the solstice.
Elves first became associated with Yule because the ancients knew that the Spirits that created the Sun inhabited the land of Elves. By including elves in the Yule celebrations, the ancients believed they were assuring the elves assistance in the coercion of the Sun to return.
Gingerbread was considered to be a specialty bread during this time since ginger had not been available until the Crusaders brought it back in the 11th century. There were strict laws regarding specialty breads in that time, so gingerbread was only allowed to be produced during the holidays and thus, it became associated with winter and Yule.
Wassail derives from the Old English words waes hael, which means “be well”, “be hale” or “good health”. It is a strong drink, usually a mixture of ale, honey and spices or mulled apple cider. When pagans went into the forest to fell the great oak for the Yule log, they would anoint the tree with wassail and bedeck them with wassail-soaked cakes, thus the ritual of wassailing was born. At home, the wassail would be poured into a large bowl during feast time and the host, when greeting his or her guests, would lift a drink and wish them “waes hael”, to which they would reply “drinc hael”, which meant “drink and be well”.
Carolling was also a popular Yule tradition when young children honoured the Winter Solstice with song. They would go through the villages, singing door to door. The villagers, in return, would reward them with tokens and sweets and small gifts which symbolized the food and prosperity given by the Mother Goddess to all her Earthly children.
Nature Symbols of Yule: Holly, Oak, Mistletoe, Ivy, Evergreens, Laurel, Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Frankincense, Pine, Sage, Yellow Cedar.
Food and Drink of Yule: Yule Log Cake, Gingerbread, Fruits, Berries, Nuts, Pork dishes, Turkey, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Spiced Cider, Wassail
Colours of Yule: Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold
Red represents the waning Holly King. Green represents the waxing Oak King. White represents the purity and hope of new Light. Silver represents the Moon. Gold represents the Sun/Son.
Stones of Yule: Rubies, Bloodstones, Garnets, Emeralds, Diamonds
Activities of Yule: Carolling ~ Wassailing the Trees ~ Burning the Yule Log ~ Decorating the Yule Tree ~ Exchanging Gifts ~ Kissing under the Mistletoe
Deities of Yule:
Goddesses: The Great Mother and Earth Goddess, Freyja, Gaia, Diana, Bona-Dea, Isis, Demeter
Gods: Mabon, The Sun God, The Star (Divine) Child, The Oak King, The Holly King, The Green Man, The Red Man, The Horned One, Odin, Lugh, Apollo, Ra
What Yule traditions and symbols still appear in your Holiday celebrations? Did you know the origin of some of these Yule traditions or did they surprise you? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
~ Originally written by Daniela Masaro. Updated/edited by Jacob Lopez Dec, 2020
Before you start decorating for Yule, you'll want to get things organized. If you're not organized yet, now's your chance to get there. Each member of the family should be responsible for their own belongings. Sort your belongings so they're in a place you can find them later, in a way that makes sense to you AND your family members.
Pagans often honor the goddess Brigid during this holiday, as she represents the goddess of fertility, healing, and inspiration. Traditions for Imbolc include lighting candles, making offerings to Brigid, and performing rituals for purification and renewal. The holiday of Ostara, celebrated around the spring equinox, is another important Pagan tradition. Ostara marks the arrival of spring, with longer days and the return of growth and fertility to the natural world. Pagans often celebrate Ostara by decorating eggs, as they symbolize new beginnings and the potential for life. This holiday is also associated with the goddess Ostara, who represents fertility, rebirth, and the awakening of the earth. Beltane, celebrated around May 1st, is a Pagan holiday that welcomes the arrival of summer. It is often celebrated with fertility rituals, dancing around the Maypole, and bonfires. Beltane is a time to celebrate the union of the god and goddess, as well as the fertility of the land and animals. It is also a time for community gatherings and feasting. These Pagan winter holiday traditions provide a way for modern Pagans to connect with their ancestors and honor the natural cycles of the earth. By celebrating these holidays, Pagans celebrate the changing seasons, the beauty of nature, and the interconnectedness of all living things..
Reviews for "Celebrating the Wheel of the Year: How Pagans Mark the Winter Solstice in Their Spiritual Practices"
1. Hannah - 1/5 - I found "Pagan winter holiday traditions" to be extremely disappointing. As someone who celebrates Christmas, I was hoping to learn more about the history and traditions of other cultures during the holiday season. However, this book seemed to focus solely on Pagan traditions, making it feel biased and exclusionary. I was also disappointed by the lack of depth in the explanations provided. The information felt superficial and did not do justice to the richness and complexity of these traditions. Overall, I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for a well-rounded exploration of winter holiday traditions.
2. John - 2/5 - "Pagan winter holiday traditions" was not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a balanced discussion of various winter holiday traditions, but instead, this book seemed to promote a specific agenda. The author's bias towards Paganism was evident throughout the book, which made it difficult for me to fully engage with the content. Additionally, I found the writing style to be dry and lacking in substance. The information provided was superficial and did not go into enough depth to truly understand the traditions being discussed. I would not recommend this book to anyone looking for an unbiased and informative resource on winter holiday traditions.
3. Sarah - 2/5 - I was disappointed by "Pagan winter holiday traditions." The book seemed to gloss over the true historical origins of these traditions and instead focused on a romanticized version of Paganism. I was hoping for a more scholarly approach, but this book felt more like a personal opinion piece. The lack of references and sources also made it difficult to verify the information provided. Overall, I did not find this book to be a reliable resource for learning about winter holiday traditions.