Since many people may not know what Yule is or how people celebrate this holiday, I decided to include information to help answer some of the questions people might have.
(Fair warning, this may offend people since it is now controversial. If you don't agree or don't believe the information I provide, that's fine. You are free to your own beliefs, no judgement. But please do not judge or attack. Thank you!)
Yule occurs on the 21st of December, and in many cultures lasts 12 days. This might sound familiar because of the 12 Days of Christmas. Paganism and Christianity share many parallels. Now the holiday celebrates the defeat of darkness and the return of the Sun. The Goddess gives birth to the Sun or Sun God. After the 21st the days grow longer naturally, which is what Yule is all about. For some cultures it is the Sun's birthday and a time to celebrate.
"The Holly King rules over the dark part of the year from Midsummer to Yule, he is God of the Waning Year. At Yule he surrenders his life to the young light Oak King, God of the Waxing Year and his twin, who rules over the light part of the year from Yule to Midsummer. Both rule for half of the year, both fight for the favor and love of the Goddess and both surrender their life force for the well-being of the land. In truth they are one." (Allwood, 2020).
The evergreen trees and wreaths represent everlasting life. During Yule they are hung around windows and doors. Mistletoe was revered by the Druids as protection and healing. "It is carefully cute to ensure it never touches the earth. It's magical properties are believed to be connected to the fact that it lives between worlds, between sky and earth. The white berries of the mistletoe represent fertility, which is where kissing under the mistletoe stems from." (Allwood, 2020).
Holly is another evergreen for protection. It's believed that the spiky bristles repel unwanted spirits. Newborn babies are sprinkled with "holly water" for protection. "Holly water, water in which holly had been soaked, especially potent if left under a full moon overnight. Holly is sacred to Holle, the Germanic underworld Goddess." (Allwood, 2020). Holly symbolizes long life, goodwill and strong life energy. The red berries of holly represent the feminine blood. The Sacred Marriage is represented by the mistletoe and holly between the Goddess and King.
Ivy is an evergreen that represents immortality and resurrection. The spiral is symbolic of reincarnation and rebirth. Ivy is sacred to the god Osiris because his death and resurrection was a central theme in the Egyptian faith. However, it's not the only God that ivy is sacred to. Dionysus, the god of vegetation, blossoms and the Return of Spring.
Yew trees are symbolic of regeneration and rebirth. "It sends up new trees from its roots and grows to a very great age. It is deeply connected to the spirit realms and the ancestors. Often used as the central "world tree" in ritual spaces and was often planted in graveyards." (Allwood, 2020).
Pine branches bring healing and joy into the home, which is why they were used for fireplaces. It was believed that burning pine would purify the home.
The Yule Tree: Some cultures believed in decorating the trees outside in nature, and would not cut them down. However, other cultures did cut down the evergreens and brought them inside to decorate. "In Scandinavia, Yule trees were brought inside to provide a warm and festive place for tree elementals who inhabited the woodland. This was also a good way to coax the native faery folk to participate in Solstice rituals. Some believed the Saxons were the first to place candles in the tree." (Fox, 2020).
The Celts/Druids believed that evergreen trees were manifestations of their deity and a symbol of the universe. Evergreen trees were also symbols of hope because of their everlasting green color. "To the Celts these trees were sacred because they did not die from year to year like deciduous trees. Therefore they represented the eternal aspect of the Goddess who also never dies.
Their greenery was symbolic of the hope for the sun's return. The Druids decorated the evergreen trees at Yule with all the images of the things they wished the waxing year to bring. Fruits for a successful harvest, love charms for happiness, nuts for fertility, and coins for wealth adorned the trees. These were forerunners to many of the images on today's Christmas trees. Candles were the forerunners of today's electric tree lights."
A great woman who is very knowledgeable about Paganism and Wicca is Selena Fox, I highly recommend her. For anyone interested in learning more about Paganism and other nature-based faiths, some of the best books I have read about Paganism are:
The Triumph of the Moon: A History of Modern Pagan Witchcraft by Ronald Hutton
Drawing Down the Moon: Witches, Druids, Goddess-Worshippers, and Other Pagans in America by Margot Adler
Paganism: An Introduction to Earth-Centered Religions by River Higginbotham
Paganism for Beginners by Althaea Sebastiani
Resources:
Fox, S. (2020) The Yule Tree
Yule/Winter Solstice December 21st
Additional information:
Yule Tide
What is Yule, and What Does It Have to Do With Christmas?
Winter Solstice
Yule-Day of Winter Solstice
The Many Stories Behind the Origins of Yule
Traditions and Symbols of Yule
The Wiccan Calendar: Yule (Winter Solstice)
The Meaning of Yule: Why We Celebrate the Winter Solstice
The Magical History of Yule, The Pagan Winter Solstice Celebration
Do Christmas Trees Have Pagan Roots?
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