Post by Alraune on Nov 27, 2019 16:40:48 GMT
Yule
Other Names: Midwinter, Alban Arthuran, Winter Solstice, Yuletide
Themes: Birth of the God, rebirth of the Sun, the deepest darkness, The Wild Hunt.
Deities/Spirits: The Holly King, Odin, Woden, Frau Holda, Mother Goose, Sunna, all Sun Gods.
Symbols: The Sun, evergreens, the Yule log, Holly, Wreaths, solar cross, spinning wheels.
Colours: Red, green, gold, white, and silver
Plants/Herbs: Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe, Rosemary, Yew, Fir Trees, Poinsettia.
Incense: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon
Oils: Cinnamon, Rosemary, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Cedar/Pine
Animals and Birds: Stags, Robins, Wrens, Bears
Food and Drink: Goose, pork, cinnamon buns, spiced plum cake, mead, mulled wine
General
Yule is one of the Wiccan Sabbats and marks the Winter Solstice, the time when the sun is furthest from the Earth. This date falls on sometime between the 20th and 24th of December in the Northern Hemisphere and between the 20th and 24th of June in the Southern Hemisphere. The word Yule is believed to come from the Anglo Saxon " Iul" or the Norse "Hjol" meaning "wheel", probably referring to the wheel of the sun. Yule is also celebrated by Northern Tradition polytheists, frequently as a twelve day festival over the Winter Solstice, and usually beginning the night before as Mothernights. Mothernights honours Frigga and the Disir, who are female ancestral spirits.
Mythology and Lore
In Wicca, Yule marks the time of the deepest darkness, when the slumbering God is reborn in the night to symbolise new light and fertility in the coming year. He is The Mabon, the Divine Child of Light who is seen in other world mythologies. At this time of year the Holly King reigns supreme, although his power his reached its apex and will begin to wane. In the Northern Tradition, it is also the time of the Winter Wild Hunt, when Frau Holda and Odin ride out in the dark of the night. They gather all kinds of wandering spirits and can cause harm to mortals unless offered friendship, usually in the form of food and drink being left out for the elves, wights and trolls.
Activities
Other Names: Midwinter, Alban Arthuran, Winter Solstice, Yuletide
Themes: Birth of the God, rebirth of the Sun, the deepest darkness, The Wild Hunt.
Deities/Spirits: The Holly King, Odin, Woden, Frau Holda, Mother Goose, Sunna, all Sun Gods.
Symbols: The Sun, evergreens, the Yule log, Holly, Wreaths, solar cross, spinning wheels.
Colours: Red, green, gold, white, and silver
Plants/Herbs: Holly, Ivy, Mistletoe, Rosemary, Yew, Fir Trees, Poinsettia.
Incense: Frankincense, Myrrh, Cinnamon
Oils: Cinnamon, Rosemary, Myrrh, Nutmeg, Cedar/Pine
Animals and Birds: Stags, Robins, Wrens, Bears
Food and Drink: Goose, pork, cinnamon buns, spiced plum cake, mead, mulled wine
General
Yule is one of the Wiccan Sabbats and marks the Winter Solstice, the time when the sun is furthest from the Earth. This date falls on sometime between the 20th and 24th of December in the Northern Hemisphere and between the 20th and 24th of June in the Southern Hemisphere. The word Yule is believed to come from the Anglo Saxon " Iul" or the Norse "Hjol" meaning "wheel", probably referring to the wheel of the sun. Yule is also celebrated by Northern Tradition polytheists, frequently as a twelve day festival over the Winter Solstice, and usually beginning the night before as Mothernights. Mothernights honours Frigga and the Disir, who are female ancestral spirits.
Mythology and Lore
In Wicca, Yule marks the time of the deepest darkness, when the slumbering God is reborn in the night to symbolise new light and fertility in the coming year. He is The Mabon, the Divine Child of Light who is seen in other world mythologies. At this time of year the Holly King reigns supreme, although his power his reached its apex and will begin to wane. In the Northern Tradition, it is also the time of the Winter Wild Hunt, when Frau Holda and Odin ride out in the dark of the night. They gather all kinds of wandering spirits and can cause harm to mortals unless offered friendship, usually in the form of food and drink being left out for the elves, wights and trolls.
Activities
- Collect winter greenery such as holly, mistletoe, rosemary, fir, pine, and yew and use it to decorate your home. Be careful with mistletoe and yew, as they are poisonous and should be avoided if you have pets and/or small children.
- Cut a Yule Log and decorate it with carved solar symbols. Burn it on the solstice to remind you of the reborn sun.
- Decorate a Yule Tree with gold stars (suns), strings of popcorn and cranberries and silver icicles.
- Leave out an offering of milk or mead and cinnamon buns, mince pies, cake or other tasty treats for Frau Holda, the Midwinter Witch Goddess who flies out on the night before the Solstice to bring the snow. Also leave offerings for your household spirits who have worked hard all year, and for your ancestors.
- Take a walk in a part or in the countryside and see what signs of life you can find. Even in the depths of winter there are plenty of birds and animals about. Take them food if you wish.