Yule: Winter Has Begun

Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, is when Winter has essentially whispered it’s way into our life. The leaves have long since left the greening trees, the grass withered to brown and we’ve witnessed the darkness seemingly overtake our once glorious long days.

Yule happens around the 21st of December. A time when many faiths have their holiday celebrations. Yule is the longest night of the year. Darkness has come, but we will start to see the days slowly get longer, even if the chill of winter lingers into our bones. 

How To Celebrate

With the hustle and bustle of all the different holiday celebrations, family and friend get-togethers and hurried shopping for gifts, this is actually a good time of year for reflection, diving deep within ourselves as the earth has hibernated within herself to rest and prepare for the upcoming growing season. 

This time of year is often busy, but it’s important to take some time for yourself and ensure you are nourishing your soul. You may find yourself a little sleepier as the dark days prevail. Listen to your body. Take it easy. But if you are looking to honor Yule, you can do so in the following ways.

Decorate your altar and home

Many of the familiar decorations and symbols that we commonly associate with Christmas, actually have much older Pagan connotations. The tree and of course, the Yule log. 

Evergreens, which can mean bringing a tree into your home and decorating it, help symbolize life and resilience during the cold, winter months. If you are like me and prefer an artificial tree so as to not harm a living tree, you can find some realistic ones and decorate it how you please.

You can also hang green garland around your house or on the outside as well. Pinecones and holly make a great addition. While using colors like red, green, gold and white are symbolic of the light returning and protection. 

Dried fruit, berries or using cinnamon sticks can bring a nice, natural fragrance.

Simmer Pots

I live in the Midwest where our winters can make the indoors super dry. To add humidity and a nice fragrance to your home, use a simmer pot. The beauty of simmer pots is you can use whatever natural items you prefer. Here are some things you can add to a simmer pot:

• Apples

• Cinnamon Sticks or cinnamon

• Oranges

• Bay leaves

• Cloves

• Peppermint

• Lemons

Obviously mix and match the items as you prefer. I don’t put all of those things in at one time! And make sure to keep an eye on the pot and add more water as it simmers down. You will add humidity to your home along with a lovely scent.

Yule Log

Perhaps one of most common Yule celebrations is the burning of the Yule log. The Yule log symbolizes the sun’s return and can help bring good luck and protection to the family and home, while driving away bad spirits during the winter months. 

If you burn an actual log, it is common in some traditions to light the new Yule log from the leftover log in the previous year. After the log is burned, the ashes can be scattered carefully around the house to protect the family.

If you don’t have a way to burn a log safely, you can do what I did and take a piece of wood, drill holes for candles and decorate it! Intention is most important when it comes to your spiritual practice.

I use green, white and red candles in the middle. My first Yule log, I used fallen pine cones and pine branches to decorate it. However, the pine needles all fell off the branches and it didn’t look so good the next year. So I improvised with some artificial pieces and it looked much better (and lasted many years after!).

Feast with Family and Friends

No sabbat celebration is complete without a feast with loved ones. And this time of year is a good time to bring out the hearty meals and comfort foods, meals that just warm you up from the inside! Consider the following items:

• Roasted meats

• Beef dishes

• Pot roast

• Hearty soup (great for vegetarians)

• Root vegetables 

• Breads

• Pies

• Apples

• Spiced cider

• Cookies and deserts 

Connect with Nature

Even if it’s blustery cold, make sure to take some time in nature. Notice the stillness in the air. Many of the spring birds have retreated south so I always realize how quiet it is. The trees are bare, the earth quietly sleeping. 

The night sky in winter is so clear. The stars seem to stretch on forever. There is nothing quite like the deepness of a winter night’s sky. The chill in the air making everything seem so fresh.

Winter sunrises are also beautiful with a ride array of blue, purple and pink in the sky as the sun rises, reminding us that it has not completely left us.

I also notice the crows make an appearance more, especially in the early morning hours when the sun has just risen and before the rest of the world wakes up. 

However, you decide to celebrate, make sure to take time for yourself and reflect. This time of year can be busy, but it’s important to take some time to relax and reset for the new year.  Curl up under a comfortable blanket, enjoy some tea or coffee and just relax.