Wheel of the Year ~ Yule

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1 Wheel of the Year ~ Yule The Wheel of the year describes the traditional Pagan festivals of the seasons. Articles will focus around these festivals of the seasons, giving you information and guidance on these ancient festivals and how to enhance your lives in today s world. These will also relate to our spiritual progression and how we can work on ourselves to be in sync with the harmonies of the natural cycle of the year. There are eight annual festivals or Sabbats that mark a time to pause and reflect upon what had happened before and to prepare us for the time ahead. The wheel of the year represents the continuing cycle of birth, death and rebirth. This life cycle is represented throughout the year divided into four Greater and four Lesser festivals which alternate approximately every six weeks. The four Greater festivals are fixed dates and can also be referred to as the Cross-Quarters known as Fire-festivals (also pre Christian festivals). The Lesser festivals are based on the position of the sun as they celebrate the two Equinoxes (day of equal sunlight and darkness) and the two Solstices (when the sun is either at its most northern or southern point; longest and shortest day). The Lesser festivals celebrate the turning points in seasons. They look back to what just happened as well as looking forward to what is to come. The festivals begin at sunset until sunset of the next day.

2 Yule 21 st December Yule, is the winter solstice marking the shortest day of the year. It is thought as the rebirthing of the sun as from this point onwards the hours of daylight begin to increase. Yule is a fire festival which celebrates the rebirth of the Sun and this festival can be found in many ancient traditions including the Romans who celebrated Saturnalia on this day. In more recent times the Birth of Jesus (the Son of God) is celebrated around this time too, lining him to the Sun (coincidence)? Many cultures will have celebrations during this time linking to birth, life, death and rebirth. In terms of the God and Goddess during this time, the Holly King who has been ruling since Midsummer, surrenders to the Oak King (as he rules over the lighter parts of the year). The Goddess becomes the great mother, giving birth to the Sun. Traditionally Yule was a huge celebration of the returning of the Sun. Bonfires would be lit and evergreen decorations would be used to decorate the homes. Holly was used on the doors of homes to welcome good luck and mistletoe was used as decoration to represent to seed of the Divine. Children would send neighbours gifts of oranges and apples spiked with cloves which were often placed on a bed of evergreen boughs and/or wheat stalks dusted with flour. As evergreens do not die these were symbolic for the eternal aspect of the Divine. The flour represented the light and life. The Yule Log tradition comes from decorating the home with the Yule Log decorated with greenery. Traditionally the log used (preferably Ash) must have been given as a gift or from the homeowners land. Once it was placed in the fireplace, it was then lit with a remaining piece of Yule Log from the year before. It was ceremonially put out after 12 days. It was believed the Ash would have brought light.

3 In more recent times, Yule Logs were (and still are today) used for purely decoration. Many decorate them with greenery and three candles. The choice of candles used could represent the Great Goddess (white, red and black), the Sun God (green, gold and black) or seasonal colours (red, green and white). As Yule is a celebration of the return of the light, it is a time for reflecting upon the darkness time we are coming out of and looking forward to what the New Year has to bring. It is an important time for us to search within ourselves and to begin to think about the new intentions we need to work on next. The colours red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow and orange are key colours which represent and symbolise Yule time. Many decorations within the home will incorporate these colours. Popular decorations during this time include Holly, Mistletoe, Yule Logs, Pillar Candles, Evergreen wreaths and traditional clove studded fruit baskets. Popular foods during this time include roasted vegetables/nuts, fruits, turkey, eggnog, spiced cider, fruit cakes and pork dishes. Frankincense, pine, yellow cedar, mistletoe, laurel, oak and sage are popular herbs linked to Yule. Yule incenses include pine, juniper, cinnamon, frankincense and cedar. Bloodstone, garnets, emeralds, diamonds and ruby are powerful stones to use during the Yule season.

4 Setting up a Yule Altar Create your own Yule altar to celebrate at this time. Colours representing the cold such as slivers and blues are ideal colours for a Yule altar cloth. Dark greens represent the evergreen natural plants found at this time. Natural found items such as Holly, Mistletoe, pinecones etc make for lovely decorations on a Yule altar. A Gold candle can also be used as they symbolise the light and the sun. Candles in the colours to represent Yule are also a good idea (reds, greens, silvers). Add bloodstone or ruby crystals. Fruit and nuts Bells Snowflakes As it is a time to think of new beginnings as well as endings you may want to write down any intentions for the New Year that come to you during this time. They can be left on your altar too. Yule Activities Try some traditional activities during Yule. These can include: Take a walk in nature and collect items to make your own Yule wreath. Decorate and make your own traditional Yule Log. Try some delicious cake recipes which include fruit, nuts and berries. Make your own Yule tree decorations. Decorate your own Yule Tree with traditional decorations. Make your own Yule candles. Create your own Yule wrapping paper. Bake a Yule Log cake. Donate food and clothing to others. Spend quality time with loved ones. Set up a Yule altar.

5 As part of the Magdalene Centre Newsletter for December 2016