Yule this year is going to be especially nice because it is also on a Full Moon, one that will be the closest to the Earth than any other has been in 133 yrs. Yule, also called Winter Solstice usually occurs between December 20 to 23. The Yule season last for 12 days(hence the 12 days of Christmas) and 13 nights. It is said the the 13 nights are the March-space between one year and the next, a border where the "worlds" overlap. Yule is known as the shortest day/longest night of the year. It is the beginning of Winter and from that day forward the days will start to become longer and the nights shorter. Now I have discribed what occurs on that day, so now I will tell why we celebrate it.
Let us start with who first celebrated Yule. I always thought that everyone that was of the Old Religion just naturely celebrated all the Sabbats as a whole, boy was I shocked while researching about this Sabbat. It seems that long ago, before the advent of Christianity, the Druid and Celtic people did not really go in for the Solstices and Equinox festivals. The ones that celebrated these are the Norse and Teutons. Now I thought to myself, ok, who are the Teutons? So I looked them up. Those are the Germanic peoples that lived in Jutland, a peninsula located in Northern Europe. Ok, now we know who, so let us discover why. Those that celebrate the Yule as a Sabbat looked upon it as the time to welcome back the Sun. It is said that the Goddess during this time gives birth to the Sun God and he is reborn to start his advancement into the sky, growing up to last longer, staying up in the sky a little more each day until the Summer Solstice when he will start his decline. We celebrate the re-birth of the Sun, because with his re-birth comes the fertility of the seeds, the promise of warmth, and the awakening of life in the Spring. It is also seen as a time of death, for to have re-birth, the Sun God must first Die. That is the reason for the longest night, he has died and gone back into the Womb of the Mother for her to give him back his life and be re-born. This then is the why. So, How do we celebrate Yule? Well, I am sure that everyone is familar with the Yule log? Well that is just one of the ways, but we will take that one first. The Yule log is chosen very carefully, it should be of the proper type wood, either Oak or Pine, NEVER use Elder wood, as this tree/wood is sacred to The Mother. After you have chosen the log, then take and carve or chalk a symbol upon it that represents the Sun God or the Horned God. Either a rayed sun or a horned circle, place it in the fireplace or if outside place it in a circle of stones, then carefully set it afire. This is a representation of the rebirth of the God within the sacred fire of The Mother. Now as the log burns visualize the Sun shining within it and think of the warmer days ahead. Usually a portion of the Yule Log is then saved, after it has burnt, to be used in lighting next year's Log. This is kept as protection for the Home. The other traditions are to bring a living tree, usually a Ceder or sometype of EverGreen. This is because with it being Green all year round it is seen as never die'ing. Now the reason for bring the tree inside was so that the Wood Spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months, bells were hung in it so you could tell when a spirit was present. Food and treats were also hung in the tree for the Spirits to eat. A pentagram or 5 pointed Star was placed on top to represent the 4 elements and the spirit of the Deities. Misletoe and Holly are also brought inside to represent The Goddess/Mother and the God/Creator. The red berries of the Holly are said to represent the Mother in her fertility, and the white berries of the Mistletoe represent the fertility of the God. Many would make Wreaths of the Holly and Mistletoe, thus further showing that the circle of life is represented. The colors for the Yule season were and are today, Green(for the evergreen trees), Red(for the fertility of the Mother), White/Silver(for the fertility of the Creator/God), and Gold(representing the birth of the New Sun) If you would like to have incense, use Rosemary, Pine, Cedar or Bayberry. You can of course choose any scent that would seem to represent to you the reason for the Season. If you are into Crystals then during this time it is recommended that you bring out Cat's Eye and Ruby's.
Now you might be asking, Ok, I know what, who, and how to go about it, but what do I do? Well one of the first things you do is to make a list of groceries, because the Yule Feast is the next thing you will want to figure out. Some of the staples of a Yule feast are; Apples, mulled Apple Cider, Wassail(recipe later), Gingerbread, Cookies and also get some Chamomile Tea to honor the Sun God. Other foods that can be served are Venison/deer (but only if it is a stag, no doe meat!), Rabbit stew or even a Rabbit Curry. If you have a dislike for wild meat or just can't get any, then serve Chicken Curry, a beef roast/pork roast w/ lots of vegatables. You also want to fix at least one Cake and lots of bread.
Recipes: Wassial(both Alcoholic and Non Alcoholic versions)
4 bottles sherry or Madeira
12 apples, cored and baked
12 eggs, yolks and whites separated
8 ounces water
2 pounds sugar
1 tablespoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons ginger
6 cloves
1/2 teaspoon mace
6 allspice berries
Cinnamon stick
First, find a pot deep enough to hold 2 gallons. Boil water with nutmeg, ginger, cloves, mace, berries, and cinnamon. After boiling for 2 minutes, add sugar and sherry or Madeira. Cook slowly. Usually no more than 20 to 30 minutes.
Beat separately the egg yolks and whites; fold together. Put beaten eggs in a large bowl, and slowly add small quantities of the heated wine-and-spice mixture. Stir each addition briskly. Once the brew has been thoroughly mixed, add the baked apples to the now-foaming mixture.
Variations: Add beer, cognac, cider, wine, or a mix of them. If you add cognac, do so just before adding the apples. When adding beer, cider, or wine, mix in the liquor after adding the apples. If both beer and wine are used, cook the spices and sugar in 16 ounces beer. Then, add the remaining beer and sherry, using 1 part sherry to 3 or 4 parts beer. Serve hot in warm Irish coffee mugs. ************************************************************
NON-Alcoholic Version
1 gallon (4.5 L) apple cider
1 tbsp (15 ml) whole cloves
1 tbsp. (15 ml) whole allspice
4 cinnamon sticks 2" long
1/2 tsp. (2 ml) mace
1/4 tsp (1 ml) powdered ginger
1/4 tsp (1 ml) grated nutmeg
1/4 tsp (1 ml) salt
1 cup dark brown sugar (200 ml)
1 pint gin or vodka (0.56 L) - this is optional
2 or 3 lemons, sliced thin, seeds removed (use 3 lemons if you like a
tartness)
3 or 4 oranges, sliced thin, seeds removed
1.Pour cider into large kettle, add spices and salt. Bring
to a hard boil, reduce heat and simmer 15 minutes
2.Remove from stove, add sugar to taste, if needed.
3.Cool. Strain wassail. Keep in a cool place till ready to
use, but it is not necessary to refrigerate.
4.To prepare a wassail bowl: Use a heavy china bowl, a crock
pot or a punch bowl.
5.Heat it over a large kettle of boiling water. Add lemon and orange
slices.
6.When warm, add gin or vodka and let it heat, but do not boil or spirits
will evaporate.
Remove from heat.
7.Pour in the boiling wassail. If possible keep the bowl hot over a
candle or alcohol burner. Ladle into punch cups and serve.
************************************************************
Here is a very good Bread Recipe
1 1/4 cups warm water
1 envelope yeast
2 Tbsp. sugar
2 Tbsp. softened Butter or Margarian. (Some prefer Oleo)
1 1/2 tsp salt
1tsp dried leaf Thyme
2 3/4 cups unsifted flour
Gently pore yeast into water in a large warm bowl, stirring till yeast is dissolved. Add butter/margarian/Oleo, sugar, salt, thyme, and half of the flour. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes or about 150 strokes by hand, scraping the bowl often. Beat in the rest of flour slowly till smooth. Scrape down the sides. Cover and let rise till it doubles, usually about 1hour. Beat it down with about 25 strokes. Place it into greased bread tin or 1 1/2 qt dish. Bake 1 hr 10 min at 350 deg F. You can then take and brush the top of the hot bread with melted butter/margarian/Oleo or take and brush with a mixture of melted butter and garlic. DELICIOUS ************************************************************
Now, for a simple Ritual. This ritual is set mainly for Solitaries and/or small family gatherings.=20
You will need:
1 White Candle( this is besides your usual Altar Candles)
1 Red Candle
1 Black Candle
{If you are not Wiccan and you wish to represent your Goddess/ do so in
the aspect of your tradition with whatever candle color you feel
appropriate) I usually use Green or Blue. Mistletoe w/berries if
possible Holly w/berries if possible A bowl of Salt Water.
A Yule Log (optional)
On your Altar, place the Holly and have the Mistletoe near but not on the Altar. When your Altar is ready then cast your circle (for those that do not know how to do this, that is a different column :)), call the WatchTowers/Quarters/Guardians what ever you call them, then invite the Goddess into your circle. Then say a blessing in words of your choice, blessing the Sabbat, the Maid, Mother, and Crone (for Wiccans), The Mother Earth (for Native American type), and DON't forget to ask a blessing for the New Born God. Then remove the Holly from your Altar and replace it with the Mistletoe. Then you take and bless the Oak King, in words of your choice, of the Waxing Year. Praying for those you wish his protection granted to. Next pick up the candles representative of the God/dess and holding them in your hand say something along these lines: As the Goddess and God are reunited tonight Let Life begin anew. Tonight as life begins anew so to does Light begin anew. [touch the flames of the candles to each other] Blessed Be the One Light and Blessed Be the divine Force of Creation.
Replace the candles onto your Altar but make sure that they are closer
together. If you have a Yule Log now is the time to light it. If you
are were you cannot light the Yule Log then take the White, Red, and
Black candles, and place them onto the Log. Light the white and say
something like:
Blessed be the Maiden, innocent and fresh.
Light the Red and say something like:
Blessed be The Mother, fertile and Loving.
Light the Black and say something like:
Blessed be the Crone, Powerful and Wise.
Go to the bowl of water and say:
Blessed Be the Trip;le Goddess.
Place you fingures into the bowl and annoint your feet, abdomen, and head. This is a blessing of the triple Goddess, if you wish you may add words as you annoint yourself. Then spend time meditation or whatever you like.
Now if you are not Wiccan or do not worship the Triple Goddess, then now is the time to use the candle that represents your aspect of the Goddess and place it upon the log, light it and say a prayer to her. Then using the bowl of salt water or whatever is within your tradition and annoint yourself, asking your Goddess's blessing upon you and your family for the coming year.
After you have finished with the meditation and prayers then, thank the Goddess for her presence and then thank the WatchTowers/Quarters/Guardians, and release them, Open the circle when you are through.
If you would like more information on this Sabbat, recipes and such then contact me and I will be happy to let you know where to find many very good recipes.
(To contact "Sisterwolfe," email Vonya at sisterwolfe@visto.com)
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