December 21 - 23
(Southern Hemisphere June 21 - 23)
Ravenna's Yule 2006
This year's Yule celebration was interesting and fun. On
Solstice eve, my oldest son and I lit a candle to help us keep vigil over the
Goddess as She gave birth to the newborn Sun. The next morning, we got up
early and sang the Sun awake. It was really cute and fun, and my son
really had fun singing to the Sun.
Then a few days later, I got together with some friends and we
had a lovely little ritual to celebrate the Solstice. I brought my boys
with me, and they also had a really great time. We sang filked Yule
carols, toasted the season and each other, as well as feasted on many delicious
foods. All in all it was a lovely time and we really enjoyed ourselves.
Ravenna's Yule 2005
Yule was really great this year. My coven mates and I had
a party, and those of us with children brought them with. It was so
much fun!! With the kids running around like a bunch of maniacs, only
stopping long enough to open the presents left by the Holly King, then zing!
Off again to cause more havoc, lol.
There was a ton of food, good gifts, lots of laughing and
general merry-making. I'm glad my boys got to come this year to the party,
it's good to include them in my Craft experiences. I can hardly wait for
next year!!
~ Ravenna
Why Ravenna Loves Yule/Christmas
Why do I love this holiday season? Why does this time of
year hold more magic for me than any other? Why does it seem like the
magic fades more and more every year?
I love this time of year, because this is the time when
everyone, all over the world is supposed to come together in the spirit of love
and peace. Because when I was younger I could literally feel the
magic in the air, when strangers went out of their way to help one another
out.
The magic fades because as the years go by, people are more
obsessed with the price tag on their gift than the thought that went into
it. You see it all the time. People practically beating each
other senseless in the malls in order to get to that last expensive toy on the
shelf. Kids are even more greedy than ever! What with the latest
video gaming system and games, or other nifty little electronic gadget that has
just come out... more, more, more is all they scream!
Not that I'm blameless myself. I want a Playstation 2...
been asking for one for almost 3 years now. But I still haven't gotten
one, and I'm okay with that. I also want the whole series of Inuyasha
anime eps on DVD... not gonna happen, but a girl can dream.
But still, I love this season. It still holds its
magic. The smells of cinnamon and ginger in the air, or roasting hams and
turkeys... it's all there. The sounds of children's laughter ringing
through the neighborhood, the sights of the Christmas lights... it's
lovely. I look forward to it, I dream of it... even as Christmas ends, I'm
already anticipating next year's Christmas.
I love being with my family most of all. My friends,
everyone. I love seeing smiles on people's faces. I love to see the
joy in a child's face when they see Santa at the mall. It's fun.
I think that is why I love this season. It's still fun for
me (well, so long as I avoid the malls as much as possible!), and now that my
son is getting older, I see the magic in his eyes, and the joy from him, and it
makes it all the more precious and special to me.
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Yule is loosely translated to mean "Christmas". Though
according to an online dictionary, the
word yule is derived from the Scandinavian words "yol" and "geol" both of which
mean a midwinter celebration of "pagan origin" (I love that phrase!)
and also another word, "hjul" means "wheel". Now on to
the phrase "pagan origin"... that is just the lazy way of saying
"Our traditions come from so many different cultures and time periods, we
just thought it would be easier to lump them all together in one
term."
Yule
is also known as the Winter Solstice. It is the time of the shortest daylight
hours in the year, and of course, the longest night. The Goddess gives birth to
the God at this time, representing a rebirth of light. It is the time of
year when the Earth (wood) spirits are encouraged to rest, in preparation for
all the hard work ahead of them to replenish the Earth with the fresh blooms of
new life, the forthcoming of spring. Celebrations were held in honor of
the wood spirits. Trees were brought into the homes, and decorated with bells,
candles and brightly colored threads to attract the spirits. Bread, fruit and
nuts were hung from the branches to provide food for the spirits. Group singing
(caroling) was also a way of guiding the spirits towards the shelter of the
homes and Yule logs were lit to provide warmth. This festival has been
adapted since its earlier Pagan origin to be known as the more popular festival
Christmas.
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Yule
coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration. This Sabbath
represents the rebirth of light. Here, on the longest night of the year, the
Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for new light is reborn.
Some covens hold a Festival of Light to commemorate the Goddess as Mother giving
birth to the Sun God. Others celebrate the victory of the Lord of Light over the
Lord of Darkness as the turning point from which the days will lengthen.
The
Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule
celebration. Many families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood
spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months. Bells
were hung in the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present. Food and
treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star,
the pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop the tree. The colors
of the season, red and green, also are of Pagan origin, as is the custom of
exchanging gifts. As a solar festival, Yule is celebrated by fire
and the use of a Yule log. A piece of the log is saved and kept throughout the
year to protect the home. That piece is used to light the next year's log.
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Focus
of Yule:
The
sun is at its lowest point, making this, the year's longest night. We
internalize and synthesize the outward-directed activities of the previous
summer months. Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets
behind.
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Yule Links
