YuleAn Abbreviated History of Yule
The Astronomy and Science behind Winter Solstice
The Real Meaning of Yule
The real meaning of Christmas. What is it?
A Warm Yule and Winter
GraphicsAn Abbreviated History of Yule
The history of Christmas dates back over 4000 years.
Many of our Christmas traditions were celebrated
centuries before the Christ child was born.
The 12 days of Christmas, the bright fires, the
yule log, the giving of gifts, carnivals(parades)
with floats, carolers who sing while going from
house to house, the holiday feasts, and the church
processions can all be traced back to the early Mesopotamians.
Many of these traditions began with the Mesopotamian
celebration of New Years. The Mesopotamians believed
in many gods, and as their chief god - Marduk.
Each year as winter arrived it was believed that Marduk
would do battle with the monsters of chaos. To assist
Marduk in his struggle the Mesopotamians held a festival
for the New Year. This was Zagmuk, the New Year's
festival that lasted for 12 days.
The Mesopotamian king would return to the temple of
Marduk and swear his faithfulness to the god.
The traditions called for the king to die at the
end of the year and to return with
Marduk to battle at his side.
To spare their king, the Mesopotamians used the idea
of a "mock" king. A criminal was chosen and dressed
in royal clothes. He was given all the respect
and privileges of a real king. At the end of the
celebration the "mock" king was stripped of the
royal clothes and slain, sparing the life of the real king.
The Persians and the Babylonians celebrated a similar festival
called the Sacaea. Part of that celebration included the
exchanging of places, the slaves would become the
masters and the masters were to obey.
Early Europeans believed in evil spirits, witches,
ghosts and trolls. As the Winter Solstice approached,
with its long cold nights and short days, many people
feared the sun would not return. Special rituals
and celebrations were held to welcome back the sun.
In Scandinavia during the winter months the sun would
disappear for many days. After thirty-five days scouts
would be sent to the mountain tops to look for the return
of the sun. When the first light was seen the scouts would
return with the good news. A great festival would be held,
called the Yuletide, and a special feast would be served
around a fire burning with the Yule log. Great bonfires
would also be lit to celebrate the return of the sun.
In some areas people would tie apples to branches of
trees to remind themselves that spring and summer would return.
The ancient Greeks held a festival similar to that of the
Zagmuk/Sacaea festivals to assist their god Kronos
who would battle the god Zeus and his Titans.
The Roman's celebrated their god Saturn. Their festival
was called Saturnalia which began the middle of December
and ended January 1st. With cries of "Jo Saturnalia!" the
celebration would include masquerades in the streets, big
festive meals, visiting friends, and the exchange of
good-luck gifts called Strenae (lucky fruits).
The Romans decked their halls with garlands of laurel
and green trees lit with candles. Again the masters
and slaves would exchange places.
"Jo Saturnalia!" was a fun and festive time for the Romans,
but the Christians though it an abomination to honor the
pagan god. The early Christians wanted to keep the birthday
of their Christ child a solemn and religious holiday,
not one of cheer and merriment as was the pagan Saturnalia.
But as Christianity spread they were alarmed by the continuing
celebration of pagan customs and Saturnalia among their converts.
At first the Church forbid this kind of celebration. But it was
to no avail. Eventually it was decided that the celebration would
be tamed and made into a celebration fit for the Christian Son of God.
Some legends claim that the Christian "Christmas" celebration was
invented to compete against the pagan celebrations of December.
The 25th was not only sacred to the Romans but also the Persians
whose religion Mithraism was one of Christianity's main rivals
at that time. The Church eventually was successful in taking the
merriment, lights, and gifts from the Saturanilia festival
and bringing them to the celebration of Christmas.
The exact day of the Christ child's birth has never been pinpointed.
Traditions say that it has been celebrated since the year 98 AD.
In 137 AD the Bishop of Rome ordered the birthday of the Christ
Child celebrated as a solemn feast. In 400 AD another Bishop of
Rome, Julius I, choose December 25th as the observance of Christmas.
Origins of Solstice Celebration
The seasons of the year are caused by the 25.0º tilt of
the earth's axis. Because the earth is rotating like a top
or gyroscope, it points in a fixed direction continuously
towards a point in space near the North Star. But the earth
is also revolving around the sun. During half of the year,
the southern hemisphere is more exposed to the sun than is
the northern hemisphere. During the rest of the year, the
reverse is true. At noontime in the Northern Hemisphere the
sun appears high in the sky during summertime and low in the
sky during winter. The time of the year when the sun reaches
its maximum elevation occurs on the day with the greatest
number of daylight hours. This is called the summer solstice,
and is typically on JUN-21 the first day of summer. "Solstice"
is derived from two Latin words: "sol" meaning sun, and "sistere,"
to cause to stand still. The lowest elevation occurs about
DEC-21 and is the winter solstice the first day of winter,
when the night time hours are maximum.
In pre-historic times, winter was a very difficult time for
Aboriginal people in the northern latitudes. The growing
season had ended and the tribe had to live off of stored
food and whatever animals they could catch. The people would
be troubled as the life-giving sun sank lower in the sky each
noon. They feared that it would eventually disappear and leave
them in permanent darkness and extreme cold. After the winter
solstice, they would have reason to celebrate as they saw the
sun rising and strengthening once more. Although many months
of cold weather remained before spring, they took heart that
the return of the warm season was inevitable. The concept of
birth and or death/rebirth became associated with the winter
solstice. The Aboriginal people had no elaborate instruments
to detect the solstice. But they were able to notice a slight
elevation of the sun's path within a few days after the
solstice perhaps by DEC-25. Celebrations
were often timed for about the 25th.
Go to TopFestivals Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Astronomy and Science behind Winter SolsticeNorthern Hemisphere:
In the Northern Hemisphere, Winter Solstice falls between December
21st and December 23rd, and marks the modern official beginning of
winter. We begin to notice the sun getting lower in lower in the
sky after Summer Solstice as it travels southward. At Winter
Solstice the sun is at its most southeastern point over the Tropic
of Capricorn in the northern hemisphere and has no apparent northward
or southward motion. In other words, the sun rises and sets in
its southernmost point at the time of Winter Solstice.
Winter Solstice marks the longest night of the year. During the
winter the North Pole of the earth is tilted to its extreme away
from the sun and the it's position is south of the equator,
creating winter's increasingly longer days, as we receive less
direct sunlight than the southern hemisphere. From the point of
Winter Solstice the days begin slowly to become longer and longer.
The word Solstice is ancient Latin meaning, "sun" (sol)
and "to stand still" (stice); it is a time when the sun
and the moon appear to stand still in their nightly migration
across the sky. Solstice occurs twice a year, summer and winter,
when the sun is furthest from the Celestial Equator in its yearly
figure eight migration pattern, called the analemma.
At Winter Solstice, the sun, in fact, does remain in its furthest
southeast position for a period of three days, before resuming
its northerly movement. Depending on one's physical position in the
northern hemisphere, to the naked eye the sun's apparent journey
would halt for a period of almost two weeks to under a week.
Southern Hemisphere:
Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is on or about June 21st,
it is when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, furthest
north in its annual migration pattern. In the Northern Hemisphere,
it is Summer Solstice. During this time the north is receiving far
more direct sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere due to
the Northern pole begin tilted towards the sun.
Go to TopFestivals Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeWinter Solstice Celebrations and Customs Introduction:
The word winter comes from the Old English root word Wed, meaning water
and also wet. In the Germanic word for winter is wintruz meaning the
"wet season", thus winter was always taken for a wet and thus
uncomfortable period of time. The Welsh word for winter, Gaeafu,
means not only winter but hibernate as well, a sentiment
we can all understand when winter is upon us.
In the larger sense Winter Solstice is the time of seasonal renewal,
the beginning of an emergence from winter, and from communal and
personal hibernation. It is the time of internal and external
renewal, as the Sun renews and begins its return
journey to spring, so too does the soul.
Since times no longer remembered, Winter Solstice was a time of
celebration, for it meant the turning point of winter and the
eventual arrival of spring. The return, the rebirth, of the
Sun was celebrated merrily across the globe with rituals that
span back through the reaches of all time. Winter Solstice
was called Mid-Winter, in reflection that from this point
forward the sun was beginning its return journey to its summer zenith.
Winter Solstice is the season of light and dark, of chaos and order,
of upheaval and stability, of despair and hope, of sorrow and joy,
of old and new, it is the season of change, and change, then again.
It is a time to look deep inside the darkness, deep into the abyss,
into the unknown, deep into the chaos, into that is arcane
and mysterious and find that new hope, that new light that guides
us through, that light that lend its strength to understand and
that light that prevails over the ever encroaching darkness.
Winter serves as a reminder that chaos and darkness does indeed
exist and does at times, in fact, threaten to overtake our lives,
our world and being. Chaos and darkness touch upon our very basal
fears of being consumed by the seemingly ever-expanding void of disorder.
Stirring those worries that hit our primeval determinations of survival.
Causing doubts that we will lose all we have created,
all we have known and all we have ever hoped for.
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Like the darkness in winter, the light never truly goes away,
but rather it withdraws and does eventually return, always. Light,
ebbs and flows with the rhythms of all time, the rhythm that is life,
death and life once more, the rhythms by which existence dances.
We assume that in an idealistic state there would be balance between light
and dark always, idealistic or not? This idealistic world would be
stagnant, arduous, never changing. If perfect balance existed continually
between the light and the dark, we would be apathetic, unchallenged,
and ordinary. For it is in this eternal ebb and flow of life that we
find that beauty that is hope, compassion, love, grace and light.
We would never reach the heights of rapture and understanding
of ourselves that only the battle and victory over darkness can
bring. Darkness exists for the very good reason that without it,
there would be no light, there would be no opportunity to find
that strength that dwells deep within us, to touch the face of
compassion, to understand that we need not fear the darkness
for it allows us to find that inner light, and in understanding
we find the path to the wisdom that only comes through our
comprehension that darkness dwells so can we find the true light
that resides within. It is this light that becomes the beacon
of our lives, our understanding and our being, it guides us through
the darkest times and brightens our journey in merry times,
once found it is never lost for it is a part of who we are
and the gift we bring to others.
Winter Solstice and its celebrations serve to remind us not to become
fully engulfed by darkness, but rather choose to understand it
and the gift it can bestow in the form of hope.
The Winter Solstice has always been associated with the return of the Light,
the Sun and Hope as well as the retreat of the Darkness, Chaos and Despair.
It is the time when the young king battles for control of the year from
the old king, when the young God challenge the old God, when the Light
takes domination from the Darkness, when Order is reinstated, when the
Sun returns and with the young God takes command of the year.
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Although folk customs may vary, the theme remains the same -- it is the
time of the return of the light, the sun, order, hope, remembrance of
the ancestors and the times before. Acknowledgement of the rhythms of
life, the need for order from chaos, the victory of light over the impending
darkness all herald winter celebrations. As too is the knowledge that we,
as the children of our ancestors, sprung forth, as their symbol of hope
and promise and too that our children hold our hope and promise of life
and that above all, the spark of hope is always there.
Essential to all Solstice celebrations is Light -- in times past this
was hearth fire, bonfire, and candles. Light and its consequential heat,
were imperative to survival in the winter months. Light and fire also
symbolized the return of the light in the form of the sun and a return
to the glorious days of spring, summer, harvests and times of abundance.
Periods of somber, serious rituals, which were encompassed in a sense
of urgency, were followed by feasts, gift giving, the visit of
otherworldly gift givers, visiting, celebrations of family and friends
and wonderful festivity mark Winter Solstice celebrations. The struggle,
both personal and tribally, that was needed to endure winter was
recognized and understood, as was the need to celebrate the midpoint
success of doing so as one's spirit can begin to wane mid-winter these
festivities served as reminder that one was not alone and that
the splendid days of spring and summer were indeed returning.
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Winter Solstice rituals and celebrations recognize that this darkness is not
just the physical darkness of winter, but also the darkness that creeps into
our minds, clouds our vision, brings despair and hopelessness. The Light of
Winter Solstice is as much about the outer light as it is about the inner
light, that light which will guide us through our darkest times and serve
as a beacon by which to live our lives.
The effort needed to overcome any area of darkness should never be trivialized
or left without recognition, for it is the greatest battle we face, one
certainly we could loose. However once battled and conquered, one always
knows that one can again look into the face of darkness and be victorious.
Winter Solstice is a time that is marked by stories of those who have
large changes of heart, of generosity, forgiveness, understanding,
a time that is marked by those better qualities of humanity.
It is only the journey through darkness that can bring true
understanding of life's journey and reminds us of what is truly important.
Symbolizing the impending chaos, role reversals were common, mock kings,
who were slaves that became the owners for a period of time. As well as
the practice of slaves and owners, rich and poor, those considered
unlikely dining partners ate together. Winter Solstice practices such
as these offered not only restructured the chaos but also offered a
period of time to atone and release ourselves from old practices and
patterns and offer us an opportunity to restructure our relationships.
For the Light of Hope ever-present at Winter Solstice, offers us not only
the light to see clearly but also an opportunity and a vehicle to create
change. Allowing us time for new resolutions, for life changes, it is
the opportunity that warms the heart and soul, and allows us to soften
and transform, as the light transforms the winter.
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Dramatizations of the Old King of the waning year and the New King of the
waxing year were ever dominant of mid-winter celebrations. Passion plays
of the struggle of the Holly King, he who rules winter, against the Young
Oak King, he who rules summer for domination of the year were played out.
In some areas, the ruler stepped down, went on a symbolic hunt assisting
the God of Light regain His power, upon his return ascended to power once more.
The Solstices have been celebrated throughout all time by indigenous folk
throughout the world, from the Celt lands to the mountains of South America,
from the far northern reaches of Norway to the eastern reaches of the Orient,
from Mesopotamia to Rome, from Persia to Russia and into Greece, we find the
celebration of light and the return of sun during Mid-Winter.
Ancient customs and folklore still permeate current winter celebrations worldwide;
we need only to look with an open heart and open mind to find the never-ending
cycle that is life. Winter Solstice affords us the opportunity to deepen our
relationship with the world, to give meaning through understanding,
a chance to make the mundane and ourselves sacred.
Personally, Winter Solstice is the time when we honor the Goddess for giving birth
to the Sun once more. It is the time we celebrate the victory of the Oak King over
the Holly King, the Holly King representing death and darkness and the waning sun,
and the Oak King representing the rebirth, life and the waxing sun.
Winter Solstice is the time of rituals and celebrations centered on renewal,
increasing light, and to see the world through the wondrous eyes of a child.
Spells to raise our spirits bring harmony, peace, and joys are done.
It is at Winter Solstice we strive to see the wisdom harvested from past experiences
begin to glimmer, and in that glimmer we find hope, understanding and a renewed sense
of being and direction. It is now we strive to have those personal experiences we
yielded over the harvest season of the times gone past, begin to be reborn with
as wisdom, new light, to guide us further down the Paths we have chosen to trod.
We decorate a tree; adorn the house with holly, ivy, pine and other evergreens to
remind us that life is present even in death; they are entwined and never parted.
We are visited Solstice eve by Father Winter, a white bearded chap dress in red,
fur trimmed robes, who arrives bearing gifts to surprise the children on Solstice
morning. We also exchange gifts and cards with family, friends and love ones,
acknowledging their light and love in our lives.
Go to TopFestivals Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe Real Meaning of YuleA Reading:
Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock,
"Now they are all on their knees,"
An elder said as we sat in a flock
By the embers in hearthside ease.
We pictured the meek mild creatures where
They dwelt in their strawy pen,
Nor did it occur to one of us there
To doubt they were kneeling then.
So fair a fancy few would weave
In these years! Yet, I feel,
If someone said on Christmas Eve,
"Come; see the oxen kneel
"In the lonely barton by yonder coomb
Our childhood used to know,"
I should go with him in the gloom,
Hoping it might be so.
("The Oxen" by Thomas Hardy)
Go to TopFestivals Main ListMain List IndexRandom Madness HomeThe real meaning of Christmas. What is it?
I keep hearing that we have lost sight of the real meaning.
Too much Santa Claus. Too much emphasis on gift-giving.
Too much feasting and making merry and mistletoe
and not enough talk about the baby Jesus!
I'd like to offer a slightly unorthodox version of the real
meaning of these holidays. But first we've got to do some
straightening out about some facts.
First, Jesus was not born on December 25. Couldn't have been.
There were no "shepherds watching their flocks by night" in
or near Bethlehem in December. Sheep were taken on a constant
journey all year long, spending certain seasons in certain
parts of Israel. In December, the sheep would have been across
the Jordan river (having been taken over the "Valley of
the Shadow of Death," a real river crossing described by
a shepherd psalmist named David), miles from Bethlehem.
Shepherds would have been in Bethlehem only in the spring.
In fact, the church celebrated Jesus' birthday in the spring for
hundreds of years, until it saw that the masses had their biggest
festival on December 25 and moved his birthday to mid-winter.
This wintry season has nothing whatsoever to do with Jesus the Nazarene.
Second, a mid-winter's festival on or about December 25 is an
ancient event predating Christianity (and Judaism) by
thousands of years. The festival traditionally featured gift-giving,
evergreens, lots of food, circular wreaths, fires, and (in the north)
a flaming yule log plus holly and mistletoe. Sound familiar?
The evergreens, holly and mistletoe symbolized life in the
midst of winter. The fires, log and wreaths symbolized the reborn
sun at the winter solstice. The food and gifts were in honor
of the bounty to return with spring.
Virtually nothing in the modern-day celebration of Christmas
has anything whatsoever to do with Christianity.
Third, Santa Claus is not Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus pre-dates
Nicholas by thousands of years and was a traditional element of the
ancient mid-winter's festival. Santa Claus today might be traveling
under a bit of an alias, yet he actually has much more right to
this holiday season than does the baby Jesus.
Face it, there is something comforting about Santa Claus.
He's a friendly old fellow. Does only good things.
Lives far away in the northlands.
Laughs a lot. Likes children.
And, as I say, he fits in better at Christmastime than
all that stuff about the Christ-child.
Evidence indicates that the Christ-thing is just window-dressing
added on to an ancient festival to make it more palatable to the
Church, and that the whole rigmarole about magi and shepherds
and mangers is part of a charade that the mass of people put
up with in order to be able to celebrate
Yule as they have for thousands of years.
I submit that to be true. And that the way we celebrate Yule today is quite
fittingly similar to the way our nordic ancestors celebrated it long
before Christianity arrived on the scene.
Yule, of course, is the time of the winter solstice. The word is
derived from two ancient words: one meaning "to turn" and thus similar
to the Latin word "solstice" (describing the sun's standing still
before it turns). And the other meaning "feast" and describing the
eating that traditionally went on at the solstice season.
(The ancients apparently liked puns as well as we do!
They combined the two words into one season:
"jul geol" (pronounced "yule yule") would
mean "feasting at the solstice.")
This season traditionally was celebrated
by our nordic ancestors like this:
A large log would be burned in the home,
a symbol of the sun's warmth. Candles would be lit throughout
the house, symbolizing the sun's light. A fir tree (usually
undecorated) would be placed in the house because the
evergreen was a promise of coming spring. Mistletoe, another
plant that was green in winter
(and which lived on the sacred oak), also would be brought
into the home. It was believed that enemies meeting beneath
a mistletoe-bearing oak tree would become friends at least
for the day, and that couples kissing beneath the mistletoe
would be married within the coming year. Kissing beneath the
mistletoe was a way of announcing your engagement.
Gifts would be given to friends and family. Singing and dancing,
usually in circles witchcraft style would be featured at Yule.
The word "carol" derives from a Greek word meaning
"to chorus with flutes" (compare "choreography") and referred to
the popular circle dances of pre-Christian Europe.
Drama would be used, and often gifts would be brought
by a symbolic figure. In Russia, children to this day
receive gifts from "babushka" or grandmother, a winter
figure, or by Father Winter. Father Christmas was the
name used in England for awhile. Before the Christians,
he was called Father Winter in England as well. The Germans
called him Knecht Ruprecht Knight Robert.
Originally, he was someone quite different!
Gradually the gift-giver in Christianized Europe took on other forms.
In Italy, the gift-giver is called the Christ-child. German children
once called this the Krist-kindel, which became
eventually our alternate name for Santa Claus: Kris Kringle.
Food, of course, was important at Yule. Fruit, candied or preserved,
would be served. (The fruitcake, and plum pudding, are modern
equivalents.) A major meal would be served on the day of winter
solstice –with a roast pig or goose (the turkey,
of course, is an American species).
If this all sounds familiar it's because our culture hasn't really
changed the holiday much over the years. They've added new names
and tried to put new meanings onto things,
but really haven't changed things a lot.
The central figure of our holidays is a person called
Santa Claus. Not Jesus. Not Mary and certainly not Joseph.
Let's look at Santa Claus a minute. Nicholas was a bishop in the
city of Myra in Asia Minor. The historical reality is just that.
He was supposed to have been imprisoned by the Emperor Diocletian
and later released by Constantine. And he died about the year
400. Around the turn of the first millennium, his remains were dug
up by Italian merchants and taken to the city of Bari in Italy.
Nicholas hated to see women unmarried, so he went around giving money
to unmarried women so they could have a dowry and get married.
That's it. The myths, of course, are numerous. He is a patron saint
of mariners, of unmarried women, and of children. He was supposed to
have given gifts by throwing money in the windows of homes (always of
unmarried women, of course). The church recognizes his
feastday as December 6.
At some point, his name was transferred to the gift-giver of Yule.
Dutch children brought their favorite Yuletide character,
"Sinter Klaus," to New Holland (later New York) and English children
picked up the name. And the church pretended that "Santa Claus" was
the Dutch pronunciation of "Saint Nicholas." Not only is that not
true, but no Asia Minor bishop would have been caught dead wearing
furs and red clothes and driving a sled pulled by reindeer.
Santa Claus, I'm afraid, is not Saint Nicholas. Santa Claus is
someone altogether different. The common people of medieval times
probably thought it a great joke on the church to call their gift-
giver "Saint Nick"! Nick was the usual name for the consort of the
Goddess in pagan Europe (compare our expression "Old Nick"
for the devil.) Nick was one of the names given to the
most popular of the pagan gods.
Before the Aesir the stern warlike gods of the Norse led by one-eyed
Odin – were worshipped by the peoples of northern Europe, another
race of gods were revered, the Vanir. Later myths place the two
races of gods side by side in the nordic pantheon, though sometimes
they seem to be opposed to one another.
The reality is that the Vanir are the original gods worshipped in
northern Europe and the Aesir are the usurpers, the gods worshipped
by the warlike hordes which overran Europe
not long after the advent of Jesus.
The Vanir were gentle farming deities, led by Erda, earth,
also called The Goddess. When the warrior classes conquered the
aboriginal farmers, Erda was destroyed, but some of the Vanir, like
Niord and Freya, survived. In the place of a seasonal honoring of
earth and sky and weather, was placed a stern, vengeful set of gods
who lived in Valhalla (the Hall of Death) and honored
war and killing and dying.
One other of the Vanir refused to die. The rulers might honor
stern Odin (or Woden, for Wednesday is his), but the common people
preferred the kind god Thor, Thunder. The rulers later transferred
the day and the honor of Odin to Peter who is worshiped by the
church each Wednesday! And the people transformed Thor into Santa Claus.
Who was Thor? Thor was originally the son of Erda and was associated
with the sun and with fire. As such, he is the same as the druidic
"Be al," and the Phoenician "Baal" and the Roman Apollo or Mithras.
And as such he shares their birthdate for the sun is reborn
each year at the winter solstice.
Thor was worshipped in every home: his altar was nothing but the
chimney itself! When a person translocated he or she would take
the entire fireplace, or at least a brick from the fireplace,
so that Thor would have a place to live. The first European
structure in Iceland was a chimney transferred intact
from Norway as an altar to Thor.
Thor was dressed always in red the color of fire
with fur boots and hat. He visited homes by coming down the
chimney, of course. He drove a chariot pulled by two goats
(called Cracker and Gnasher). He lived in the Northlands,
in a castle surrounded by icebergs. He was elderly, always
jovial and laughing, and of heavy build. He could be expected
to visit between December 21 and 25 and would
bring gifts when he came.
Our modern Santa, of course, lives at the North Pole, drives a
sled pulled by reindeer and … that's really about all the
difference I can think of. Two of Santa's reindeer, fittingly,
are called Donner and Blitzen, and it's only right that Thor's
sled should be pulled by thunder and lightening!
Santa Claus is the god Thor. The Dutch name Sinter Klaus was
the children's title for Thor as the Yuletide gift-giver.
It means simply "Klaus of the cinders." However much rulers
try to substitute the stern Yahwehs and Odins for the gentler
goddess and her children, the people will refuse and will
continue to worship as they feel best.
The church has known this for all time, of course. Much of the
history of Christendom has involved an attempt by the Church
to abolish Christmas. Christmas was completely banned over
and over again throughout the Medieval period, only to be
reborn again by popular demand. The Puritans in England
tried to abolish Christmas and faced rioting which
virtually destroyed some cities!
Every year I hear people attacking Christmas as being too
"commercialized," that is, too much Santa and not enough
Jesus. That, of course, is hogwash. Christmas is commercial
because we happen to live in a commercial, capitalistic society.
As long as we choose this form of society, don't knock our most
popular folk holiday as reflecting that form of society.
My feeling, of course, is that there is too much Jesus
and not enough Thor – or Santa, if you will. Some years ago
I formed the National "Keep Christ Out of X-mas" Committee.
I might be the most active member but I think it's necessary
that we remember our true roots as human beings. I'd like us
not to forget the old ways, not to lose touch with our ancient
verities, not to fall from the path of the Goddess.
The solstice, the time of the turning of the sun in its path
down toward darkness, is a time of looking back and of looking
forward. It's a time of analyzing one's life
and making changes, if necessary.
The solstice is a time of being thankful for life itself.
That is the meaning of the fires and the evergreens.
Life is precious and we need a time of year to express that
preciousness. For had the sun not turned each year, there
would be no spring and no life at all. Yuletide is a time
of joy and happiness, a time of honoring the fact of life itself.
And the Yule is a time for reaching out to others.
To bring people in to our homes, to give gifts to children
and grownups, to provide aid to those in need. This again,
is an extension of the joy of life itself. And is a reflection
of the concept in ancient goddess-worship that all humankind
are of one family. Of one flesh. Of one kind.
There is much meaning in the festival of the Yule.
The northern people at this season wish "God Jul" or
a "Merry Solstice." The word "merry" did not originally
mean "joyful," but meant: "peaceful." In the carol,
"God rest ye merry, gentlemen," the wish is that
they remain peaceful and contented.
That should be our wish this solstice season: may you be
peaceful and contented in the year to come. May you be
grateful for continued life and have good health the
year through. May the goodness and kindness personified
in the image of the good god Thor be yours, not just at Yule,
but all the year around. God Jul! And Blessed Be!
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Random Madness Home PageA Warm Yule and Winter
As we approach the shortest days of the year, our house is a snug
haven from the cold rain and winds of autumn. The horses' coats
are thick and full in preparation for the cold days ahead.
We watch the steady retreat of the Sun. Each day, it sets just
a bit earlier and farther south over the distant hill.
We spend time preparing gifts for our loved ones: homemade soap
in a variety of scents and colors brightly wrapped in baskets;
felt "melted" snowmen from a pattern at the craft store.
We bake and decorate holiday cookies and get messy making
gingerbread houses out of graham crackers and lots of frosting.
I gather fir boughs and wire them to a frame, then attach a
bright plaid bow. Soon a sweetly scented wreath hangs
cheerily on the front door.
My husband makes his annual trek up our tall ladder, standing
precariously as he strings holiday lights all along
the roofline. One year, he fell off the roof as he strung
lights. Fortunately for him, a potted rosebush broke his fall.
It wasn't quite so fortunate for the rosebush or its pot.
This year, I remember to send a little extra protective
energy his way as he heads up with hands full of lights.
He takes the children down to the bottom of our property
where the former owners planted a grove of evergreen trees.
They choose a fine Douglas fir for our Yule tree and
triumphantly drag it up the hill to the house.
As they huff and puff from the strain, the curious horses follow them.
Inside the house, I've prepared a place for this lovely tree,
and we spend the evening stringing lights and placing ornaments
on it. The scent fills the house. We discuss every ornament,
for they all have meaning and memories. Some are from my
childhood, and some belonged to my grandparents. Each year,
the children are given one new ornament each for
their own collections. We have many stars on our tree!
Finally, the Sun halts its southward journey. It seems to stand
still for a day or two. On the longest night, our family holds
vigil and awaits the rebirth of the Sun. The Holly King arrives
and leaves gifts under the tree and in our stockings.
My husband and son reenact the Oak King/Holly King duel,
with the Oak King triumphing at this turn of the Wheel.
We bid good-bye to the ancient Holly King, ruler of the
darkening days, and celebrate the birth of the Oak
King who rules the brightening days.
A few days later, we're able to mark the slight northward
passage of the setting sun behind the hill. The growing
days give us hope as we enter into the coldest and
stormiest time of the year. We eagerly await Imbolc
and our local BrighidFest,
which marks the beginning of the end of winter.
I take my spinning wheel to the Brighidfest and demonstrate
how to spin wool. I have a steady stream of people, men
and women, eager to try their hand at spinning.
Most of them get the knack of it enough to take home
a length of lumpy yarn that they spun themselves.
Truly a bit of real magick!
Imbolc is traditionally the time of year to make candles.
This is something I've never done. I think it's time for
the children and I to try our hand at this new skill.
I ponder the endless possibilities: the colors,
the shapes and the scents. We have a huge collection of old
crayons that can be used for color, and some glitter,
and I can "frost" the candles by whipping some warmish
paraffin with the hand mixer. Oh my, what fun we're going to have!
I hope you have a warm and cozy winter,
filled with much love and learning.
GraphicsYuleAn Abbreviated History of Yule
The Astronomy and Science behind Winter Solstice
The Real Meaning of Yule
The real meaning of Christmas. What is it?
A Warm Yule and Winter
Graphics
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Yule An Abbreviated History of Yule The Astronomy and Science behind Winter Solstice The Real Meaning of Yule The real meaning of Christmas. What is it? A Warm Yule and Winter Graphics