Merry meet and brightest winter solstice blessings to all.
My name is Crow Moon and I'm a solitary Wiccan.
Today I will be speaking about some of the origins and traditions of Yule.
Yule is one of my favorite Wiccan Sabbats,
And it was the first one I celebrated when I started following the craft.
In the Northern Hemisphere,
Yule is celebrated on December 21st.
This is the winter solstice,
Meaning the shortest day and longest night of the year.
It is viewed as the rebirth of the sun.
Many Christmas traditions celebrated today have been adapted from Yule festivities,
Such as decorating a tree,
Hanging a wreath,
Lighting a Yule log,
Etc.
The concept of gift-giving at Christmas actually originated from the celebration of Yule,
When friends and neighbors came together to share what they had so that everyone could outlast the winter months.
When we think about our ancestors during the time of Yule,
We can perceive a long period of cold nights.
Families had stored up food for the winter,
Yet they look forward to the next planting season and the next harvest.
Their conditions were beyond trying,
But they still managed to make the season festive.
Perhaps the best message of Yule is encouraging us to stay uplifted during times that seem dismal.
Having a tree indoors is a traditional way of bringing nature inside in anticipation of the sun's return.
Similarly,
The Yule log is lit to bring warmth and light into the home and hearth.
As opposed to Christmas,
Yule is much more of a nature-based celebration.
The word Yule actually means wheel.
Accordingly,
Wreaths are created as decorations to celebrate the turn of the wheel of the year from darkness to light.
Traditionally,
Evergreen trees or evergreen sprigs are also brought into the home to remind us that life always continues and stands strong.
In my Yule celebrations,
I like to take evergreen sprigs,
Cinnamon sticks,
And dried orange slices and bind them into a wand to use during my Yule ritual to welcome the return of the sun.
My altar is also decorated with these items.
Drying orange slices and hanging them with a string is a very popular Yule activity and makes the home smell wonderful.
I also make Yule oil to dress my candles,
And I burn Yule incense throughout the month of December.
For Yule oil,
I typically use the following.
Sunflower oil as a carrier,
Adding in essential oils such as cedar,
Cinnamon,
Pine,
Frankincense,
Myrrh,
Orange,
And cloves.
Sunflower oil reminds us that the sun is making its return,
Even if we can't see or feel it at Yule.
Cedar is used for the creation of sacred space.
Pine is associated with home protection.
Pine can bring about healing,
Protection,
And energy.
Frankincense is a strong purifier.
Myrrh can bring about purification and healing.
Orange is associated with love and prosperity.
This can be used for mental clarity and psychic shielding.
Another seasonal practice I like to incorporate is mopping the floor with a mixture of moon water and evergreen or pine essential oil.
Evergreen trees stand tall during even the coldest times,
So I embrace that energy and add it to strengthen the foundation of my home and impart the same vibration of energy and strength.
The fragrance is nothing short of invigorating.
Some common foods for Yule include beef roast,
Oven roasted root vegetables,
Homemade cranberry sauce,
And baked apples.
Eating with the seasons allows us to attune to the seasons as they change.
Footsteps on frozen earth.
On this night there is rebirth.
The Yule fire is burning bright.
To keep us safe this longest night.
Footsteps on frozen earth.
On this night there is rebirth.
On this night there is rebirth.
I would now like to share with you a song I wrote to celebrate the winter solstice,
A crow in the Yule tree.
This is a song I wrote to celebrate the summer solstice.
Thank you for joining me in this short celebration of Yule.
Whatever your path or relationship with the Divine,
I wish you a wonderful and peaceful time during the winter solstice.
Merry did we meet,
Merry do we part,
And merry will we meet again.
The crow flies from me to thee.
You send the message,
Blessed be.
