Yule is the holiday associated with the Winter Solstice, which is the longest night of the year. Much celebration was made as this long, cold night marked the rebirth of the return of the Sun King, also known as the Oak King and the god of the wood. Holly, ivy, and mistletoe were used to decorate the inside and the outside of homes during this festive season. They worked as an invitation for the woodland sprites or faeries to come in join in the celebrations. Children would be given baskets lined with evergreen boughs and wheat stalks sprinkled with flour. The baskets also contained clove-spiked apples and oranges to carry from house to house to share good wishes for Yule. The evergreen boughs are symbolic of immortality, the wheat stalks the harvest, and the flour is for the triumph of light. The apples and oranges are symbols for the returning sun. This is a lovely tradition to do even today. Children and adults love Christmas parties and one way to share the spirit of Yule with those around you is to have a Yuletide party. Let the children invite their friends and neighbours you are friendly with. Then have a decorating party. Here's a suggestion on how to do it.

Have your children make invitations for the Yuletide Party. I usually draw out the shape of a few holly leaves and let the kids cut them out and colour them. Then, on the back, I write out the invitation. If your children are old enough, they can do this themselves. Next, either go on a hike and gather the holly, mistletoe, ivy, evergreen boughs, et cetera yourself, or hit the shops. Set all except the boughs and the wheat stalks aside for the party. If you cannot get wheat stalks, try straw, or make paper ones. Even broomstraw can be "wheat" for a day. Line a wicker basket with the evergreen boughs, placing the wheat stalks on top. Sprinkle the flour on top of the wheat. Be sure to explain the reasons you are doing this. The next activity is to take cloves and push them into apples and oranges.

I find that a firm apple such as a Gala apple works the best. The common Delicious apples tend to get wrinkly and go bad sooner, so I don't recommend using them. Small oranges will fit best in the basket, so I recommend not using Navel oranges unless you want a three orange and two apples basket! Wash the fruits and allow them to dry. Also have the children wash their hands thoroughly. Sit down with them and show them how to push the pointed end of the clove into the skin. Be careful, as they can be sharp. If your children are too young for this, let them take the finished product and place in the basket.

The day of the party, the children will be restless. Now is a good time to make cookies and cupcakes to serve as refreshments. When the guests arrive, start handing out the holly, ivy, and the mistletoe. Sing carols such as "Deck the Halls". Have fun. As each guest prepares to leave, have the children see them to the door and give them an apple or orange from the basket with a wish for a happy Yule. Alternatively, after decorating, you and your guests can go carolling door to door and pass out the apples and oranges with a happy Yuletide wish. Another great place to spread the Yuletide cheer is to contact the local retirement home and do it there for the residents. Each person can leave from your house in his own car and drive to the home. That way, they can all go straight home afterwards.