Winter Solstice/Yule
circa December 21 Yuletid, Yuletide (Celtic, Norse), Christmas (Christian-25th), Saturnalia (Roman),
Alban Arthan (Welsh), Gwyl Canol Gaeaf (Welsh) 
When the Sun enters CAPRICORN, an Earth sign symbolic of PRACTICALITY, CONVENTION, PATIENCE, HUMOR, AMBITION & HOPE, we begin Yule. As we are practical about saving our stocks of food, money, and other necessities throughout the cold months, we are patiently waiting out the Winter with hope for the renewed life of Spring and warmth of the returning Sun, with Love and humor warming our hearts. This is the longest night and the shortest day of the year. The Yule log is lit, as well as candles, to symbolize the returning Sun and the rebirth of the savior child of the God and Goddess. This is the time to look at things around you as if seeing them for the first time...through the eyes of a child. A time of renewed Hope. 
HERBS/FLOWERS/INCENSE: sage, thistle, bayberry, mint, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, frankincense, myrrh, evergreens: holly, ivy, pine, rosemary, bay (laurel), juniper, cedar, fir, cypress, spruce; Mistletoe - a parasite found growing on trees, especially apple trees. The Druids would look for it on Oak trees (which is quite rare to find) in a acred grove. One of the priests, dressed in white, would climb the tree on Midsummer's Day (or when the moon was six days old), & cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle. The other priests would catch it in a white cloak below as it was forbidden to touch the ground. Mistletoe was also the one thing, in Norse mythology, that Frigga overlooked, and therefore was discovered by Loki and used to kill the beloved Balder using his own brother's hand. COLORS: Green, Red, White, Silver, Gold SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS: Yule log, candles, clove-studded fruit (representing the Sun); presents; mistletoe, holly, ivy, berry strings, popcorn strings, dried flower strings, evergreen wreaths, boughs, garlands, & trees; bells; Mother and newborn child images FOODS: Sun cakes, bread, grains, cookies, fruitcake, dried fruits, lemons, oranges, apples, pears, cranberries, nuts, popcorn, cider, ale, spiced drinks, egg nog, wassail, lamb's wool GODS/GODDESSES: Anu, Danu, Dana, Cerridwen (Celtic), Frigga, Freya (Norse), Neith, Isis-Meri (Egyptian), Diana (Roman), Maia (Greek), Maya (Buddhist), Mary (Christian), The Great Mother, Mother Goddesses Dagda, Cernunnos, Herne, Oak King (Celtic) Balder (Norse), Ra, Osiris, Horus (Egyptian), Mithras (Persian-Roman), Saturn (Roman), Apollo (Greek/Roman), Hermes, Dionysus/Bacchus (Greek), Buddha (Buddhist), Jesus (Christian), The Divine Child, newborn child/savior/Sun Gods RITUALS/ACTIVITIES: Lighting the Yule log, lighting candles, decorating the tree, baking, feasting, sharing, gift-giving, ringing bells, carolling, wassailing, rituals of protection, honoring the newborn child God and the Mother Goddess, making a sacrificial Yule Goat out of straw (Scandinavian), some cultures perform weddings at this time as well. ANIMALS/CREATURES: Deer, Caribou, Reindeer, Elk, Moose, Goat, Lamb, Pig, Cow, ..all cloven-footed animals GEMSTONES: bloodstone, ruby, garnet, cat's eye, emerald TAROT CARDS: Aces 
written by GypsyJaguar 2004 |
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