Yule

Symbolism of Yule: Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

Symbols of Yule: Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus. 

Herbs of Yule: Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense, laurel, mistletoe, oak, sage, yellow cedar holly, rosemary, oak, spruce and pine cones, ivy, fir, poinsettia, "Christmas" flowering cactus.

Foods of Yule: Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule: Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon, rosemary, juniper, frankincense, sandalwood, myrrh.

Colors of Yule: Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule: Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Deities: Athena, Attis, Dionysus, Fates, Frey , Freyja, Hathor, Hecate, Ixchel, Kris Kringle (as the Pagan God of Yule), Lucina, Minerva, Neith,Norns, Odin, Osiris, Woden, and the Horned God.

Nature Spirits: Snow faeries, storm faeries, winter tree faeries.

Animals: Reindeer, the stag, mouse, deer, horse, bear.

Activities of Yule: Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule.

© Mara Freeman, 1999