Get Ready for Yule! Day 3 Day 3: Ritual and Ceremony from Patti Wigington When it comes time to celebrate Yule, there are a variety of ways you can mark the winter solstice. Start by setting up a Yule altar of your own, and then begin planning rituals for your family or friends. Here are some ideas for ritual celebrations that signify the longest night of the year. Setting up your Yule altar Not sure what to put on the Yule altar? Think seasonal! Anything that represents the aspects of the sun or the winter season is fair game. Here are some quick tips on how to set up your family or coven's Yule altar. Yule is the time of year when Pagans and Wiccans celebrate the Winter Solstice. If you're in the Northern Hemisphere, this will be on around December 21, but if you're below the Equator, your Yule celebration will fall in June. This Sabbat is considered the longest night of the year, and following Yule, the sun begins its long journey back to earth. Try some or even all of these ideas -- obviously, space may be a limiting factor for some, but use what calls to you most. Colors of the Season: Winter is here, and even if the snow hasn't fallen yet, there's a definite chill in the air. Use cold colors to decorate your altar, such as blues and silvers and whites. Also find ways to include the reds and golds of the sun. Evergreen boughs never go out of style, so add some dark greens as well. Cover your altar with a cloth in a cool color, and then add candles in a variety of different wintery shades. Use candles in silvers and golds -- and sparkle is always good too! Symbols of Winter: Yule is a Sabbat that reflects the return of the sun, so add solar symbols to your altar. Gold discs, yellow candles, anything bright and shiny can represent the sun. Some people even get a large pillar candle, inscribe it with solar symbols, and designate it as their sun candle. You can also add evergreen boughs, sprigs of holly, pinecones, a Yule log, and even Santa Claus. Consider antlers or reindeer, along with other symbols of fertility. Other Signs of the Season: There's no limit to the number of things you can put on your Yule altar, as long as you've got the space. Consider some of these items as part of your Sabbat decor: Fruit and nuts Mistletoe Snowflakes, icicles, even a bowl of snow Candy canes Bells Sun Wheels Prayers for Yule Looking for the right prayer to say at Yule? Try one that welcomes the sun either in the morning or at night, or perhaps one honoring the old gods. Finally, consider a prayer honoring Ra, the sun god -- after all, Yule is all about the return of the sun! Welcome Back the Sun for Yule Yule is the day when the sun begins its long journey back to earth, warming it a little more each day. Invite friends and family to join you for this rite that welcomes back the sun, and can be combined with your Yule-night feast. Goddess Ritual for Yule In some Wiccan traditions, the winter solstice is a time to bid the Crone farewell, and invite the Maiden back into our lives. This ritual is designed for a group to perform. If you're not part of a group, don't worry -- you can still do a goddess ritual. Instead, try the Goddess Rite for Solitaries. Family Yule Log Ceremony Try this family Yule log ceremony, so that parents and kids can celebrate the season together. This ritual is appropriate for family members of any age -- even your littlest ones can welcome back the sun! Yule Cleansing Ritual Think you've accumulated too much stuff over the past year? You're not alone. Before you get too involved in the Yule gift-giving season, perform a cleansing ritual to help clear out not only the physical baggage but the emotional as well.     Assembled By Carmel HTML By Wendy