Get Ready for Yule! Day 7

from Patti Wigington

Day 7: Your Yule Celebration

In many Pagan and Wiccan celebrations, often the cornerstone of a successful Sabbat is the food. Yule is a time of rich, delicious cooking for many of us, so start planning your menu ahead of time. Open up your hearth and home for your guests, and once you're seated at your meal, take a moment to be thankful for all the bounty and blessings you have before you this Yule season!

Meal Blessings for Pagans and Wiccans

Many religions celebrate the consumption of food with some sort of prayer of thanksgiving. Many Pagans and Wiccans believe that not only should we thank the gods for our food, but also the earth and the food itself. Any of the following may be said over a meal, a Cakes and Ale ceremony, or any other event where food is served.

Make a Pot of Wassail

Wassail was originally a word that meant to greet or salute someone -- groups would go out wassailing on cold evenings, and when they approached a door would be offered a mug of warm cider or ale. Over the years, the tradition evolved to include asperging the crops to ensure fertility. This recipe makes your house smell beautiful for Yule... and while it's simmering, why not go out a-wassailing?

Hot Buttered Rum

Buttered rum was a popular recipe in colonial America, and it's easy to see why -- it's GOOD. You can brew this up in your crockpot, ladle out a nice big mug and sit by the fire on a chilly winter evening. It's the perfect warm drink for Yule.

Sunshine Skillet

When the sun comes up on Yule morning, there's nothing quite like it. If your family celebrates with a solar ritual, after you're done, head to the kitchen for a big breakfast. This sunny skillet dish is full of good stuff -- if you're vegetarian, simply substitute something else for the sausage, or leave the meat out altogether. Quick tip: do some of the prep work the day before, so you don't have to spend as much time in the kitchen on Yule!

Sun King Soup

The winter solstice marks the return of the sun, as it begins to make its way back towards the earth. Celebrate this festival of light with a nice rich bowl of Sun King Soup -- the bright sun colors and smooth texture are just the thing for either an appetizer, or a light meal at Yule.

Divine Peppermint Yule Fudge

Did you know that the scientific name for chocolate is theobrama cacoa, which translates to "food of the divine ones"? This recipe is so easy you can make it in your microwave, and keep it on hand in case company drops by at Yule. I'm firmly convinced that if Persephone had some of this ambrosia waiting for her above-ground, she'd have returned from the underworld a whole lot sooner.

Have a Magical Yule