Yule, also known as the Winter Solstice, occurs on December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere and June 20th–21st in the Southern Hemisphere. This is when the Earth’s axis is furthest from the sun, making it the longest night of the year. It is known as a Pagan holiday that honors the sun.
Yule, one of the oldest winter solstice festivals, originated from the Germanic people. It is agreed among scholars, despite the origins ultimately being hard to trace, that the celebration began as the Norse festival known as “Jol.” The earliest known reference was from an English historian named Bede. It was written in the old pagan calendar as “giuli,” a Norse holiday that took place between the two months that observed the time when the sun started to increase after the solstice.
There are differing variations on how the holiday was originally celebrated. Some say the celebration started in the middle of November, and was a multiple-month celebration. Others refer to smaller celebrations, such as a 12-day celebration starting on the Solstice or a three-day feast starting on the holiday’s eve. These celebrations continue through the night to welcome in the sun after a long period of darkness.
This holiday celebrates the rebirth of the sun, featuring new beginnings and transformation. Around this time, Pagans share gifts and feast together. It is a time to self-reflect, bring in the new year and welcome the sun. Symbols include light and fire. It is believed by some historians that sacrificial offerings were made to the gods or elves.
A Yule Tree is typically an evergreen because it represents life still flourishing through the cold and dark times. The tree was decorated with natural decorations and symbols that were dedicated to gods and goddesses. A mistletoe was used by Druid priests during the Solstice because it represented fertility, bringing a female element to the holiday. The mistletoes were harvested from sacred trees where a woman would gather under and collect the fallen branches because they were so sacred. The Yule Log stems from the Scandinavians as an offering to Thor. The fire produced from the log is supposed to keep spirits out of the home during the longest night. It is typically a piece of wood that is adorned with ribbon and decorations or a cake and it represents health and prosperity.
By the ninth century, Yule was referred to as Christmas. The two were merged during the reign of King Haakon of Norway. After visiting England, the King became a Christian and made it a law that Yule should be celebrated at the same time as Christmas.
Yule is mainly celebrated by Pagans and Wiccans. For Wiccans, Yule falls in the second Sabbat of the year on the Wheel of the Year. Some choose to recreate a battle between Holly King (representing dark) and Oak King (representing light.) Others choose to stick to ancient tradition by burning Yule Logs and feasting with the people closest to them to bring in a time of light marked with fulfillment.
