Celebrating Yule

Our Yule is not entirely unlike the Christian Christmas, as we celebrate the rebirth of the Sun God. As we celebrate this sabbat, we are aware of the growing light.

We are also celebrating family and friends at this time. Gift-giving is also a part of our Sabbat. It is interesting what things the Christian faith took from Pagan life and celebrations. We decorate a Yule tree, as well as our homes, and we even think about nature at this time.

Yule rituals require a lot of lights (candles), and the use of bells to welcome back the Sun God. Useful spells for Yule include ones for peace, love and happiness. Yule is also a good time for future planning.

The symbols for Yule are important. Light a Yule log in the fireplace, or three candles that have been placed in a log. Wreaths are important, as they also symbolize the Wheal of the Year. I like to hang mistletoe as well. I try to have a gold pillar candle on hand, as well as a fruit bowl/basket with oranges and other citrus/golden colored fruits.

For incense, I tend to use pine, cinnamon or frankinsence.

I also cook with herbs and spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and pumpkin pie spice.

I like red, green and white at Yule. I also like silver.

The stones that I used this past Yule were bloodstone.

There are many fun things to do at Yule. Many people like to visit their loved ones, though I am a homebody. I have my sister and nephews over for some gift-giving. And I send them away with gifts to deliver to others. We ring the bells here. We actually decoarate the Yule tree on Thanksgiving, though we may be changing this next Yule.

We  feed the birds and small critters. We take two big bowls and fill them with birdseed, nuts, sunflower seeds, crumbled crackers, cranberries, leftover popcorn and bread.  Split into two teams, one team taking the front yard and the other team taking the back yard, and sprinkle the food all over the lawns.

Sometimes we even make pinecone feeders and hang fruit in the trees for the birds. At this time, we also remove the halved pumpkins from our autumn celebrations.

Brighid is my deity at this time of the year, as always.