Yule coincides closely with the
Christian Christmas celebration and it also falls on the date that
the Sun enters the sign of Capricorn. The sun is at its most
southeastern point over the Tropic of Capricorn in the northern
hemisphere and has no apparent northward or southward motion.
What is
Yule?
Yule is a sabbat represents the rebirth of light. Here, on the
longest night of the year, the Goddess gives birth to the Sun child
and hope for new light is reborn. Yule is a time of awakening to
new goals and leaving old regrets behind. This day marks the
vanquishing of the Holly King, God of the waning year, by the Oak
King, God of the waxing year.
Since it appears that the sun's light is growing as each day passes
after this one, this holiday is celebrated as the birth of the sun.
The Sun is considered to represent the Male Divinity in many Pagan
Traditions and so this time is celebrated as the "return of the Sun
God" where He is reborn of the Goddess.
~*~ Winter Solstice, Yule
& Christmas ~*~
The Winter Solstice had been associated with the birth of a "Divine
King" long before the rise of Christianity. Yule is about renewal,
re-birth, returning hope and life. It has never truly changed its
meaning, as many of the Pagan Gods and Heroes were born at this
time: Apollo, Dionysus, Horus, Mithra, and so on. Jesus, Son of
God/Sun God is not alone in this time of renewal. In this instance
the Christian church decided to celebrate the birth of their savior
at the time the pagans celebrated a festival that focused upon the
rebirth of the "Sun God." Thus they have made it the birthday of
their "Son of God". Yule and Christmas are not so very different in
reality. Both celebrate the arrival of the sun/son or, as Christ
has been called, the light of the world.
Emperor Aurelian established December 25 as the birthday of the
"Invincible Sun" in the third century as part of the Roman Winter
Solstice celebrations. Shortly thereafter, in 273, the Christian
church selected this day to represent the birthday of Jesus, and by
336, this Roman solar feast day was Christianized. January 6,
celebrated as Epiphany in Christendom and linked with the visit of
the Magi, was originally an Egyptian date for the Winter
Solstice.
Yule
Tradition
The Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the
Pagan Yule celebration. Pagan families would bring a live tree into
the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm during
the cold winter months. Bells were hung in the limbs so you could
tell when a spirit was present. Food and treats were hung on the
branches for the spirits to eat and a five pointed star, the
pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop the tree.
The colours of the season, red and green, are also of Pagan origin.
A solar festival, Yule is celebrated by fire and the use of a Yule
log. A piece of the log is saved and kept throughout the year to
protect the home. That piece is used to light the next year's
log.
>*< Yule Blessings
>*<
"Upon the Winter Solstice the longest day of the year,
I celebrate and give thanks with yuletide cheer,
Ancient ones; Solar God and Mother Earth
blessed be now my home and hearth
by luminous candles I caste
and weave this blessing to make it last !"
Merry Meet To All,
I hereby wish everyone, "A Blessed Yule On The Rebirth Of The Sun,
A Joyful Winter Solstice With Reunion Of Your Love Ones, A Merry
Christmas Blessed with Joy, Health & Abundance!"
)O( Brightest Blessings,
Oceanos
