Christmas is over ... but there is still magic

There is always a big build up to Yule and Christmas, a lot of running around getting things ready, lots of stress and usually lots of money spent.  And then it seems that it is over and done in a flash and all you are left with is a few half eaten boxes of chocolates and an empty bank balance.  This time of year is depressing for most.

But I love the time between Christmas and New Year, the world seems to stand still just like the sun did at the Solstice, almost in a state of suspension ... holding its breath. It's a time out of time and very magical.   Yes I am back to work but it is quiet (for a change).  I'm able to do things at a leisurely pace at least until the world starts turning again.

The time between Christmas and New Year should be like this, we need this quiet time to recharge our batteries, to reflect, to make cunning plans (as I know Rachel has been doing) So I am grabbing this time with both hands and doing things I want to do.  I actually finished reading my book the other day, one I have been reading each night and but barely getting through a page before falling asleep (and that wasn't because the book was boring by the way)

This morning I witnessed a beautiful sun rise above my frost kissed garden and took a moment or maybe two to watch the birds feasting on the treats I'd left out for them.

On the Twelve Day of Yule - Yule Correspondences

Symbolism of Yule:

Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspection, Planning for the Future. Hope and Joy

Symbols of Yule:

Yule log, Evergreens; the three sacred plants: Holly, Mistletoe and Ivy. Santa, Sun Symbols, Reindeer, Tree Ornaments, Wassail, 

Herbs of Yule:

Bayberry, Caraway, Cinnamon, Cloves, Frankincense, Holly, Ivy, Juniper, Mistletoe, Oak, Pine.  

Foods of Yule:

Biscuits and Cookies, Fruits, Nuts, Turkey, Pheasant, Goose, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Mulled Wine, Spiced Cider.

Colors of Yule:

Red, Green, Gold, White, Silver, Yellow, Orange.

Stones of Yule:

Rubies, Bloodstones, Garnets, Emeralds, Diamonds.

Activities of Yule:

Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring the return of the sun

Spellworkings of Yule:

Peace, Harmony, Love, Increased Happiness, Wishes

On the Eleventh Day of Yule - Deities of Yule

While it may be mostly Pagans and Wiccans who celebrate the Yule holiday, nearly all cultures and faiths have some sort of winter solstice celebration or festival. Because of the theme of endless birth, life, death, and rebirth, the time of the solstice is often associated with deity and other legendary figures. No matter which path you follow, chances are good that one of your gods or goddesses has a winter solstice connection.

Ameratasu (Japan): In feudal Japan, worshippers celebrated the return of Ameratasu, the sun goddess, who slept in a cold, remote cave. When the the other gods woke her with a loud celebration, she looked out of the cave and saw an image of herself in a mirror. The other gods convinced her to emerge from her seclusion and return sunlight to the universe.

Baldur (Norse): Baldur is associated with the legend of the mistletoe. His mother, Frigga, honored Baldur and asked all of nature to promise not to harm him. Unfortunately, in her haste, Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant, so Loki - the resident trickster - took advantage of the opportunity and fooled Baldur's blind twin, Hod, into killing him with a spear made of mistletoe. Baldur was later restored to life.

Bona Dea (Roman): This fertility goddess was worshipped in a secret temple on the Aventine hill in Rome, and only women were permitted to attend her rites. Her annual festival was held early in December.

Cailleach Bheur (Celtic): In Scotland, she is also called Beira, the Queen of Winter. She is the hag aspect of the Triple Goddess, and rules the dark days between Samhain and Beltaine.

Demeter (Greek): Through her daughter, Persephone, Demeter is linked strongly to the changing of the seasons and is often connected to the image of the Dark Mother in winter. When Persephone was abducted by Hades, Demeter's grief caused the earth to die for six months, until her daughter's return.

Dionysus (Greek): A festival called Brumalia was held every December in honor of Dionysus and his fermented grape wine. The event proved so popular that the Romans adopted it as well in their celebrations of Bacchus.

Frau Holle (Norse): Frau Holle appears in many different forms in Scandinavian mythology and legend. She is associated with both the evergreen plants of the Yule season, and with snowfall, which is said to be Frau Holle shaking out her feathery mattresses.

Frigga (Norse): Frigga honored her son, Baldur, by asking all of nature not to harm him, but in her haste overlooked the mistletoe plant. Loki fooled Baldur's blind twin, Hod, into killing him with a spear made of mistletoe but Odin later restored him to life. As thanks, Frigga declared that mistletoe must be regarded as a plant of love, rather than death.

Holly King (British/Celtic): The Holly King is a figure found in British tales and folklore. He is similar to the Green Man, the archetype of the forest. In modern Pagan religion, the Holly King battles the Oak King for supremacy throughout the year. At the winter solstice, the Holly King is defeated.

Horus (Egyptian): Horus was one of the solar deities of the ancient Egyptians. He rose and set every day, and is often associated with Nut, the sky god. Horus later became connected with another sun god, Ra.

La Befana (Italian): This character from Italian folklore is similar to St. Nicholas, in that she flies around delivering candy to well-behaved children in early January. She is depicted as an old woman on a broomstick, wearing a black shawl.

Lord of Misrule (British): The custom of appointing a Lord of Misrule to preside over winter holiday festivities actually has its roots in antiquity, during the Roman week of Saturnalia.

Mithras (Roman): Mithras was celebrated as part of a mystery religion in ancient Rome. He was a god of the sun, who was born around the time of the winter solstice and then experienced a resurrection around the spring equinox.

Odin (Norse): In some legends, Odin bestowed gifts at Yuletide upon his people, riding a magical flying horse across the sky. This legend may have combined with that of St. Nicholas to create the modern Santa Claus.

Saturn (Roman): Every December, the Romans threw a week-long celebration of debauchery and fun, called Saturnalia in honor of their agricultural god, Saturn. Roles were reversed, and slaves became the masters, at least temporarily. This is where the tradition of the Lord of Misrule originated.

Spider Woman (Hopi): Soyal is the Hopi festival of the winter solstice. It honors the Spider Woman and the Hawk Maiden, and celebrates the sun's victory over winter's darkness.

source - paganwiccanabout.com

On the Tenth Day of Yule - Wassailing

Wassailing


Wassail comes form the name of an apple orchard fertility ritual, the term "wassail" came to us from the Anglo-Saxons and means to wish well, to hail or salute. 

The actual ritual was a matter of saluting the trees and sprinkling them with a mixture of eggs and apples to which wine, ale or cider was added.  This consecration was believed to increase the apple yield for the coming year.

But it wasn't just apple trees that were wassailed:  villagers travelled through their fields as well as orchards, singing their wassail songs and shouting to drive out evil spirits.  This they believed would encourage a bumper apple harvest and ensure fertility for their field crops too.  

Eventually, wassailing evolved into Christmas caroling, which became popular during the Victorian era, and is still seen today in many areas.  

Here are a couple of old Wassail sound I found on the internet

Gloucestershire Wassail (multiple versions available, believed to be Saxon in origin, Middle Ages)

Wassail, wassail all over the town

Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown,

We bring a bowl made of the white maple tree,

and with the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!

So here is to Cherry and to his right cheek,

the gods send our master a good piece of beef

and a good piece of beef that may we all see.

With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And a toast to Dobbin and to his right eye

pray the gods send our master a good Christmas pie

a good Christmas pie that may we all see.

With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!

So here's to Great Big Mary and her great big horn,

may the gods send Master a good crop of corn,

and a good crop of corn that may we all see.

With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And a toast to Moll and to her left ear,

may the gods send our master a happy New Year,

And a happy New Year as e'er he did see.

With the wassailing bowl, we'll drink to thee!

And here is to Auld Colleen and her long tail,

may the gods guard our master that he never fail,

a bowl of strong beer! I pray you draw near,

and our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear!

And here's to the maid in the lily white smock,

Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock,

Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin

For to let these jolly wassailers in!

Apple Tree Wassailing (Somerset, 18th Century or earlier)

Hurray, hurray, in our good town

The bread is white, and the liquor brown.

So here my old fellow I drink to thee,

and the long life of every other tree.

Well may you blow, well may you bear,

blossom and fruit both apple and pear.

So that every bough and every twig

may bend with a burden both fair and big.

May you bear us and yield us fruit such a store,

that the bags and chambers and house run o'er!

On the Ninth Day of Yule - The Yule Log

The Yule Log

In many places fires or candles were kindled to burn through the twelve days that marked the festivities. Another fire tradition was that of the Yule log, lit from the remains of last years log at sunset on the 25th of December or on The Winter Solstice. The Yule log was often of Oak, and the burned remains of it were thought to guard a home against fire and lightning. The ashes were also sprinkled on the surrounding fields to ensure good luck for the coming years harvest. The largest remaining part of the log was kept safe to kindle next years fire. Fraser in his book 'The Golden Bough' suggests that Midwinter was a major fire festival in ancient times, and it is highly probable that the Yule Log was a remnant of that tradition.


Most of us don't have real fires in our homes nowadays but you always bring in a log that you find on a woodland walk.  You can make holes so you can place candles in it and decorate it with evergreens.  If you are lucky enough to find a piece of oak and decorate it with holly that will just add to the Yuletide symbolism of the battle between the two Kings.  

The picture is my Yule Log which is part of my celebration every year.  We used it as part of our Kitchen Witch ritual last Yule.

On the Eigth Day of Yule - The Holly and Oak King

The Holly and Oak King

A common theme for Pagan's at Yule is the battle of the kings of the Holly and the Oak. The Holly King represents the waning year and The Oak King represents the waxing year.

At the Summer Solstice these great kings do battle but it is the Oak King that is defeated as the light of the day gives way to darkness as the Holly King takes his reign.  But at The Winter Solstice they do battle again and this time the Oak King will win and with his reign will come the return of the light.


The Holly and Oak King are the same king but with a twin soul.  They both rule for six months of the year, and are associated with the rites of the Solstice’s. They are both vegetation Gods/Deity’s connected to fertility and the seasons.

I have been to rituals were this great battle is re-enacted and it is amazing to see the story brought to life.

On the Seventh Day Of Yule - Mistletoe

Mistletoe - origins & trivia

The last in our Sacred trio of plants is the Mistletoe.  

The Mistletoe was held sacred by the Norse, the Celtic Druids and the North American Indians. The Druid priests would cut mistletoe from an oak tree with a golden sickle, although after reading Nimue Brown's blog yesterday I agree that the sickles probably weren't made of gold as the blade would never have been sharp enough. 

The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground. This probably stems from the fact that mistletoe never lays its roots into the ground but instead lives off the tree as a parasite.  

The branches were then divided into many sprigs and distributed to the people, who hung them over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. The folklore continued over the centuries. It was believed that a sprig placed in a baby's cradle would protect the child from goblins. Giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would protect the entire herd.

Mistletoe is a symbol for peace and joy. The idea originated in the ancient times of the Druids: whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. From this comes the custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of friendship and goodwill.

In the 18th Century, the exchanging of kisses between a man and a woman was adopted as a promise to marry. At Christmas a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe cannot refuse to be kissed. The kiss could mean deep romance, lasting friendship and goodwill. It was believed that if the girl remained unkissed, she cannot expect to marry the following year.

Druid priests employed mistletoe in their sacrifices to the gods while Celtic people felt it possessed miraculous healing powers. In fact, in the Celtic language mistletoe means "all-heal." It not only cured diseases, but could also render poisons harmless, make humans and animals prolific, keep one safe from witchcraft, protect the house from ghosts and even make them speak. With all of this, it was thought to bring good luck to anyone privileged to have it.  I'm not so sure about this as mistletoe is actually poisonous ... so please don't eat it. 

Norsemen offer us a beautiful symbolic myth about mistletoe. The story goes that Mistletoe was the sacred plant of Frigga, goddess of love and the mother of Balder, the god of the summer sun. Balder had a dream of death, which greatly alarmed his mother, for should he die, all life on earth would end. In an attempt to keep this from happening, Frigga went at once to air, fire, water, earth, and every animal and plant seeking a promise that no harm would come to her son. Balder now could not be hurt by anything on earth or under the earth. But Balder had one enemy, Loki, god of evil and he knew of one plant that Frigga had overlooked in her quest to keep her son safe. It grew neither on the earth nor under the earth, but on apple and oak trees. It was lowly mistletoe. So Loki made an arrow tip of the mistletoe, gave to the blind god of winter, Hoder, who shot it, striking Balder dead. The sky paled and all things in earth and heaven wept for the sun god. For three days each element tried to bring Balder back to life. Frigga, the goddess and his mother finally restored him. It is said the tears she shed for her son turned into the pearly white berries on the mistletoe plant and in her joy Frigga kissed everyone who passed beneath the tree on which it grew. The story ends with a decree that who should ever stand under the humble mistletoe, no harm should befall them, only a kiss, a token of love.

What could be more natural than to translate the spirit of this old myth into a Christian way of thinking and accept the mistletoe as the emblem of that Love which conquers Death? Its medicinal properties, whether real or imaginary, make it a just emblematic of that Tree of Life, the leaves of which are for the healing of the nations thus paralleling it to the Virgin Birth of Christ.

Later, the eighteenth-century English credited mistletoe not with miraculous healing powers, but with a certain magical appeal called a kissing ball. At Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Such a kiss could mean deep romance or lasting friendship and goodwill. If the girl remained unkissed, she cannot expect not to marry the following year. Whether we believe it or not, it always makes for fun and frolic at Christmas celebrations.

Adapted from thehistoryofchristmas.com