There are as
many traditions surrounding the ancient celebration of Yule, as
there are presents on a child’s Christmas list. Yule marks the time of the year when
the light grows brighter and celebrates the time of death and
rebirth of the Sun God. The winter solstice, usually on December
21, is the shortest day of the year. Yuletide represents a time of
peace, festivity and honoring the ancestors. It is the time in many
pagan traditions when the Goddess gives birth to a son. Candles
burn to welcome the Sun Child. Here’s a sampling of traditions with
pagan origins celebrated in conjunction with Christmas.
The Yule Tree
- Evergreens have long been part of Winter Solstice
celebrations. The evergreen tree, which keeps its leaves throughout
the year, is a symbol of the endurance of life through the cold and
dark winter months. The custom of a branch or small tree brought
inside and decorated with offerings to the spirit of the tree has
transformed into the tradition of having a Christmas tree. This
tree was considered to represent the luck of the family, capable of
bestowing fertility in the coming year. The evergreen boughs
brought inside to "deck the halls" represent the ever-renewed life
force and serve to welcome good into the house. Not surprisingly,
these holy boughs also served to protect the home from evil. Yew,
Rowan, and Holly boughs are traditional pagan choices for decking
the halls.
Yule Log
- This was a specially chosen log that was to burn
for at least twelve hours. Originally, it burned for all
twelve days of Yule. In some legends the log was offered to the God
Thor. Oak would be the most appropriate choice, but any hardwood
considered holy from the locality is suitable. English lore holds
that Yule logs should not be bought, they should be obtained from
one’s own property, or a neighbor's land. The log of course must be
massive, and must be handled with care and clean hands, out of
respect. In some places a whole tree trunk was brought in, and one
end was placed in hearth. Then it was gradually fed in as it
burned, to be finally consumed on the final night. The tradition is
that the presence of the remnants or ashes of the Yule log in the
house would protect it all year from lightning and would bring good
luck. The new Yule log should be started with some splinters of the
previous year. Holly and other winter greenery are often used to
decorate the Yule log.
Holly –
Decorating with Holly is part of the legend of the battle between
The Holly King and the Oak King. They are a part of Celtic
mythology, and represent two sides of the Green man, or Horned God.
They battle twice a year, once at Yule and once at Midsummer to see
who would rule over the next half of the year. At Yule, the Oak
King wins and at Midsummer, the Holly King is victorious. The Oak
King rules over the lighter half of the year, and the Holly King
over the darker half. The change from one to the other is a common
theme for rituals at Yule, and also at Midsummer.
Santa Claus or Father
Christmas – The ideas of both Santa Claus and
Father Christmas stem from the legends of Saint Nicholas, who
brought gifts to the poor. Father Christmas pre-dates Santa and was
traditionally dressed in a green robe and donned holly and
mistletoe. Many believe he also represented the legend of the Holly
and Oak King and ushers in Spring and abundance.
Yule Herbs – The Druids and other pagan people held Mistletoe in great
reverence. Mistletoe grows only on other trees as a parasite. It
was also called ‘All Heal.’ Druids would search for this sacred
plant, and when it was discovered, one of the Druids ascended the
tree and gathered it with great ceremony, separating it from the
Oak with a golden knife. The Mistletoe was always cut at a
particular stage of the moon, at the beginning of the year, and it
was only sought out when the Druids declared they had visions
directing them to seek it. The Druids held that the Mistletoe
protected its possessor from all evil, and that the oaks on which
it was seen growing were to be respected because of the wonderful
cures which the priests were able to effect with it. The custom of including it in the
decoration of our homes at Christmas, giving it a special place of
honor, is a survival of this old custom. Other herbs associated
with Yule include cedar, frankincense, myrrh, pine, nutmeg and
cinnamon.
