20^th – 23^rd December

The Festival of Re-birthing

The sun enters the sign of Capricorn.

The shortest day and longest night of the Northern hemisphere.

Yule (Jul) means ‘wheel’ in Norwegian.  The wheel of the year stops and starts again.

Underlying Energy

The solstice energy is one of pause.  A chance to stop and express our hopes and intentions.

The restraints of winter have created a slowing and conserving of energy.

Winter is a time to focus and reflect.

The winter solstice is an opportunity to be sociable and generous.  A time to celebrate each other.

This is a time to pause.  To perceive the seeds of our future growth.  To gather intent and make our resolutions for the coming months (New Year resolutions being a modern left-over of this ancient solstice custom).

From now on, the days will lengthen and the warmth will come again.  It represents the quiet surviving of the life force, at the darkest time of year.

Winter Solstice is the time when the waxing sun overcomes the waning sun.  This is symbolised by the struggle between the Oak King and the Holly King, in some traditions.  The Holly King is the death aspect of the god, and the Oak King is the aspect of re-birth.

The Holly tree, resplendent at this time of year, with its clusters of red berries and shiny green leaves, has long been one of the most popular for Yuletide decoration.

It takes a male and female holly tree, to produce berries.  And then only the female bears them.  It is possible that in ancient times, it was recognised that only certain trees bore berries and therefore gave birth to new trees.  These trees may then have been considered mother trees and brought about that holly with berries is a symbol for female fertility.

Kissing under the mistletoe is a tradition that has been passed on from the Druids.  Although, no doubt radically changed as it passed through the Christian era.

Mistletoe was sacred to the ancient Druids, who gathered it from the branches of the sacred oaks.

Mistletoe gathered at Yule, bears the white berries that make it an amulet of fertility.  These white translucent berries are thought to represent the semen of the Lord of the Forest.

In old Norse, the name for mistletoe, is Mistel-teinn.  The suffix teinn, links it to German, Irish and Cornish words that all mean ‘sacred tree’.

A sprig of mistletoe can be hung on the headboard of your bed, as an amulet.  With or without berries, according to your intention.  Or the traditional berried bunch can be hung over a doorway.

The full moon nearest the Winter Solstice, is the oak Moon.  The moon of the new-born year.

Winter Solstice is a solar festival and is celebrated with fire.

The Yule log is an ancient tradition and its burning symbolises the new-born sun, as do burning cadles.

Winter Solstice Celebrations

Mistletoe ~ Holly ~ Evergreens ~ Pine ~ Boughs ~ Lighted Trees ~ Songs ~ Yule Logs ~ Gifts ~ Feasting

Make a wheel of evergreens, to represent the wheel of the year turning once more, towards the light.

Light candles, or a fire, to celebrate the returning light.

Be aware of what you want for the coming year.  Make resolutions for the future.

Celebrate the togetherness of your family and friends.

Make ‘give-aways’.

Bless food and drink and share your winter stores.