The Turning of the Wheel of the Year
YULE
Winter Solstice
21 - 22 December
Etymology & Origins:
The word ‘Yule’ varies in origin, although, the etymological origins of the word remain uncertain. Online resources offer the variations of its derivation which are accrued from (1) the old English Geoli or Geola meaning Christmas day and Christmastide. (2) The modern English word ‘Yule’ probably derives from ‘Yoole’, denoting the noun ‘yuletide’ which first appears around 1475. (3) both are thought to originate from the Germanic tradition and that of ancient Scandinavian traditions.
Remaining on the Scandinavian themed origins. Jol, Yule, was a celebration which involved several days of feasting, sacrifice and drinking. The long / dark night referring to Winter solstice, when the Sun is at its lowest in the sky and many areas of Scandinavia would have had very little if any light at all on this day. There follows nine days of regeneration, where the Sun begins to climb a little higher each day, leading to the ninth day represented by New Year. In Old Norse, during the Bronze Age, the Sun is the life giving Goddess Alfrödull “the Elf splendour / Elf shine”. It is thought that Sol, the Sun gifted fruitfulness, to the barren Earth Goddess, through her life giving rays. It is likely that the Solstice represented the returning Sun Goddess. From the Viking Age, the Sun/Sol or Summa, in Germanic tradition, was a Goddess who lived amongst the Aesir and who rode her chariot across the sky in her eternal race against an all consuming wolf of darkness. She is obviously ill-fated and will be swallowed by the wolf. This is not Ragnarok, but refers to the annual event of Winter Solstice. In Norse mythology, the Wolf is a creature of Hel and the underworld. It represents death, survival instincts, life force, hunger, greed and desire. It is not evil, moreover representative of the cyclical nature of the seasons and the solar cycle.
This influence is evident in European Paganism in that the Wheel of the year is divided into four parts. Early Europeans were already honouring the solstices as evidenced by henge's and burial mounds such as Stonehenge and New Grange. The Sun’s return meant the beginning of the agricultural year. Once again producing food in the fields, imperative for survival of communities, from the warmth of the life giving Sun. The Sun Goddess / God was honoured as part of the cyclical nature of life. The tradition of a God/Goddess born at this time of the year is an ancient theme based around the returning power of the Sun. For Celtic pagan’s, Yule is when the Sun God Lugh is reborn to join his wife Eriu. Eriu is the triple aspect Goddess who personifies the land of Ireland. Yule is the celebration of the cycle of her three incarnations.
For some Pagan’s, Yule is the time of the battle for supremacy over the Waxing part of the year. Once again the Oak king fights the Holly king. The Holly king resides over the dark part of the year from midsummer to Yule. At Yule he surrenders to the Oak king, God of the Waxing year from Yule to Midsummer. Both rule half of the year, both fight for the attentions of the Goddess and both surrender their life force for the good of the land. Cyclical but one in the same.
Also known as Alban Arthuan, Yule, winter solstice was celebrated by the ancients as the death and rebirth of the sun. The longest night is when the darkness is defeated with the return of the power of the sun, thus returning life, hope and promise of good things to come. The Goddess births the Sun Goddess / God. The Sun begins to Wax and the days slowly get longer. Thus begins the re-emergence of, what has been hidden, what has been regenerating . It is time to celebrate the sun’s re-birthday.
Ultimately, during this ‘season of the blackened branch’, the message is clear, simple and far reaching, that amid death, there is also life. This is a time in which the land and ourselves find that we are in retreat and deep dreaming, a time reminiscent of the darkness of winter, midnight and the dark moon. Our ancestors merged with the energies of the land reflecting and dreaming the future, in this cyclical way.
In addition to the many origins of Yule, there are many traditions surrounding the Yule festivities which are varied in origin from the birth of Jesus to pre-Christian pagan traditions to more recent pagan traditions. Many carry symbolic references which may be more commonly recognised, due to our incorporation of them into our own personal celebrations. An example of traditional continuity are the use of evergreens as decor for homes during the festive season. The general and more modern aim is to bring the outside into the home reflecting on the ever evolving cycle that nature has to offer us, allowing us to experience the changing seasons and also show our gratitude, in that although we no longer work the fields as a community, that we too are cyclical beings who rely upon and honour the nature of all things. Evergreens brought into the home at this time are full of symbolic meaning celebrating the forces of the feminine and masculine, representing Earth magick, symbolising the cycle of birth, death, regeneration and rebirth. Evergreens such as Pine, Juniper, Fir an Cedar are traditionally strung over doorways and around windows in boughs or brought in and decorated. They emulate the themes of, bringing the outdoors in, protection, prosperity and renewal of life.
Holly, sacred to Holle, the Germanic goddess of the underworld, is often brought inside to make wreaths, garlands, boughs or as a simplistic decoration. Symbolically, Holly represents the waning sun, a symbol of the old solar year and the Holly king, who relinquishes his reign over the land at Yule. The wood can be used for weapons and protection magick, a sprig can be brought in for good luck and the safety of the family. Traditional Holly water is made from soaking the leaves in spring water overnight under the full moon. This was then sprinkled as protection for the home & family. The red berries also represent female fertility & menstrual blood and is often teamed with mistletoe as the creamy berries of the Mistletoe represent masculine fertility and semen.
In Northern Europe, the Winter solstice is called "Mother Night" in honour of the Goddess Frigga, labouring to birth the light. The Sun, Baldur, ruler of the sun and rain and bringer of fertility to the land, was born. The mistletoe's association with the festivities originate from myths of the goddess Frigga. The plant's white berries were thought to have been formed from Frigga's tears of mourning when her son Baldur was killed by an arrow made of mistletoe. Furthermore, In ancient times, Norsemen would lay down their arms if they met in conflict between mistletoe. In keeping with the theme of peacemaking, an end to conflict was brought about by coining the phrase ‘kissing under the mistletoe’. Mistletoe is a sacred plant to the Druids. It’s magical properties being a bridge between the worlds, sky, heaven and earth and a formidable protection and healing plant. Ancient Roman natural philosopher Pliny the Elder, recorded that under the waxing moon, Druids would take sprigs from an Oak, cut with a golden sickle and caught in a sheet, to avoid it touching the Earth.
Oak is a symbol of courage and endurance. It is also a symbol of the Oak king who at this time regains his strength to take control over the land once again, ushering out the old solar year and representing the beginnings of the new solar year. The Oak branch is often used as the traditional Yule log. The Yule log would be gathered, placed in the hearth, decorated with the seasons evergreens reminiscent of the intertwining of Goddess and God, feminine and masculine. It would be anointed with Mead or salt and kindled by a piece from the previous years Yule log . The ashes would be scattered around the home for protection. Symbolic continuity runs through almost every plant used at this time of year, reflecting the offer of hope and renewal. Phallic symbols such as the log or the candle, decorated with the seasons evergreens, are often associated with other traditions, moreover they too represent welcoming the returning light into our lives and recognising the union of the sexes.
Ivy is also a very popular plant to bring inside for the festive season. It’s spiralling nature represents resilience, rebirth and reincarnation. This plant is associated with Dionysus the god of vegetation, wine, pleasure, fertility and ritual.
The Pine, Yew and Birch are all trees which are connected to this time of year through symbolism and association to the cycle of life, death, regeneration and rebirth. In addition, they bring aspects of protection and purification, which is another huge theme for the ending of cycles and beginning the new. In this darkened time of the year, the trees stand as a staunch reminder in their sparse appearance ,that there is life still in death. The traditional Christmas tree has its origins in the act of bringing a live tree into the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm. Chimes and bells were hung in the appendages so you could tell when a grateful wood spirit was close. Treats were placed in the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star, the pentagram, was set on the tree. The theme of gratitude and reciprocity continues today in that we exchange gifts with each other. This ancient ritual is another symbol of gratitude and bounty, in a time of sparsity and darkness.
This article may not be exhaustive in terms of the many traditions and origins, but it does go some way to explaining pagan traditions and myth connected to the Yule season. We participate at this time of the year in festivities with so many traditions and for whatever our reason behind it, without forethought, we remain within a custom of honouring our ancestors ways, as it should be. We continue to bring light into the darkness, pass on a natural heritage which we may not have been taught, but somehow remembered. Honouring the cycle of all things in our lives in remembrance of the ancient ways, we continue to recognise our own cyclical nature, spiralling, interwoven and mirroring cycles of life, death, regeneration and rebirth in all of nature, as a reminder of the continuity of life beyond death, the returning of the Sun. I light a candle for Yule and for you all. Blessed Be Yule!
However you celebrate it Yule is upon us and I would like to offer you all best wishes for the festivities, Yuletide blessings to you and yours. Thank you for reading this article.
In love & gratitude
Sheela Adhar
Credits:
Green, M. 1991, A Calendar of festivals, Element Books Ltd, Dorset
Mitchell, M. 2014, Hedgewitch Book of Days, Red Wheel Weiser LLC, San Francisco
Pennick, N. 1997, The Sacred World of the Celts, Thorsons, Harper-Collins, London
Romani, R. 2004, Green Spirituality, Green Magic, Somerset
Online resources
Goddessgift.com
Wigington, Patti. "Sacred Plants of the Winter Solstice." ThoughtCo, Nov. 11, 2018, thoughtco.com/sacred-plants-of-the-winter-solstice-2562958.
http://www.goddessandgreenman.co.uk/yule/
Wikipedia.org/yule
Paganspath.com
Images:
The Way of the Buzzard
Shutterstock