December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere
June 21st in the Southern Hemisphere
This is the Winter Solstic and takes place on the longest night and shortest day of the year. It also marks the point at which the days begin to grow longer.
Pronounced "Yool"
This holiday celebrates the rebirth of the God from his own seed as the Goddess.
Also refered to as: Christmas, Jul, Saturnalia, Soalar New Year, Winter Rite, Midwinter, Alban Arthan.
Colors associated with this holiday are red, green and white
Herbs and fruits associated with this sabbot: misteletoe, holly, cedar, ivy, juniper, apples, orange, nutmeg, lemons, bay, rosemary, pine
Traditional practices: The Yule tree, and lighting of the Yule Log
Clay Dough "Goddess and Sun" Nativity Set - This is a way to re-claim the true meaning of Yule: The birth of the Sun. Using the same recipe above for clay dough ornaments, shape the dough into the form of a Goddess, the newborn Sun, and animals, trees, plants or people. Be creative and create this scene as you wish. Roll up some tin foil into a ball and put it in the middle of any really large pieces, to help it keep its shape. Once molded, cook at 325 for one hour to harden, and then paint and varnish.
Flower Pot Bells - You will need an even number of miniture terra cotta flower pots, 1 jingle bell for each pot, 1 yard 1/4 inch ribbon or cording for each pair of pots, craft paint, paintbrushes, and holiday stickers. Paint the pots in holiday colors. Use theme related designs if you wish, or apply stickers. Set aside. Gather the lengths of ribbon or cord together in your hand. Pull the ends out from the center a bit so they appear to be different lengths, then fold the bundle cords in half. Tie an overhand know about two inches from the fold. Hold a pot in your hand and thread the cord through the drainage hold, then through the top of a jingle bell. Knot the cord to hold the bell in place. Tie another knot about one inch away from the bell to hold the position of the pot. Repeat the process with each cord end until all the pots and bells are securely fastened. Hang the bells on the front door.
Tree Skirt - You will need old newspapers, 2 yards of felt (60 inches wide), felt scraps in different colors, fusible webbing, beads, yard stick, and a pencil. Unfold three sheets of newspaper and tape them together lengthwise. Measure around thebase of the tree. With that measurement, draw a circle of the same size on the upper portion of the newspaper. With the pencil and yardstick, divide the circle into four equal quarters. Extend the lines of one quarter to the length you have in mind for your skirt. With the yardstick, add 1/2 inch to each long side of the quarter. Cut out the quarter and pin it to the felt. Cut out the piece. Repeat to cut out three more sections. Sew the sections together using a 1/2 inch seam allowance, or apply fusible webbing to join them. Cut out seasonal shapes from the colored scraps to arrange them on the skirt. When you like the way things look, fuse or sew them to the skirt, then embellish as desired.
Yule Log - To make a traditional Yule log you will need a large piece of wood (see below), small pine cones, some evergreens (holly, fir, pine, or spruce snippets work nicely), other flowers and greenery (see below) a hot glue gun, and a length of red ribbon. Starting from the log center, work with the greenery and cones until you have an arrangement that suits you. When you like the placement, attach it to the lot with hot glue. Then tie the ribbon around the log to form a bow in the center. If you like, write personal wishes for the new year on little slips of paper, and insert them sporadically under the foliage. Put the log aside until Yule. For extra luck in the coming year, make sure to keep the Yule fire going for twelve days. After the twelth day, place some of the ash in a jar with a tight lid. These ashes are very magickal, and can be used to boost spellwork in the coming year.
The Yule log can be made of any wood. Each releases its own kind of magic.
Aspen: invokes understanding of the grand design.
Birch: signifies new beginnings.
Holly: inspires visions and reveals past lives.
Oak: brings healing, strength, and wisdom.
Pine: signifies prosperity and growth.
Willow: invokes the Goddess to achieve desires.
You may also wish to decorate the log with greenery, flowers, ribbons and herbs for magickal intent. Some choices might be:
Carnations-protection, courage, strength, healing, increases magickal power, vitality
Cedar-wealth, protection, purification, healing, promotes spirituality
Holly-dreams, protection
Juniper- Exorcism, protection, healing, love
Mistletoe-a catalyst, fertility, health, success, protection, banishing evil
Pine-healing, wealth, protection, purification, exorcism, exorcism, fertility, wealth
Rosemary-health, love, protection, exorcism, purification, increase intellectual powers, peace, blessing, consecration, very powerful cleansing and purifying
Roses-love, courage, luck, health, protection, beauty
Twelve Herb Yule Sachet
© 1989 by Scott Cunningham
Herbal sachets, or charms, consist of herbs and other materials tied-up in bits of cloth. Some sachets ward off certain energies or disease; others draw specific situations or powers to you. Easy to make and pleasing to the nose, sachets are a distinctive and aromatic gift for the holidays.
Items needed:
7 parts Juniper
4 parts Cinnamon
4 parts Allspice
4 parts Ginger
4 parts Caraway
2 parts Nutmeg
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lemon peel
2 parts Orange peel
1 part Clove
1 part Bay
2 pinches Orris root
Tie up in a green or red cloth and give as a gift on Yule or Christmas
