Guide To Yule
Yule is the last turn of the wheel in the calendar year. It honors winter and the return of light and is celebrated on the winter solstice, which this year falls on Thursday December 21st. Yule is sort of the original Christmas, as most typical Christmas traditions stem from Yule practices. (Think Santa, reindeer, Christmas trees, lights, decorations, all of it!)
In legend, each solstice, the Holly king and the Oak king battle. At winter solstice, the Oak king reigns victory, thus returning the light. The solstice is the darkest day of the year, but every day following (up until summer solstice), the days slowly get brighter and longer. Yule is this celebration of the sun's return!
During this time, we hold onto all the beauty and wonder that nature brings in the winter. We bring plants and trees inside, we light up our homes, and eat deeply nourishing, seasonal foods. The coldest months are upon us and holding on to this joyous reflection of nature is to help us through the dark.
Beyond this post, I encourage you all to research the role of amanita muscaria and Odin for this big celebration! Think of this post as an intro to Yule, perhaps next year's post will be the deep dive. Below are some correspondences and fun ways to celebrate!
Correspondences OF yule
Herbs & Plants
Colors
Animals
Foods
Peppermint, Bay, Mistletoe, Pine, Clove, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Rosemary, Thyme, Holly, Cedar, Fir, Spruce, Winter berries,
Green, Red, White, Gold
Bears, Deer, Owls, Foxes, Birds, Squirrels
Root vegetables, Meat, Broths, Wine, Squash, Cider, Apples
Activities & Ways To Celebrate
-Bring inside a yule tree & decorate it with ornaments, mushrooms, lights and a pentagram on top!
-Make a dried citrus garland for your home or tree
- Forage outside for mushrooms
- Decorate your home with trees, holly, lights, candles
- Bake a Yule Log, or burn a candle or wood yule log
- Bake gingerbread cookies
- Make a big seasonal, warming feast,
- Make a windchime with bells and plants from outside
- Create a solstice spiral
- Make a simmer pot
- Make a mini tree with fairy lights and foraged leaves and flowers
- Give gifts to your loved ones
- Create an altar
- Read, research, educate yourself
- Bundle up and go for a walk outside and take note of everything nature is doing during this season
- Leave offerings for winter spirits
- Buy or make your own winter wreath
- Light candles in your home
(Recipe here)
(Recipe here)
like this butternut squash soup!
- Journal to reflect on the season and the year as a whole
- Simply just enjoy the day! Get cozy and practice gratitude for all that winter brings.