Yule / Midwinter The Longest Night of the Year / Winter Solstice December 20-22

Symbolism and Traditions

As the sun sets on the night of Winter Solstice (Northern hemisphere), it is the beginning of the longest night, the most hours of darkness of any day of the year, the journey through the most lonely valley until day breaks again.  Solstice heralds the rebirth of the Sun the next morning: in the darkness of Longest Night, the Sun/Son is reborn, and each day will grow brighter and longer, if only by a moment or two. Solstice celebrates the end of our dark journeys.  The Lord has left the Lady at Harvest, and made His cyclical journey to the Underworld.  The spark of life He left behind has been germinated, and at Winter Solstice, the Goddess births the Sun/Son again, so that all life may thrive and come out of the cold and darkness of winter.  Pagans celebrating in the Southern hemisphere will know the shortest night at this time, and may refer to the section on Midsummer (Longest Day, Summer Solstice, Litha) for ritual ideas and corresponding information. This is a time to celebrate rebirth in all it's forms.  Many cultures around the world and throughout time celebrate the birth of a Son or Sun God at this time, so the symbolism of rebirth and brightness is consistent.

Ritual Ideas

* Choose a Yule log (or piece of firewood) to be decorated with seasonal foliage and candles.  Tie, nail, staple, or otherwise attach pine boughs, pinecones, bright red berries, holly leaves, cinnamon sticks, etc. to the log.  You may choose to patiently drip molten wax from a white taper candle to adhere objects to the log.  The wax then looks like snow settling on the log, and makes it burn brighter.  Tradition says to burn the log in your bonfire or fireplace (if feasible), and save some of the ash for your garden, Yule ash for spellwork, or a piece of the log to kindle next year's Yule fire, and continue the tradition from year to year.  Affix red/green/white candles to the log.  The log can become an altar in itself, or a decoration for atop an altar. * Float snowflake candles, poinsettia candles, or other appropriately colored or shaped candles in a cauldron of water (you may include ice cubes or crushed ice or snow to the water).  Wind the handle or rim of the cauldron with bright tinsel, fresh boughs of evergreen, or other natural or glittering decorations.  The fire floating within the cauldron of rebirth symbolizes the coming of the Sun/Son.  You may charge the water to bring abuot blessedness, fertility, a break to bad weather, or whatever is needed, then give it back to the earth. * Build a model of a sacred cave, a birthing place for the coming Child of the Sun.  This idea came from a book on Paganism and parenting, and I cannot remember the title or the authors to give them due credit.  If you know the book, please e-mail me so I can post the title and give credit to the author/s.  The sacred cave is as large or small, as simple or elaborate as you wish to make it.  You may build a wooden box, over-turn a bushel basket or barrel half, stack stones, or use a large round ceramic planter to form the body of the cave.  Position the cave where you can easily see it from inside the home or covenstead.  Place a bed of fine sand in the bottom of the cave to shape and smooth into a sloping floor.  Inside the cave, place symbols of the Sun, birth, nests, miniatures, etc.  I put a fallen bird's nest in mine, with a yellow stone egg.  Dolls, seeds, etc. can be arranged over the sand and in the nests, and then tea lights or votive candles can be arranged within for light and seeming warmth.  Incense sticks can be placed in the ground just outside the cave (or inside if it is large enough).  During ritual (or whenever appropriate), the candles and incense can be lit within the cave, and left to burn throughout the longest night as the Sun is birthed within your sacred cave.  It is breath-taking to look out through frosty windows and see the warmth and light of candles burning within the birthing cave. * Make up swags, wreaths, and other simple decorations with boughs, cinnamon sticks, ribbons, etc. to brighten and scent the home or to give as gifts throughout the holiday season.  Bless them in circle with the energy of rebirth and renewal. * Keep vigil through the night with drumming, feasting, story-telling and revelry with friends.  Greet the sunrise in ritual, with blessings spoken, toasts made, and dreams and promises for your new beginnings as well.

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