Yule and its History
Yule - also known as Yuletide, Yulefest, Jul, jól, or joulu, was originally a Pagan holiday that was converted into what is known today as Christmas and the birth of Jesus. This conversion was done through meticulous planning by the Church to envelop Pagan beliefs into Christian ones, making the forced change “easier” for Pagans of the time.
Yule celebrates the beginning of the Winter Solstice, lasting for 3 to 12 days. It is the last holiday listed on the Pagan Wheel of the Year.
Singing, feasts, drinking, sacrifices, etc. were all known to occur during these celebrations. The main ideas of this holiday is to prepare for the cold season, to pray to the Gods and Goddesses that everything will be adequate until Spring comes, and to connect spiritually to the Earth.
Some things like the tradition of burning a Yule log, caroling, and ornaments on a tree are still being used to this day in modern Christianity. Even the idea of the tree in general was used by Pagans, who believed honoring the tree spirits would help them come back in the Spring.
The “Wild Hunt”, a depiction of a ghostly procession through the night sky, could be part of what modern Christians associated with Santa and his sleigh. It is even thought that the Norse God, Odin, who leads the “Wild Hunt”, is now depicted as Saint Nicholas or Santa, further solidifying this theory.
In fact, Santa’s modern imagery was borrowed directly from Norse tales and art by Scandanavian painters, brought around the world, and popularized by immigrants.
Although Yule may seem lost to time to many, it is being brought back in movements by modern-day practitioners and people who simply want to indulge in their ancestor's religious roots.
Modern-day Preparation for & Celebration of Yule
In modern paganism, there are varied ways to prepare for and practice Yule compared to the traditional and Christian versions.
Decorate your house with the colors of Yule, like greens, golds, and reds - forage outside for things like pine, juniper berries, and more to use in your home. (Be sure to do adequate research on what grows around you this time of year, what you can forage, what you cannot, etc.).
Perhaps using some foraged items, colored candles, and more, make a Yule altar.
Make your own homemade wreath or mistletoe!
As feasting was originally a big part of Yule, it would make sense that this holds true today - you may brew eggnog, and herbal teas, make large meat dishes, or even bake sweets like cookies and
cakes with dried fruits, nuts, and carraway as spices.
Pulling from some more of the traditional practices, you can go caroling, burn a Yule log, a red candle during the days of Yule you observe, or even start a bonfire for your family and friends.
Like I am doing here in the video, going on a simple forest walk is a great way to celebrate Yule. Not only do you get to see the beautiful snow and scenery, but you connect with the forest spirits.
Lastly, gift-giving, of course, just like with modern-day Christmas is a part of Yule - show your thankfulness to friends and family by gifting them something special!
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