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Early traditions based around Dec 21, the darkest day of the year, revolve around farming, harvest and therefore pagan traditions, since we looked to the heavens to know when we’d be able to grow food again.

The Yellow Emperor of China made the Winter Solstice New Year Day. And then Yao Emperor, a legendary monarch in ancient China, ordered people to observe the activity of the sun specially. In ancient time, there was a wicked man who died on the day of the Winter Solstice. After he died, he became an evil ghost and continued to harm people. He hated red beans in life, so people cook red beans on the Winter Solstice to avoid evil spirits and to prevent diseases.

(from [ Ссылка ]): The color is believed to symbolize positive energy/yang and hence effective in thwarting dark energy/yin. Families place red bean porridge in the ancestral shrine & around the house. It was common to smear some on the main gate and the outer walls of the house to keep evil spirits and misfortune at bay.

Yule Log is a massive block of wood that burned for the duration of the 12 days of Christmas. A piece is saved to light the following year’s log, but in the meantime, it was kept in the house as a sort of magical, positive relic. Like a lot of Christian traditions, it was stolen by Celts… the Yule log being a substitute for human sacrifice.

(from [ Ссылка ]): This is also the night of the Wild Hunt, which involve a supernatural group of hunters in wild pursuit. The hunters may be elves, fairies or lost souls. The leader is often associated with Odin or biblical figures including the Devil.

Wild Hunt announces a coming catastrophe or the death of the one who witnessed it. People encountering the Hunt might be abducted to the underworld or the fairy kingdom. It's believed that people's spirits could be pulled away during their sleep to join the cavalcade.

Draugar, the ‘again walkers.’ Essentially zombies with super human strength that can grow. (from [ Ссылка ]): They are known to wreak havoc on the living, tormenting those who wronged them in life. They can kill by crushing someone, eating their flesh, eating them whole, or can kill by driving a person mad.

(from [ Ссылка ]): Celtic Mounds & burial sites are considered gateways where people alive or in spirit form can travel between worlds. On the solstice, Fae/fairies come over in pairs to haunt, but actually this is an effort to help us celebrate the yule, encourage us to engage in acts of kindness.

The Wandering Stranger, a spectre that comes to you in a dream tonight, usually weary, middle-aged person in need. This could be a sign that someone in your life needs help. (From [ Ссылка ]): When at home at night during the Yule (Dec 13–25), listen for knocks at the door. You think you hear a voice, but there is no one there! In Celtic mysticism this is said to indicate the coming of the Mysterious Stranger. If it happens you might invite the invisible presence in, saying, “May the gods who sent you come and bless this hearth!” Sometimes a rapping may be heard at a windowpane on Yuletide nights. If you hear it, throw open the sash and allow the night air to flood into your room. Say as you do so, “May the Mysterious Stranger come in and warm herself/himself at our hearth.”

If you are out walking along a path, especially at dusk or dawn, keep your eyes open for any sign of a strange visage as the Mysterious Stranger is wont to appear briefly to travelers, awakening them to supernatural possibilities in the mundane daily life. The Stranger sometimes appears just briefly, perhaps standing by an oak or willow. Yet when you turn to look, there is no one there! If this happens, say, “Hail, Mysterious One, I bless your journey; prosper mine in return.” The appearance of the Mysterious Stranger is thought to signify the presence of divine beings (like gods & goddesses) in your vicinity. By hailing the Stranger, you may address deities in their nearness without danger of affronting them.

This is the night of the rebirth of the horned God in Wiccan and LeVeian Satanist traditions. This God dies on Halloween and is reborn today.

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A rush of spiritual energy is released at dawn on the 22nd. It's believed spirits become much more active for the next few days than they did before Alban Arthuan (a festival in the Druidic tradition, translating to The Light of Arthur the legendary King). It's during these days that the ghosts of relatives and ancestors come visiting. Then, beginning Dec 26th, discarnates grow quiet and depart.

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