Yule Fire Spell: On the darkest night of the year, gather together 3 dries leaves of holly and pulverize them into powder. On a clean 4×4 inch piece of paper, write a single word in red ink that represents what quality you would like to be born within yourself along with the newborn Yule Sun. Sprinkly the holly powder into the center of the paper, twist the whole thing closed with the holly powder inside. Light the wick of a red candle, and from this flame, light the holly filled paper on fire. As it burns, see your wish fulfilled. The spell is done.
Kiss beneath the Mistletoe: In Northern Europe the Druids, priests of the ancient Celts, decorated their temples with evergreens which were a symbol of everlasting life. To the Celts, mistletoe was known as the ‘Golden Bough,’ ‘Holy Wood,’ and ‘All Heal’ showing their veneration of this plant.
Winter spells often draw upon the ancient Druidic rites that surround mistletoe. Druid beliefs regarding mistletoe varied from Norse myths understanding mistletoe magic, but the plant always featured heavily in the Winter Solstice rites. The Druids considered mistletoe to be the most holy of plants. Growing high in the treetops, the plant was believed by Druids to contain the essence of a powerful sky god whose energy they sought to harness for spells and rituals. In winter, they would search for it hanging from the sacred oaks to use in their rites. Suspended in the air between heaven and earth, the white berries were thought to be the semen drops of the Oak King, ruler of the summer months. From this associating, mistletoe became linked with fertility and love.
To fully utilize this magic, they cut the mistletoe and suspended it, never allowing it to touch the ground until the appointed hour. The earth represented the mother in whose womb the sky god’s spark would grow into longer days, starting a new cycle. Kissing beneath the mistletoe symbolizes the sexual energy that activates the plant’s magic. It is believed that kissing would keep true lovers together. The mistletoe had to be burned on after the 12th night or courting couples who kissed under it would never marry.
Light a candle to welcome the warmth of the sun: Many of the customs surrounding the Winter Solstice involve honoring the return of the sun and celebrating the birth of the Sun King or Oak king in Celtic circles. Find a moment of solitude to welcome back the sun. Set the atmosphere for your private Winter Solstice ritual by darkening a room in your home and kneeling at a small table where you have placed a red candle. Light the candle and reflect on all the things that you hope for the New Year, and visualize the sun rising up out of the darkness to position high above the earth.
Another way to do it is from the beginning of the month, count down the days to Solstice with the simple ritual of lighting an additional candle each night. Light one candle a day and let it burn out that day. Adding essential oils with your intentions for the new year coming or burning intentions each night will help them come true.
Iceland starts celebrating 4 Sundays before December 24th. The celebrations end on January 6th. Icelanders light 4 candles, one on each Sunday until the 24th.
The Feast of Fools: The ancient Yule rituals still predominate today. The Lord of Misrule, who originated in the wild Roman Suturnalia festivals (that ended on the Winter Solstice) presided over a time of chaos, which is still echoed in some of today’s parties. Normal behavior is replaced by people acting like the fool. Yule has always been a time of feasting and plenty, hopefully setting the pattern of abundance for the year to come.
In Austria, the Feast of St. Nicholas on December 5th marks the beginning of Christmas.
Gifts: Gift giving is a popular tradition during this festive time. Gift giving originated for the people of the Roman Empire to give tribute to the emperor which became localized to every family.
Thor, Odin, and St. Nicholas also follow a tradition of a visitor bringing gifts at night. Sleipnir, Odin’s flying 8 legged horse that was birthed by Loki, carried Odin from house to house and it was his hooves you heard on your roof top.
Children were also escorted from house to house with gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges which were laid in baskets of evergreen boughs and wheat stalks dusted with flour. The apples and oranges represented the sun. The boughs were symbols of immortality (evergreens were sacred to the Celts because they did not ‘die’ thereby representing the eternal aspect of the Divine) The wheat stalks portrayed the harvest and the flour was accomplishment of triumph, light, and life. Holly and ivy not only decorated the outside, but also the inside of homes, in hopes nature spirits would come and join the celebration. A sprig of holly was kept near the door all year long as a constant invitation for good fortune to visit the residents. Mistletoe was also hung as decoration. It represented the seed of the Divine and at Midwinter, the Druids would travel deep into the forest to harvest it.
Edible Tree Ornaments: A little less traditional although still very fun! Making an edible birdseed craft can help many animals make it through the long winter. As you watch them eat, try taking pictures, or draw sketches of the birds that are in your backyard.
Hang Stockings: Children in Spain leave their shoes on their balcony in hopes that the Three Kings will fill them with treats and small toys. Similarly, in Nordic and Germanic countries, Odin would come in the night and fill their shoes with small treats and toys.
From our altar to yours, with love from the sea,
