Yule/the Winter Solstice is coming up! This year it's on Monday 21st December.
Note: If you're in the Southern Hemisphere it's almost time for Litha aka Midsummer/the Summer Solstice. Here are my Litha celebration ideas posts:
Litha/Midsummer Celebration Ideas (also a post about no-yeast dinner rolls): https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2017/06/baking-no-yeast-dinner-rolls-and.html
Celebrating Litha/Summer: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2018/06/celebrating-litha-summer.html
Litha Inspiration: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2019/06/litha-inspiration_17.html
In the past few years, I've done posts with celebration ideas for Yule, and an inspiration one too. You can see them below:
Yule Celebration Ideas: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2017/12/yule-celebration-ideas.html
Celebrating Yule/Christmas: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2018/12/celebrating-yulechristmas.html
Yule Inspiration: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2019/12/yule-inspiration.html
For Yule 2020 I'm sharing more inspiration. As with the last Samhain post, since I've shared quite a lot of information on Yule in the past, I'll just give a brief background first and then share some celebration ideas. :)
Yule, also known as Midwinter and the Winter Solstice, is the final sabbat of the calendar year. It is either the 1st or the 2nd festival of the new cycle on the Wheel of the Year. As I've mentioned before, some people consider Samhain the end and beginning of the new year, while others start with Yule. I think of Samhain as the end of the old year and the start of the new, but it's up to you. :)
The Winter Solstice is the shortest day and longest night, the opposite to Litha/the Summer Solstice. From then on, the days will gradually grow longer again. You can read more about it here: https://www.rmg.co.uk/discover/explore/when-winter-solstice
The scientific time of the solstice this year is 10.02am UK time/GMT. Find the time for your country here: https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/winter-solstice.html
Despite also being called Midwinter, Yule marks the official start of winter for many in the modern world. However, Samhain on 31st October also marks the end of summer and the beginning of the winter season, so this could be the reason that it's named Midwinter.
Yule celebrates the return of the light and the birth of the Sun God, depending on your tradition. It is thought to have been a precursor to Christmas. There is also the story of the Holly and the Oak Kings which I've previously written a little about in 2018's post.
Now here are some posts with more info and celebration ideas:
https://naturalisticpaganism.org/2020/11/28/yule-the-winter-solstice-is-coming-up-fast/
https://waywardinspiration.com/yule/
Winter Solstice for the Modern Pagan: https://otherworldlyoracle.com/winter-solstice-yule-traditions/
15 Yule Symbols & Traditions to Embrace this Yule: https://www.thewholesomewitch.com/15-yule-symbols-traditions-holiday-magical/
Yule 2016 + Origins of Father Christmas (my post): https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2016/12/yule-2016-origins-of-father-christmas.html
7 fire rituals for Winter Solstice: https://www.wemystic.com/rituals-for-winter-solstice/
Ways to add more light to your Yule season: https://witchoflupinehollow.com/2018/12/18/6-simple-and-meaningful-ways-to-add-more-light-to-your-yule-season/
I feel that the post on Witch of Lupine Hollow (a guest post by Autumn Zenith) about adding more light to your season is especially important, since at this time year many people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). I do personally, I feel more down during winter. (Some people may experience it during summer though). I shared some posts with tips for coping with SAD in last year's More Winter Inspiration post: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2019/12/more-winter-inspiration-winter-tag.html
Note: I found the 2nd link (Naturalistic Paganism article) through a post from Sarah of Obscure Clouds. She shares resources for non-theistic and sceptical witches. If you're drawn to paganism but not so much the supernatural part, you may find it useful. Check it out here: http://www.obscureclouds.com/resources-for-non-theistic-pagans-and-skeptical-witches/
As with most of the sabbats/festivals in 2020, Yule (and Christmas) will be a bit different this year due to the coronavirus, and varying lockdowns and restrictions. At least this time of the year, the weather is colder in the Northern Hemisphere, so you're more drawn to indoor activities anyway! Below I'll list a few more ideas for celebrating. :)
More inspiration:
Some things you can do to celebrate are:
- Decorate/make your own Yule log
- Buy/bake a chocolate Yule log
- Light a candle
- Have a bonfire/fire in the hearth (please follow your local fire safety regulations!)
- Bake something Yule/Christmas or winter themed
- Drink/make your own hot chocolate or spicy milk
- Have a Yule/Christmas tree and decorations
I usually have a chocolate Yule log (have to buy mine still). I mostly buy them, although I occasionally make my own. Last year I made a spiced Christmas Yule log (the first time I'd done it in 5 years! lol). You can see that here: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2019/12/yule-2019.html
Here are some more baking ideas:
Chocolate yule log I baked in 2014 (with recipe links): https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2014/12/yule-2014.html
Recipe for the spiced Christmas Yule log: https://www.coop.co.uk/recipes/spiced-christmas-yule-log
Gingerbread loaf with cinnamon frosting (haven't made this but it looks nice): https://kitchenfunwithmy3sons.com/gingerbread-loaf
There is also a baking section in the 2018 Yule and Christmas post: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2018/12/celebrating-yulechristmas.html
I may do a Baking for Yule post next year! :)
I'm also planning to light red and green candles. Some years I make my own spicy hot milk and I also like making hot chocolate during the colder months. I wrote about hot drinks in the Yule Inspiration post. Check out more winter drinks in this post: https://livingseasonal.blogspot.com/2018/01/winter-drinks.html
Hope that gave you plenty of inspiration for Yule! :) I will do a post next week about my celebrations. How are you planning to celebrate?
Happy Yule/Winter Solstice! (Or Litha/Summer Solstice!). :)
Photo: Christmas tree in Worthing. Moonsparkle 2020.
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