How to Celebrate Yule (Tips for a Cozy Winter Solstice)
I hope you're all having an amazing holiday season so far. Mine has been pretty nice, though I got all my shopping done in July, so I get to just relax and enjoy. It's the only way to do the holidays as far as I can tell!
Here are some tips and things to focus in on to create a magickal, happy, cozy Yule season. I hope it's really lovely for you!
Yule History
Yule was celebrated originally by Northern Europeans/Germanic people. It was referenced in Gothic month names from the 4th century CE, but also mentioned by Venerable Bede in the 8th century CE.
Ways to Celebrate Yule
- Set intentions (see the ‘new sun’ like the ‘new moon’ and set intentions for the solar cycle)- plan for your business, blog, art, etc goals. Create a bucket list. - Candle magick - Write wishes on bay leaves and burn them to release the wishes into the universe - Make soups and stews, roast root vegetables, use lots of spices, cranberries - Knit or do other crafts for Yule gifts - Read- or maybe make a reading list for a new interest you want to explore in the new year - Spend a day in the wild, gathering components for a winter wreath or garlands to decorate with - Make Yule ornaments with objects found in nature - Make wax pinecones or pinecones soaked in chemical solutions to create different colored flames in the hearth fire - Make gift baskets - Declutter and donate - Create a vision board - Make a Yule log - Throw a party with your nearest and dearest - Ritual baths - Bonfire - Walk/dance/frolic in the cold night air. Let the cold soak in, and then warm up with hot chocolate or mulled wine - Make lanterns, maybe even paper lanterns to be released - Throw a potluck luncheon
Plants
- Seasonal greenery, like holly, cedar, pine, hemlock, yew - Orange or other citrus to welcome the sun back and for warmth - Cinnamon and other spices in foods to make everything festive
Stones
- Pyrite, for riches in the coming year - Sunstone, to welcome the sun back - Amber, also represents the sun - Citrine, to revitalize you in the depths of Winter
Symbols
- Greenery from nature, especially pine boughs, holly sprays, handmade wreaths, mistletoe, or cones or berries you might find around. - A holiday tree, decorated festively to celebrate nature in this quiet time of year. - Lights and candles. This is the longest night of the year, and traditionally festive lights and candles are used to chase that darkness away and call to the sun to return to us. - Yule long or a representation of fire. Traditionally, on Yule night, a Yule log was tossed into a fire that was kept burning through the long dark hours. People would tell stories and feast and spend time together around this fire as a way to pass the long night. So anything to do with a Yule log or even ashes from your hearth would be meaningful. - Bells were thought to scare away any negative spirits or entities that might try to gather around during this dark time of year. - Personally, I like representations of snow, even though we don’t get much snow down here in Georgia. So snowflakes can be a festive addition, possibly even cut from paper and hung over the altar from the ceiling. - I also like visual representations of starry nights, as I like to celebrate the long darkness instead of fearing it. - Foods that you tend to see around this time of year, like Winter citrus, cranberries, and nuts in the shell. Candies that remind you of this time of year are great too, like candy canes or hard candies in festive colors. Even a glass of eggnog or a mug of cocoa would work! - Any animals that you’re seeing around right now, as well as deer or reindeer and cardinals.
No matter how you celebrate, I hope you have an amazing time! Surround yourself with people who love you, and whom you love in return, and enjoy this quiet time of year.
Blessed be!
