#ssolid

Yule, also known as Yuletide or Yulefest, was a religious festival celebrated by Germanic peoples before the Christian reformation, and is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. Jól (pronounced yoh-l) was the span of time between the Winter Solstice and the Jólbalót (“Yule Sacrifice”), originally on January 12th. It’s thought that Yule was centered around the idea of the rebirth of the sun, since it was set around the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year and the beginning of growing daylight hours. Now it is celebrated as a secular, contemporary pagan holiday.

When Scandinavia’s Norsemen celebrated Yule, families would light Yule logs and it is said they would feast until the log burned out—which could take as long as 12 days, beginning on the solstice on December 21st. They probably only feasted for three days in actuality, though the festival in itself lasted weeks. The Yule log was a large oak log, decorated with sprigs of fir, holly, or yew. They saved a piece of the log to protect the home during the coming year, and to light next year’s fire. They honoured their gods with religious rituals and feasting, such as sacrificing a wild boar to Frey, to assure a good harvest next year. Other traditions, such as mistletoe, and even decorating trees, have roots in Scandinavia’s Yule as well.

Yule and Christmas became associated after the Christianization of Norway. It began when King Haakon the Good of Norway confirmed himself Christian, but most of Norway was still pagan. So Haakon passed a law that Yule should be held on the same day of Christmas—which was part of his plan to Christianize Norway.

Yule is still celebrated today in certain communities. In Germanic Neopagan sects, Yule is celebrated by gathering with friends and family, feasting, and gift giving. The Asatru Folk Assembly in the U.S. celebrated for 12 days, beginning on the Winter Solstice. The Wiccan belief system also celebrates Yule during the Winter Solstice, and in England, Druids will gather at Stonehenge to watch the sun rise together.

So its not too late for my upcoming Yuletide EmojiSSpell 🦌🎅🕷🧨⤵️💮⤵️⚠️💮🦌⚘⚘⚘💎💎💮🌹🌹🌹🦋🦌this is NOT the spell that i want to share but a personal tech-witchy one i came up with to get you to have christmas cheer all year round by checking out my emoji that ill be tagging with special tags like #witchmas #krumpus #blacksheepneversleeps #wideawake and/or #covennotes and #covencookbook or #ssolid and #ssecretssociety

Thank you for joining in the cheer train