When I began my research into the traditions and folklore of Yule, I soon realized there was so much information that I would have to write an entire book if I was going to cover all of it.  Therefore, I have condensed it to a few key points that caught my eye and grasped my heart.

We know that Christmas/ Yule, as with most important Christian holidays, have pagan roots.  So many traditions are combined in this particular holiday, that it could not be eliminated by the church, so they incorporated a few.

To start from the beginning with the wheel of the year where the eight sabbats represent in their own way not only the things that are happening around us throughout the year, but also as the wheel of life that has neither a beginning nor an end which is symbolized by the wreath tied with a bow.  We use evergreen boughs or other certain plants that remain green all year round to symbolize life’s triumph over death and the bow representing how we should all be tied together in love and good will.

The tree is another tradition that is still very popular today.  It was used and decorated in many countries and groups for many different reasons.  The fir was chosen because of its evergreen status and was originally brought inside with its roots in tact to represent the adage we all know so well, “As above, so below.”  It was decorated with charms, or written spells representing wishes for the year to come.
One I particularly enjoy is the Scandinavian tradition of decorating the trees inside and outside with fruit and berries, baked goods and candies, as well as spices and nuts to help feed the woodland spirits during the dark time and the tree inside offered a warm place for them to sleep.  The trees were also decorated with bells and if you heard them ring, that was the fairy folk moving about the tree.  They were also topped with a pentacle for protection.

There are many traditions concerning gift giving.   In early Rome during the festival of Saturnalia, the gifts were in honor of loved ones who had died during the previous year.  Other groups gave simple gifts to others such as twigs cut from sacred groves for good luck and special foods such as figs or other symbolic foods like eggs for fertility, grains for abundance, honey for happiness and nuts for prosperity.  Others gave home made breads, pastries, jewelry, or candles.

Santa Claus has also been around for a very long time according to the pagans, but not quite in the way that society views him today. It is said that the first “Santa Claus” was Thor, the God of Thunder.  He lived in the north polar region and traveled by sleigh that was driven by a great white bison.  He brought coins and bread to the poor and good children and would punish the bad children.  His son Cronus, the God of Harvest and Hearth, superseded him.  He would wear red and enter through the chimneys also bringing coins or small gifts only for the people that left food out for him from harvest.

Every part of the world has their own folklore, such as Aire, the fairy from France that rides a burro and delivers gifts on Christmas Eve or the yule elf, Julbock, that exchanges presents for porridge.  There is also La Befana, the witch from Italy that rides a broomstick carrying a bag of toys and flies down chimneys to leave toys and goodies in jars called “urns of fate” that are left out for her to fill.

The mistletoe is another interesting tradition.  One story tells about Loki, the God of Mischief, that killed Baldiw, the God of Peace by shooting him with a sprig of mistletoe.  Everyone was saddened by this so his mother, Frigga, hung a mistletoe up and promised to kiss everyone who passed beneath it.   In doing so, it became the symbol of forgiveness and love and Baldiw was raised from the dead.
Mistletoe was one of the strongest healing herbs there was and if enemies met in the forest where it grew they had to lay their weapons down and observe a truce for 24 hours; this act attached peace to its meaning.

Wassailing, though considered a Yule tradition, was actually done by a group of boys and men at Samhain that had a bit too much ale to drink.  They gathered stones, sticks and weapons and left to find the largest apple tree they could.  They threw stones or fired their weapons into the branches to scare off the evil spirits and then drank to the tree’s health.
Now wassailing is drinking to anyone’s health with a warmed specially spiced punch. Here is a recipe that I stumbled upon a few years ago in one of my grandmother’s cookbooks:

Wassil
Heat a large container of ale or beer, about 3 or 4 pints, then add the following:
1/2 c sugar
1/4 c mixed spice (cinnamon sticks and whole cloves are excellent)
2 or 3 small sweet apples, cut up
1 1/4 c pineapple juice
1 1/4 c orange juice
juice of 2 lemons

Place over a slow flame.   Before it begins to boil, take off the heat and whip up some cream.  Float the cream on top of the brew similar to foam.

Another tradition of the ancients that my grandmother did and I still do to this day is the Yule cake.  This special cake is made with almonds, and charms are hidden inside wrapped in foil and placed in the cake before baking.  These charms are then found while eating the cake and each one fortells of the year to come.
Some of these charms are: a cinnamon stick for abundance, a whole clove for protection, a heart for love, a coin for wealth, a ring for marriage, a kernel of corn for good harvest, and a grain of rice for fertility.

Yule Cake
1 pkg yeast
1/8 c lukewarm water
1 c milk; scalded then cooled at room temperature
1 t salt
1/2 c melted butter
1 egg yolk; beaten
3 c flour
3/4 c almond paste (recipe below)
various charms
powdered sugar and more melted butter to top

Dissolve yeast in water then add milk, salt, melted butter, and egg yolk.  Add flour, then make dough into a ball. Let rise for 45 min.  Work almond paste into a ball and place in the center of the cake.  Place the charms into the cake then let rise 35 min.  Cut a pentacle across the top and bake for 25 min. at 375°.  Let cool and then brush the top with melted butter and sprinkle powdered sugar over it.

Almond Paste
(must be made one week ahead)
3/4 c blanched almonds
1 T lemon juice
1/4 c water
1/4 c sugar

Grind almonds and add lemon.  Stir water and sugar over heat til 240° and add ground almond mixture. Store in a covered container in the fridge for one week prior to use.

Food has always been an important part of Yule celebrations.  In the old days, Yule marked the cold and dark time when food was scarce, especially if the harvest was not as it should have been throughout the year.   It became the time to look forward to abundance of the year to come and forget personal desires.  It was an unselfish time used to help others get through the dark time with love and good will towards men.

Try not to allow the changes that Christmas/ Yule has gone through to spoil the holiday; keep some of the old ways in your own home.   Remind the children that there is so much more to Yule than presents.  Not only the return of the sun but the peace and good will we share as we find ways for both ourselves and others to get through the dark time and prepare to greet the sun as it returns in full to us in February as the wheel turns once more.

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Astara has been officially practicing for over 20 years, but was taught at a young age about the craft by her Grandmother a kitchen Witch. Later she met her mentor who soon took over her training at age 25 She has been the leader of The Archaic Silvermoon Coven in Salt Lake City Utah since 2002. She is also a teacher for her coven members and other seekers, she finds her peace in her somewhat eclectic path that keeps her at one with nature and the spirits.

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