Yule celebrations and rituals
Celebration of Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year - celebrating rebirth and renewal. The winter Solstice was deeply significant for the Celts and Druids and it became the Christian holidays Christmas. Rituals are already written in our DNA from our ancestors. You will also be familiar with many of the traditions. Create your Yule altar. Whether you are lighting a Yule log or decking out your altar with crystals and evergreens, it is about creating celebration that resonates with you.
Everything slows down at this time of the year. We spend time in darkness before we step back into the light and we celebrate the Sun (the light).
11 days of celebrations (sometimes they say 12 days)
Day 1 20th Dec Mother’s night
Honor female ancestors, read and share stories, food and jewelry. We celebrate our healthy and vibrant female ancestors - write down your lessons and gifts, wisdom and memories - take a moment for feelings for your mother and grandmother…milk is associated to the motherhood, you can bring to your altar. Mothers night prayers: I honor you today, I thank you for your gifts, I thank you for life itself.
Day 2 21st Dec Winter Solstice
Yule log, honor and prostection, ice altar, bonfire. Create cozy atmosphere, have a festive drink and slow down. Sun salutations from Yoga. Put Sun symbol to your altar.
Day 3 22nd Dec Evergreens
Renewal, mistltoe - fertility, pine, holy, learn plant symbolism, walk in nature, hygge principal, paint a bird house
Day 4 23rd Dec Celebrate the Sun
Sun symbolism, oranges fire, feasts community
It’s time to enjoy a bit of hygge, as the Danes call it, or Koselig in Norwegian. Suitable activities for this day include watching holiday movies, listening to holiday music, taking naps, reading, working on crafts, and eating treats. After so much relaxation, there may be time for meditation and maybe a little divination, but don’t push it if you need the whole day to recuperate.
Day 5 24th Dec Santa
The gift of The Holly King is to hold tightly in the long winter nights to that last spark of joy, if that’s all you’ve got, and to celebrate it so that it may be fanned to flame once again.
Day 6 25th Dec Christmas tree, Jul
The event culminates with a special prayer & offering to Freyr, thanking him for the harvest, the food, and the untamed spirit of the wild boar that lives within us all.
Day 7 26th Dec The Christmas witch
La Befana, hospitality, welcome stones
As part of your daily Yule ritual, hold the symbol you have chosen and speak or think words of welcome and openness, channeling these energies for the season; for example, “May my home be open to love and friendship.”
Consider creating a guardian talisman if you wish to add a ward extending to the entire property.
Tonight, we place Wild Hunt offerings outside and a symbol of the Wild Hunt on our altars to honor the power of nature and all the beings who participate in the cycles of life and death.
Befana, wise crone of the hearth, Sweep away the old, bring in a fresh start.
Day 8 27th Dec Sing to the trees
European Wildman, christmas carols, fruit trees
Old Man Winter is here to stay, and during Yule, it is nice to prepare for the long winter ahead. Doing work in the spiritual realm, such as house blessings and creating magical wards, then complementing that with mundane work like making tinctures or teas to ward off cold and flu, is a balanced way to keep your family healthy.
Day 9 28th Dec Y Fari Lwyd, Mari Lwyd
Closer to Gods, divine appearances
The Gods are accessible to us, and just like building a relationship with any other being, whether another human, animal, ancestor, or other non-human kin, it takes time and requires patience to get to know them before a deeper bond can be forged.
Day 10 29th Dec Elves
Spirit of homes, connection to the nature, build a fairy house
A big part of connecting to seasonal changes is to get outside and experience them for yourself. It is good to remember that we are part of this planet, related to the animals, trees, and plants that surround us. The air we breathe is provided to us by trees just by living their lives. Remembering that we are part of the cycles of nature, life, and death and inherently wild is a good way to decompress during the holiday season.
Day 11 30th Dec Hygge, Winter Witches
Tarot Cards, Rune, Astrology
Maintaining motivation for change can be more manageable when you set incremental goals that lead to larger achievements. Early successes can inspire continued commitment, laying the groundwork for lasting success.Another essential step is understanding the deeper reasons behind the changes you wish to make. What’s the true motivation behind each resolution? ACTIVE IMAGINING is a synthesis of meditation, visualization, and manifestation. It involves deeply considering what you desire in life and visualizing that reality in vivid detail. Envision your aspirations down to the finest details, but remain receptive to the myriad ways they might come to fruition.
Day 12 31st Dec Hogmanay, Fireworks
Tonight, let’s put a feather on our altar. Feathers are relatively easy to find, either outdoors or as part of household items like pillows or decorations. The lightness of a feather symbolizes the lifting of burdens as you move into a new year. In many cultures, finding a feather is believed to be a message from the divine.
The 12 Days of Yule are an opportunity to reconnect with the rhythms of nature, the wisdom of our Ancestors, and the spiritual essence that permeates these darkest days of winter. It’s a journey of introspection, gratitude, hope, and celebration, binding us to our past and our vision for the future. As you chart your own course through the Yule season, remember that traditions evolve, and it’s beautiful to craft new ones that resonate with you and your loved ones. Cherish the moments, honor the old, and embrace the new.
Enjoy your time with yourself, Witch!