Sabbat Yule
For those in the North, December 20 is the start of Yule with Mother's Night. Yule this year also has the honor of a full moon on December 25, a rare event. Midwinter
(Winter Solstice or Yule) has been recognized as a significant turning point in
the yearly cycle since the late Stone Age.
The ancient megalithic sites of Newgrange and Stonehenge, carefully
aligned with the solstice Sunrise and Sunset, exemplify this. The reversal of the Sun's ebbing presence in
the sky symbolizes the rebirth of the Solar Goddess and presages the return of
fertile seasons. From Germanic to Roman
tradition, this is the most important time of celebration.
The Sun is out of sight, resting old age. This is the drowsy
time for beauty, dreams, psychic dreams, psychic awareness, spirituality,
sleep, sex, purifications, love, friendships, peace, releasing stress, healing
wounds. A time for the Dark - for Earth
and Winter.
God is born during Yule, the God is a youth, unsure of his
strength. He, like a boy from birth to
adolescence, doesn't really notice the Goddess.
She herself is recovering from his birth at Yule, cleansing and
regaining her maidenhood. Dark Divines
reigns as the Year and Divines transitions.
Other Names: Midwinter, Sun
Return, Pagan New Year, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Finn's Day, Yuletide, Festival
of Sol, Jól, Great Day of the Cauldron, Festival of Growth
Activities: Decorating Yule
Tree, Gifts in Memory of Deceased, Storytelling, 12 Nights, Wild Hunt, Make a
Yule Log, Mother's Night, Feast, Go Unplugged for a Day, Bonfires
Altar: Upon cloth of red,
green, white and gold is laid a great bowl of spiced cider with ladle and cups,
cakes in appropriate shapes, apples stuffed with nuts and dried fruits, and the
figure of a great golden Sun. An eight-spoked wheel is hung from the ceiling,
laden with evergreen boughs and candles, and the Yule tree is lit with lights.
Animals: Stags, Horses, Squirrels,
Wren, Boar, Pigs, Cats
Attunement Teas (Individually
or Blended): Cinnamon, Mullein, Lavender, Willow Bark, Yarrow
Colors: Red, Green, White,
Gold
Deities: Newborn God, Triple
Goddess, Father Time, Holy Mother
Elements: Earth and Fire
Foods: Feasting, ideally
with others - Poultry, Dried Fruit, Egg Nog, Pork, Mulled Wine, Beans, Wassail
Goddesses: Angerona (Roman),
Frigg (Norse), Changing Woman (Apache),
Holda (Germanic), Gaia (Greek), Brigitte (Voodun), Freya (Norse), Hannah (Sumerian), Ma'at (Egyptian), Nox (Roman),
Pandora (Greek), Virgin Mary (Christian-Gnostic), Skadi (Norse)
Gods: Apollo (Greco-Roman), Balder (Norse), Helios (Greek), Janus (Roman),
Oak/Holly King (Anglo-Celtic), Ra (Egyptian), Hod (Norse), Bragi (Norse),
Father Sun (Native American), Jesus (Christian-Gnostic), Mithras (Persian), Odin (Norse), Saturn (Roman)
Key
Action: Meditate, Introspection, Feeding Birds, Dormancy, Giving to those Less
Fortunate
Meaning: Rebirth of God,
Honor of the Triple Goddess, Return of the Sun and the Waxing Year, Non-Celtic
New Year, Healing
Offerings: Hospitality,
Peace, Gratitude
Plants: Holly, Mistletoe,
Evergreens, Poinsettia, Bougainvillaea, Cinnamon, Bay, Pine, Valerian, Myyrh,
Peppermint
Ritual Oils: Rosemary,
Myrrh, Nutmeg, Saffron, Cedar, Pine, Wintergreen, Ginger, Frankincense,
Cardamom
Songs: Last Night of Hope, Wassail
Wassail all over the Town
Stones:
Bloodstone, Ruby, Garnet, Onyx, Turquoise
Symbols: Evergreen Trees,
Yule Log, Holly, Eight-Spoked Wheel, Wreaths, Spinning Wheels, Light/Darkness,
Mother/Child
Taboos: Extinguishing Fire,
Traveling Unnecessary
Boar's Head Carol
Traditional Medieval
English Carol
Winifred Hodge Rose
The
boar's head in hand bear I,
Bedecked with bay and rosemary,
And I bid you good Heathens be merry,
Together on this holy day!
Chorus:
Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey,
Frigga, Freya bless this day!
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the fairest dish in all the land,
When thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Presented on this holy day!
Chorus:
Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey,
Frigga, Freya bless this day!
The steward hath provided this,
In honor of the King of Bliss,
Who on this day to be feasted is!
Now glad betide Frey's holy day!
Chorus:
Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey,
Frigga, Freya bless this day!
Bedecked with bay and rosemary,
And I bid you good Heathens be merry,
Together on this holy day!
Chorus:
Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey,
Frigga, Freya bless this day!
The boar's head, as I understand,
Is the fairest dish in all the land,
When thus bedecked with a gay garland,
Presented on this holy day!
Chorus:
Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey,
Frigga, Freya bless this day!
The steward hath provided this,
In honor of the King of Bliss,
Who on this day to be feasted is!
Now glad betide Frey's holy day!
Chorus:
Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey,
Frigga, Freya bless this day!
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