Winter Solstice
ALTERNATE NAMES & SIMILAR OBSERVANCES:
Yule, Yuletid, Yuletide (Celtic, Norse), Christmas (Christian-25th), Saturnalia (Roman), Alban Arthan (Druidic), Gwyl Canol Gaeaf (Welsh)
circa December 21
When the Sun enters Capricorn, an Earth sign symbolic of PRACTICALITY, CONVENTION, PATIENCE, HUMOR, AMBITION & HOPE, we begin Yule. As we are practical about saving our stocks of food, money, and other necessities throughout the cold months, we are patiently waiting out the Winter with hope for the renewed life of Spring and warmth of the returning Sun, with Love and humor warming our hearts.
This is the longest night and the shortest day of the year. The Yule log is lit, as well as candles, to symbolize the returning Sun and the rebirth of the savior child of the God and Goddess. This is the time to look at things around you as if seeing them for the first time...through the eyes of a child. A time of renewed Hope.
Correspondences
HERBS/FLOWERS/INCENSE:
sage, thistle, bayberry, mint, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, frankincense, myrrh, evergreens: holly, ivy, pine, rosemary, bay (laurel), juniper, cedar, fir, cypress, spruce,
Mistletoe (poisonous) -a parasite found growing on trees, especially apple trees. The Druids would look for it on Oak trees (which is quite rare to find) in a sacred grove. One of the priests, dressed in white, would climb the tree on Midsummer's Day (or when the moon was six days old), and cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle. The other priests would catch it in a white cloak below as it was forbidden to touch the ground. Mistletoe was also the one thing, in Norse mythology, that Frigga overlooked, and therefore was discovered by Loki and used to kill the beloved Balder by his own brother's hand.
COLORS:
Green, Red, White, Silver, Gold
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
Yule log, candles, clove-studded fruit (representing the Sun); presents; mistletoe, holly, ivy, berry strings, popcorn strings, dried flower strings, evergreen wreaths, boughs, garlands, and trees; bells; Mother and newborn child images
FOODS:
Sun cakes, bread, grains, cookies, fruitcake, dried fruits, lemons, oranges, apples, pears, cranberries, nuts, popcorn, cider, ale, spiced drinks, eggnog, wassail, lamb's wool
GODS/GODDESSES:
Anu, Danu, Dana, Cerridwen (Celtic), Frigga, Freya (Norse), Neith, Isis-Meri (Egyptian), Diana (Roman), Maia (Greek), Maya (Buddhist), Mary (Christian), The Great Mother, Mother Goddesses
Dagda, Cernunnos, Herne, Oak King (Celtic) Balder (Norse), Ra, Osiris, Horus (Egyptian), Mithras (Persian-Roman), Saturn (Roman), Apollo (Greek/Roman), Hermes, Dionysus/Bacchus (Greek), Buddha (Buddhist), Jesus (Christian), The Divine Child, newborn child/savior/Sun Gods
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Lighting the Yule log, lighting candles, decorating the tree, baking, feasting, sharing, gift-giving, ringing bells, caroling, wassailing, rituals of protection, honoring the newborn child God and the Mother Goddess, making a sacrificial Yule Goat out of straw (Scandinavian), some cultures perform weddings at this time as well.
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Deer, Caribou, Reindeer, Elk, Moose, Goat, Lamb, Pig, Cow, ..all cloven-footed animals
GEMSTONES:
bloodstone, ruby, garnet, cat's eye, emerald
TAROT CARDS:
Aces
© 2004 GypsyJaguar
sage, thistle, bayberry, mint, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, frankincense, myrrh, evergreens: holly, ivy, pine, rosemary, bay (laurel), juniper, cedar, fir, cypress, spruce,
Mistletoe (poisonous) -a parasite found growing on trees, especially apple trees. The Druids would look for it on Oak trees (which is quite rare to find) in a sacred grove. One of the priests, dressed in white, would climb the tree on Midsummer's Day (or when the moon was six days old), and cut the mistletoe with a golden sickle. The other priests would catch it in a white cloak below as it was forbidden to touch the ground. Mistletoe was also the one thing, in Norse mythology, that Frigga overlooked, and therefore was discovered by Loki and used to kill the beloved Balder by his own brother's hand.
COLORS:
Green, Red, White, Silver, Gold
SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:
Yule log, candles, clove-studded fruit (representing the Sun); presents; mistletoe, holly, ivy, berry strings, popcorn strings, dried flower strings, evergreen wreaths, boughs, garlands, and trees; bells; Mother and newborn child images
FOODS:
Sun cakes, bread, grains, cookies, fruitcake, dried fruits, lemons, oranges, apples, pears, cranberries, nuts, popcorn, cider, ale, spiced drinks, eggnog, wassail, lamb's wool
GODS/GODDESSES:
Anu, Danu, Dana, Cerridwen (Celtic), Frigga, Freya (Norse), Neith, Isis-Meri (Egyptian), Diana (Roman), Maia (Greek), Maya (Buddhist), Mary (Christian), The Great Mother, Mother Goddesses
Dagda, Cernunnos, Herne, Oak King (Celtic) Balder (Norse), Ra, Osiris, Horus (Egyptian), Mithras (Persian-Roman), Saturn (Roman), Apollo (Greek/Roman), Hermes, Dionysus/Bacchus (Greek), Buddha (Buddhist), Jesus (Christian), The Divine Child, newborn child/savior/Sun Gods
RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:
Lighting the Yule log, lighting candles, decorating the tree, baking, feasting, sharing, gift-giving, ringing bells, caroling, wassailing, rituals of protection, honoring the newborn child God and the Mother Goddess, making a sacrificial Yule Goat out of straw (Scandinavian), some cultures perform weddings at this time as well.
ANIMALS/CREATURES:
Deer, Caribou, Reindeer, Elk, Moose, Goat, Lamb, Pig, Cow, ..all cloven-footed animals
GEMSTONES:
bloodstone, ruby, garnet, cat's eye, emerald
TAROT CARDS:
Aces
© 2004 GypsyJaguar
References:
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
Mike Nichols, The Witches' Sabbats
Raven Grimassi, The Wiccan Mysteries
Janet & Stewart Farrar, A Witches' Bible
D.J. Conway, Celtic Magic
Silver RavenWolf, To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Henry I. Christ, Myths and Folklore
Cliffs Notes on Mythology
Also see:
Magic - Wheel of the Year - Imbolg - Vernal Equinox - Beltane - Summer Solstice - Lughnassadh - Autumnal Equinox - Samhain - Winter Solstice - Days of the Week - Elemental Correspondences - The Moon - The Sun - Altars and Ritual Tools - A Basic Spell - True Love Spell - Ideal Career Spell - Protection - Herbs and Oils for Protection - Symbolism - Colors
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