Happy Winter Solstice & YuleTide

On the 20th of this month we had a new moon, which is a symbol of renewal and energetic cleansing, a reset if you will. The day after was the mark of the Winter Solstice! The shortest day and longest night of the year. The next few days are short, and on the 25th, Christmas Day, the earth begins its steady ascend to longer days.

For pagans like myself, this is a time where spirits are at rest and everything is asleep or dead. Historically, this is a time to tell stories about the spirits since they won’t be awake to hear them.

You know that line in the song “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” that goes “there’ll be scary ghost stories and tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago”? That is a reference to the pagan tradition of story telling during Yule!

How do you celebrate Yule? The short answer: very similarly to how you celebrate Christmas.

Bringing a tree inside your home and decorating it? That’s Yuletide.

Having a large gathering to feast during the winter? That’s Yule also.

Exchanging gifts? That is also Yule.

If you’ve ever wondered what evergreen pine trees have to do with the birth of a Palestinian baby, the answer is absolutely nothing.

So where does it all come from? The Roman Empire sought to change the culture and traditions of people via Christianity, the easiest way to get people (who were all pagan) on board was to simply incorporate and re-brand their traditions and festivities into something new that fit the narrative.

What I’m doing to celebrate Yuletide

On the night of the new moon, the day before winter solstice, I thoroughly cleaned my home to help reset the energy. I then went and sat outside under the stars to reflect on the year, my character, and to think deeply about what I want in the next year.

On the solstice, I admittedly didn’t do what I wanted as I am sick and recovering from what is likely the flu. Ideally, I would have had a ceremony where I sage myself and my house, have a small fire in the backyard and do a simmer pot with oranges, berries and spices, such as cinnamon sticks. I love to dance under the moon and stars and would have likely done that as well. If I didn’t live alone, I’d probably cook a festive meal, but that coupled with illness made for a very sleepy and slow-paced solstice for me.

I still participate in Christmas traditions

While not a Christian, I was raised celebrating Christmas in the typical American fashion. Our home had lights on the house and yard, a massive 8 ft tall fake pine tree with many heirloom ornaments collected by my mom over the years. We didn’t have a lot of money, so mom would start saving and planning Christmas in early August of each year, slowly buying gifts here and there and hiding them. We always had giant stockings filled with candy and small toys and a pile of Christmas presents to unwrap. It was magical because she made it that way.

I still do all the normal things people do for Christmas, minus the religious theming and heavy emphasis on consumer spending, but I love the events, baking and cooking for others, decorating and spending time with others celebrating.

If history’s example is anything to go on, I think meshing Christian’s Christmas and neo-pagan’s Yule is a great thing. After all, the more the merrier, right?

So, from me to whoever is reading this, I wish you the warmest and happiest of holidays this season.