Winter Solstice
Yule Festival
Yuletide celebrates the rebirth of the Horned God, or the defeat of the Oak King and assumption of power by the Holly King. Also called Midwinter, this is a celebration of the winter solstice, marking the longest night of the year and the return of the sun.
According to the solar calendar, this is the apex of the Winter season. Other calendars, including the astronomical calendar, consider this solstice as the beginning of the season. The overall theme of Yule is rebirth and renewal. This is a festival of the sun, so light is a critical element. Flickering candles, bonfires, twinkle lights, and the traditional lighting of the tree all represent this celebration of the returning of the light.
Being the time of rebirth, this is a great time to remove anything that holds us back and to sow the seeds for the upcoming year. Try success spells, blessings, cleansing your home and altar and banishing negativity this night.
Festival of Yuletide
altar decorations and seasonal correspondences
Celebrate the Yule festival by decorating your altar with the plants and colors of the season: green, red, white and gold. Use a selection of evergreen, ivy, poinsettias and holly, as well as mistletoe, pinecones, cedar and amaryllis.
Celebrate the season with nuts, dried fruits, roasted meats and warm drinks. Especially include apples, oranges, pomegranates, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and rosemary.
Herbs and Plants
- Cinnamon
- Ginger
- Cloves
- Rosemary
- Orange
- Frankincense
- Myrrh
- Pine
Metals and Stones
- Quartz
- Diamond
- Ruby
- Garnet
- Emerald
- Bloodstone
- Calcite
