Yule
By Demna Gwynvydd

Yule means "feast". Or maybe "wheel".
However, some who have studied the linguistics tell me that the association of "Yule" with "wheel" (a fond belief you will find in many places, since the words are nearly identical) is a myth. The roots of the two words have about as much similarity in Scandinavian languages as in English. According to one theory, the root word for Yule came from the aboriginal Scandinavians, and has always meant only one thing: the festival at the Winter Solstice.

The word for wheel came from the Indo-Europeans who migrated to Scandinavia around 3800 BC (although they didn't even begin to use wheels until about 2500 BC!) The debate points out how ancient the word is. For ancient Germanic and Celtic people, the impulse to celebrate solstice was the same as for their neighbors to the south -- a celebration of the cycle of nature and a reaffirmation of the continuation of life. But the style and substance of their celebrations took very different shape.

It isn't hard to figure out why. These northern cultures survived a colder, darker winter for one thing. And they were just as likely to be herders and hunters as farmers. It's cold, it's dark many more hours than light, and snows cover the fields where your herds might forage. What is there to do but make a delight of necessity, with a great slaughter and feasting? And what better time to do it than at the point that marks the return of the sun's light and warmth?

Imagine living in, say, Scandinavia a thousand years ago. At solstice, the sun rises around 9 a.m. It sets about 3 p.m. A mere six hours of daylight. Even if you sleep for eight hours, you spend much more of your waking time in darkness than in light. What a relief when the days begin to lengthen again! Many of the ancient traditions surrounding Yuletide are concerned with coping with the darkness and the evils it was thought to harbor, and helping the return of light and warmth.

Take holly, for instance. Evergreens were cherished at this time of year as a natural symbol of rebirth and life amid winter whiteness. But holly was particularly prized to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces because of its prickliness -- to either ward off or snag and capture evil spirits before they could enter and harm a household.
Sort of like flypaper for faeries.

Of goats and elves.
Scratch the surface of Christmas folklore in
Scandinavian countries, and you find images and traditions that probably go way back. Perhaps this is because Christian missionaries didn't reach these countries until the 10th and 11th centuries, so the old traditions had longer to settle in. There's the Julbock or Julbukk, or Yule goat, from Sweden and Norway, who had his beginnings as carrier for the god Thor. Now he carries the Yule elf when he makes his rounds to deliver presents and receive his offering of porridge. The Yule elf is called Jultomten in Sweden, Julesvenn in Norway, and Jule-nissen in Denmark and Norway. (A Norwegian visitor to Candlegrove tells us more.)
Jule-nissen was remembered fondly in 1908 by Jacob Riis:

The YULE CAT
From Iceland comes the legend of the sinister and gargantuan Yule Cat, who, it seems, is ready to eat lazy humans. Those who did not help with the work of their village to finish all work on the autumn wool by Yule time got a double whammy -- they missed out on the Yule reward of a new article of clothing, and they
were threatened with becoming sacrifices for the dreaded

O! Mistletoe!
And from the Celtic tradition comes mistletoe.
Also known as the golden bough. Held sacred by both the Celtic Druids and the Norseman.
Once called Allheal, used in folk medicine to cure many ills. North American Indians used it for toothache, measles and dog bites. Today the plant is still used medicinally, though only in skilled hands...it's a powerful plant.
It was also the plant of peace in Scandinavian
antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day.

Mistletoe was used by the Druid priesthood in a very special ceremony held around this time... five days after the New Moon following winter solstice, to be precise. The Druid priests would cut mistletoe from a holy oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground. Celts believed this parasitic plant held the soul of the host tree.

The priest then divided the branches into many sprigs and distributed them to the people, who hung them over doorways as protection against thunder, lightning and other evils. The folklore, and the magical powers of this plant, blossomed over the centuries A sprig placed in a baby's cradle would protect the child from
faeries. Giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would protect the entire herd. And so forth.

Now for the kissing part. Although many sources say that kissing under the mistletoe is a purely English custom, there's another, more charming explanation for its origin that extends back into Norse mythology. It's the story of a loving, if overprotective, mother. The Norse god Balder was the best loved of all the gods. His mother was Frigga, goddess of love and beauty. She loved her son so much that she wanted to
make sure no harm would come to him. So she went through the world, securing promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--fire, water, air, and earth--that they would not harm her beloved Balder. Leave it to Loki, a sly, evil spirit, to find the loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow from its wood. To make the prank even nastier, he took
the arrow to Hoder, Balder's brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at Balder's heart, and he fell dead. Frigga's tears became the mistletoe's white berries. In the version of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that she reverses the reputation of the offending plant--making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.

One of those fabulous Dickens sprawling sentences: "From the centre of the ceiling of this kitchen, old Wardle had just suspended with his own hands a huge branch of mistletoe, and this same branch of mistletoe instantaneously gave rise to a scene of general and most delightful struggling and confusion; in the midst of which, Mr. Pickwick, with a gallantry that would have done honour to a descendant of Lady Tollimglower herself, took the old lady by the hand, led her beneath the mystic branch, and saluted her in all courtesy and decorum."
--The Pickwick Papers

And there's the famous Yule Log, immortalized in carols and in a delicious French dessert.
And from time immemorial, Yule has been a time of peace and charity. In Norway, work had to be reduced to a minimum, and no wheels were to be turned, for that would show impatience with the great wheel in the sky, the sun. As part of this time-- called Julafred, or Peace of Christmas--neither bird, beast nor fish is trapped, shot or netted.

So many Yule traditions.
“I hope you all enjoyed my little research project, let me know if I missed anything.
Blessed Be”

--Demna Gwynvydd

Ginger (Zingiber officinale)
By Magical Panther

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Tarot Card: Eight of Pentacles

Powers: Love, Money, Success, Power

Spiritual or Magickal Properties:
In the past the, ginger was worn as an amulet to bring heath and to protect the wearer.

Used to attract money toward oneself.

This plant can help one to become motivated, get the energy moving to use talents in a constructive ways.

Ginger is used in most love spells.

Whole ginger roots are planted and grown to attract money, or the powdered root is sprinkled into pockets or onto money for this purpose.

Also used in success spells.

Warnings:
Dried Root - Should not be taking while pregnant.

Affirmation:
I work in a meditative and steady way in order to create the results that I desire.

The path of the herbalist is to open ourselves to nature in an innoncent and pure way. She in turn will open her bounty and reward us with many valuable sectets.

May the Earth Bless you.

How to Make a Yule Log

By MoonRaven

A Yule Log is traditionally made early in the season but don’t worry you can still make one now. The logs are usually made of oak to symbolize the rebirth of the Oak King. If you do not have access to a piece of oak, then any wooden log will do. Its always nice if you can find a piece of wood that is from a tree that has fallen naturally. However you can also use wood that has been cut down for a wood stove or a fireplace. Once you have found your log, you can decorate it with all the things the solstice represents to you. You can use ribbons or holly or anything that represents Yule to you. You can also take a drill and drill three holes into the log and place candles in the log. Just make sure you use decorations that can be burned if you chose to burn your log. If you want to burn your log, place it in a fireplace or a bonfire. Burning your Yule log symbolizes the calling back of the sun.

Some things you can use are:

-Ribbons that represent the God and the Goddess.
-Holly sprigs
-Wooden beads
-Candles
-Herbs like rosebuds or cloves

You can use any other item that symbolizes the calling back of the sun and its fertility. Never burn candles down to the wood or leave unattended. Some people save their Yule log as a decoration for each year rather then burn it in their fireplace. The choice is yours. Have fun!

MoonRaven

Diana, goddess of nature, fertility and childbirth
Submitted by Alana

Diana is a moon-goddess and associated with the constellation of Ursa Major. Her priest lived in Aricia and if a man was able to kill him with a bough broken from a tree in this forest, he would become priest himself. Also torch-bearing processions were held in her honor here. She is also associated with fire festivals. Her annual festival, held on August 13th, where she is invoked to protect the harvest from autumn storms, is the middle of summer, when the sun is at its hottest. Diana is often depicted holding a torch, a symbolic reminder of the fiery nature of the Goddess.

Diana was originally a goddess of fertility and, just as Bona Dea, she was worshipped mainly by women as the giver of fertility and easy births. Under Greek influence she was equated with Artemis and assumed many of her aspects. Her name is possibly derived from the Celtic words Dianna and Diona, mean 'divine' and 'brilliant'. She is portrayed as a huntress accompanied by a deer. Diana was also the goddess of the Latin commonwealth.

She was also known as the Queen of Witches during the famous witch hunts, falling between the 15th and 17th centuries. Diana became the mistress of magick. She was the teacher of spells, healing, and at the same time still holding her status as the protectress of all things wild.

Yule Tree Topper
By Starlight

Christmas trees are often topped with a star
representing the Star of Bethlehem, or an angel to represent the Angels that announced the birth of Jesus.

During Yule we celebrate the birth of the Sun, and an appropriate topper for our Yule tree can be a representation of the sun. There are countless beautiful sun images you can purchase to use as toppers. However, if you enjoy making your own ornaments, and especially if you have children who would like to be involved in decorating the Yule tree, here is an easy, beautiful topper you can make with your children.

You will need:

Newspaper to cover your table
2 white paper plates for each Sun
Hole punch, scissors or sharp stick to poke holes
2 or 3 shades of yellow and amber poster paint
Paint brush
Spray-on or stick glue
gold glitter
Glittery gold buttons, sequins, metallic confetti,
etc.
12 inches of yellow or gold yarn or twine

SAFETY NOTE: Do not give toddlers tiny buttons or beads to work with. They are choking hazards.

Draw a picture of the sun on each of the paper plates freehand. Cut out the two sun shapes.

Paint one side of each of sun. Wait until it dries, then paint the other side. Be creative with the use of your paints.

When both sides are dry, paste the two shapes
together, with the underside of the plates together so that the rays of the sun will bend outward. Punch two holes about 1. 5 inches apart through both plates to string yarn through later.

Using glue and glitter, go to town decorating your sun. (Many kids will want to draw a face on the sun which is perfectly appropriate. Have them do this before the glitter goes on. )

String the yarn through the two holes and tie to the top-most branch of your Yule tree.

Be as creative as you like. If you're working with kids, give them free rein. They can make these sun shapes for toppers as well as for decorating around the house.

Maturity
By Fate

What if being adult doesn't mean being older, wiser
What if being an adult means being afraid
Not smater, but scared.
As a child, I boldly went without a care,
Now I care and ponder if my car will get me there.
As a child, I thought the dark fun
As an adult, I lock my doors and run
Yesterday, I took an unknown road.
The adult in me worried about a nonexistent flat
The child said, "Who cares, look at that!"
The adult finally came to enjoy the view,
Especially since the road saved 30 minutes, too.
Sometimes I must do what I should not
Because as a child, I was invincible and on top.
If told, "Don't be bold" or "You can't do that"
Ignore them and don't believe it fact
Tell the speaker with childish glee, "Can too".
And resist the aging of man and the cowerdice in you.

New: Handmade Runes
Created by Demna

Runes have been used for ages by the Norse traditions for various reasons such as divination, rune spells, and talismans. These runes are handmade, with the runes burned onto the surface. Buy your own set today from our Tools section.

Handmade Wooden Runes