Ritual Theme: Rebirth of the Sun God, return of the old God to the Underworld

 

Astrology: Sun moves from Sagittarius to Capricorn

 

Lunar Correspondance: Dark of the Moon

 

Deities: Solar Child, Sun King, Great Mother, Underworld/Hornèd God, Oak King and Holly King, Saturn/Chronus, Bel, Mabon, Pryderi, Taliesin, Cerridwen, Balder, Apollo, Horus, Set

 

Altar: Evergreen decorations, pine cones, oak, holly, misletoe, white candles

 

Colours: red, green, white, black

 

Herbs: Herbs of Saturn, Capricorn, and the Sun. Traditional herbs include holly, mistletoe, pine, oak, fir, birch, chamomile, cinnamon, frankincense, myrhh, wintergreen, nutmeg, clove, ivy, blessed thistle, hyssop, rosemary, cedar, bay, juniper, apple, orange, lemon.

 

Symbolism: renewal and rebirth during Winter

One traditional Yuletide practice is the creation of a Yule tree. This can be a liveing, potted tree which can later be planted in the ground, or a cut one. The choice is yours.

Appropriate Wiccan decorations are fun to make, from strings of dried rosebuds and cinnamon sticks for garlands, to bags of fragrant spices which are hung from boughs. Quartz crystals can be wrapped with shiny wire and suspended from sturdy branches to resemble icicles. Apples, oranges and lemons hanging from boughs are strikingly beautiful, natural decorations, and were customary in ancient times.

Many enjoy the custom of lighting the Yule log. This is a graphic representation of the rebirth of the God within the sacred fire of the Mother Goddess. If you choose to burn one, select a proper log (traditionally of oak or pine). Carve or chalk a figure of the sun of the God upon it, with the boline, and set it alight in the fireplace at dusk on Yule. As the log burns, visualise the Sun shining within it and think of the coming warmer days.

As to food, nuts and fruits such as apples and pears, cakes of caraways soaked in cider, and pork are traditional fare. Wassil, lambswool, hibiscus or ginger tea are fine drinks for the Simple Feast or Yule meals.

This is the time of year of death and rebirth of the Sun God. The days are shortest, the Sun at its lowest point. The Full Moon after Yule is considered the most powerful of the whole year. This ritual is a light festival, with as many candles as possible on or near the altar in welcome of the Sun Child.