12/20/2019
Tonight, at sundown, Yule begins!
Yule has been celebrated since pre history. It could very well be the very oldest holiday celebrated during this time of the year. The holiday's celebration can vary slightly from region to region and even home to home. This is how my family and many others celebrate Yule.
Yule starts at sundown tonight and continues for 12 days through January 1st. It's a time to celebrate the return of the sun Goddess, Sunna, as these are the longest nights of the year and the point at which daylight grows longer. It's also a time for family, feasting, celebrating, honoring those that have passed on to the next life, and giving offerings to the Gods and land spirits to ensure a prosperous new year.
We begin Yule by celebrating Mother's Night tonight. It's a time to honor female ancestors and mother's in your life. Do something special for the living and raise a toast to those that have passed on. They're surely watching over you.
The Wild Hunt also takes place at this time. Led by the Allfather Odin, though known by many names, here known as Jólnir which means "The Yule One", the huntsmen proceed through the night sky hunting evil spirits. This brings peace and harmony during this time. Don't forget to leave him and his 8 legged horse, Sleipnir, an offering (called a blot-pronounced like boat but with an L) of food and drink. Sleipnir's offering is traditionally left in a stocking by the fire. Odin sustains himself solely on wine and gives meat offerings to his wolves Geri and Freki.
Many also leave an offering of oatmeal with a healthy portion of butter on top to the Tomte and Yule Goat on the 24th. The Tomte is the guardian spirit of your land. Many believe he's the spirit of the person that cleared the land and built the first dwelling there. Here in America that may be the spirit of a Native American or possibly a European settler. The Tomte also brings prosperity to the homestead which is represented by gifts given often on the 25th. Speaking of gifts, we also give large ones on the first night and last day, and small ones on the other nights of Yule.
Many believe Santa, his reindeer, and elves are a combination of the traditions of Odin and the Wild Hunt, and the Tomte and the Yule Goat. The 8 reindeer represent a combination of Sleipnir's 8 legs and the Yule Goat. Santa is believed to be a combination of Odin, appearing to mankind as a bearded man with a large hat, and the Tomte, elf like and short in stature with a large hat. Both are beleived to give gifts of prosperity after they are first given gifts. This is also a huge Heathen (people that honor the Northern, Western, Central and Eastern European Gods, Goddess, Land Spirits, and personal ancestors), belief and tradition. A gift for a gift. You give a gift to get a gift.
Other Gods are also honored during this time as well as ancestors and friends that have passed on to the next life. Frey was honored with the tradition of swearing oaths of fealty and good words over the Yule Boar. Eating pork and sauerkraut on New Year's Day is a very common tradition all over the world to this day, that brings luck in the new year. In the Saga of Hakon the good, there is a description of the Yule blot that includes toasts drunk to Njord and Frey for “good harvests and peace”, to Odin “for victory and power to the king”, and memorial toasts to those who had died.
There will be feasting of the Yule boar or ham, drinking of ale, wine, and mead, decorating the Yule tree, decking the halls in bows of evergreens and lights, wassailing, lighting the yule log, and exchanging of gifts. Great merriment, peace and joy to you all!
