Discover the Magic of Yule: Celebrating Christmas Traditions

Every year, on or around December 21st, the sun appears to stand still for a few days, so it seems that the sun rises and sets at the same time during those days. In fact, the word solstice is derived from the Latin sol (“sun”) and sistere (“to stand still”). Yule is rooted in ancient Pagan traditions, including Norse and Celtic celebrations. It is linked to the winter solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year.

This is why rituals celebrating the sun’s return have been practiced since the dawn of civilization. In ancient Rome, Winter Solstice was celebrated with the unruly feast known as Saturnalia, honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture. Communities came together to celebrate with music, food, dance, and, above all, light and fire. The revelry would last nearly 7 days in some places, starting on December 17th.

However, the word “Yule” is of Scandinavian origin. In Norse mythology, Yule was a 12-day festival honoring the god Odin and celebrating the rebirth of the sun. The Yule log, a central element of the celebration, symbolized the triumph of light over darkness. Made of oak or ash, the Yule log was decorated with ivy and ribbons. The logs were lit from the fire of last year’s log in hopes of blessings and bringing back the sun.

There’s more, wassailing, the act of toasting to good health and singing carols, also has its roots in Yule traditions. So does the tradition of giving gifts during the Yule. The Christian figure of Saint…