History of Yule
A Festival of Light:
Many cultures have winter festivals that are in fact celebrations of light. In addition to Christmas, there's Hanukkah with its brightly lit menorahs, Kwanzaa candles, and any number of other holidays. The Pagan holiday called Yule takes place on the day of the winter solstice, around December 21. On that day (or close to it), an amazing thing happens in the sky. The earth's axis tilts away from the sun in the Northern Hemisphere, and the sun reaches at its greatest distance from the equatorial plane. As a festival of the Sun, the most important part of any Yule celebration is light -- candles, bonfires, and more.
Origins of Yule:
In the Northern hemisphere, the winter solstice has been celebrated for millennia. The Norse peoples viewed it as a time for much feasting, merrymaking, and, if the Icelandic sagas are to be believed, a time of sacrifice as well. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to Norse origins.
Celtic Celebrations of Winter:
The Celts of the British Isles celebrated midwinter as well. Although little is known about the specifics of what they did, many traditions persist. According to the writings of Pliny the Elder, this is the time of year in which Druid priests sacrificed a white bull and gathered mistletoe in celebration.
Roman Saturnalia:
Few cultures knew how to party like the Romans. Saturnalia was a festival of general merrymaking and debauchery held around the time of the winter solstice. This week-long party was held in honor of the god Saturn, and involved sacrifices, gift-giving, special privileges for slaves, and a lot of feasting. Although this holiday was partly about giving presents, more importantly, it was to honor an agricultural god.
Welcoming the Sun Through the Ages:
Four thousand years ago, the Ancient Egyptians took the time to celebrate the daily rebirth of Horus - the god of the Sun. As their culture flourished and spread throughout Mesopotamia, other civilizations decided to get in on the sun-welcoming action. They found that things went really well... until the weather got cooler, and crops began to die. Each year, this cycle of birth, death and rebirth took place, and they began to realize that every year after a period of cold and darkness, the Sun did indeed return.
Winter festivals were also common in Greece and Rome, as well as in the British Isles. When a new religion called Christianity popped up, the new hierarchy had trouble converting the Pagans, and as such, folks didn't want to give up their old holidays. Christian churches were built on old Pagan worship sites, and Pagan symbols were incorporated into the symbolism of Christianity. Within a few centuries, the Christians had everyone worshipping a new holiday celebrated on December 25.
In some traditions of Wicca and Paganism, the Yule celebration comes from the Celtic legend of the battle between the young Oak King and the Holly King. The Oak King, representing the light of the new year, tries each year to usurp the old Holly King, who is the symbol of darkness. Re-enactment of the battle is popular in some Wiccan rituals
The History of Yule5
A forum that offers discussions on esoteric topics like demonology, magick, encounters, witchcraft, and all things spiritual or mystical in nature.
Moderators: eye_of_tiger, shalimar123
-
- Posts: 30
- Joined: Fri Nov 19, 2010 3:10 am
- Location: Springfield
- Contact:
Post Reply
1 post
• Page 1 of 1
Jump to
- GENERAL DISCUSSION
- ↳ Introduce Yourself
- ↳ General Discussion
- ↳ Everyday Predictions
- ↳ Humour and Games
- ↳ Inspirations And Words For Today
- ↳ The Hug Exchange
- ASTROLOGY
- ↳ Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Horary Astrology
- ↳ Planets and Houses
- ↳ Vedic Astrology
- ↳ Vedic Astrology Reading Forum
- ↳ Western Astrology
- ↳ Western Astrology Reading Forum
- TAROT, PSYCHIC, NUMEROLOGY, PALMISTRY, DREAMS
- ↳ Dream Interpretation
- ↳ Numerology
- ↳ Numerology Reading Forum
- ↳ Palmistry
- ↳ Palmistry Reading Forum
- ↳ Psychic
- ↳ Psychic Reading Forum
- ↳ Tarot
- ↳ Tarot Reading Forum
- CHINESE ASTROLOGY & SPIRITUALITY
- ↳ Chinese Zodiac
- ↳ Feng Shui
- ↳ I-Ching
- OTHER DIVINATION AND SPIRITUALITY
- ↳ Gemology
- ↳ Mediumship - Questions and Answers
- ↳ Mediumship Understanding and Development
- ↳ Occult and Magick
- ↳ Paranormal Phenomena
- ↳ Philosophy
- ↳ Picture Reading Forum
- ↳ Reincarnation and Past Life Experience
- ↳ Runes
- ↳ Runes Reading Forum
- ↳ Spirituality
- ↳ Symbols
- ↳ Vastu Shastra
- COMPLEMENTARY HEALING
- ↳ Aromatherapy
- ↳ Chakra
- ↳ Crystal Healing
- ↳ Homeopathy
- ↳ Reiki
- ↳ Self Healing
- OTHER SPECIAL INTEREST DISCUSSIONS
- ↳ Book Review And Discussion
- ↳ Family And Parenting
- ↳ Health And Beauty
- ↳ Let's Go To The Movies
- ↳ Music
- ↳ Mystic Career Quest
- ↳ Mystic Gardening
- ↳ Mystic Pet Care
- ↳ Mystic Softwares
- ↳ Poetry and Literature
- EVERYDAY PSYCHOLOGY
- ↳ Graphology
- ↳ Hypnosis
- ↳ Meditation and Mind Improvement
- MYTHS, FACTS & THEORIES
- ↳ Myths - Fact or Fiction
- ↳ Parallel Worlds and Planets and Aliens
- SUGGESTIONS
- ↳ Advertisements - Link Exchange - Offer Services
- ↳ Recommendations and Complaints
- ↳ Tech Forum
- ↳ Spam / Inappropriate Posts
- ↳ SUN SIGNS
- ↳ Aries - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Taurus - April 21 - May 20
- ↳ Gemini - May 21 - June 20
- ↳ Cancer - June 21 - July 20
- ↳ Leo - July 21 - August 20
- ↳ Virgo - August 21 - September 20
- ↳ Libra - September 21 - October 20
- ↳ Scorpio - October 21 - November 20
- ↳ Sagittarius - November 21 - December 20
- ↳ Capricorn - December 21 - January 19
- ↳ Aquarius - January 20 - February 18
- ↳ Pisces - February 19 - March 20
- ↳ Aries - March 21 - April 20
- ↳ Taurus - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Gemini - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Cancer - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Leo - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Virgo - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Libra - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Scorpio - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Sagittarius - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Capricorn - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Aquarius - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ Pisces - Daily Horoscope
- ↳ MYSTIC101.COM
- ↳ Mystic Book Depot
- ↳ Mystic Travel Guide
- ↳ Mystic Health Care
- ↳ Mystic Money Matters
- ↳ Mystic Fashion Trends
- ↳ Mystic SportsLine
- ↳ Mystic Food Court
- ↳ Mystic Bazaar
- ↳ Mystic Competitions
- ↳ Mystic Well Being
- ↳ Mystic Identity
- ↳ Mystic Profession
- ↳ Mystic Friend
- ↳ Learn Tarot - Practice Readings
- ↳ MYSTIC ACADEMY
- ↳ Mediumship- Lessons and Tips
- ↳ Learn Palmistry
- ↳ Palmistry Class Questions and Answers
- ↳ Palmistry Class Lessons and Tutorials
- ↳ Learn Tarot
- ↳ Rider Waite Tarot
- ↳ Tarot Discussion And Ideas
- ↳ Tarot Homework
- ↳ Tarot Lessons And Tutorials
- ↳ Learn Vedic Astrology
- ↳ Introduction to Western Astrology
- ↳ Western Astrology Class Lessons and Tutorials
- ↳ Western Astrology Class Questions and Answers
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 11 guests