TeenHelp - Yule

21st December marked the beginning of this season's Yule.

Winter solstice, celebrated during the longest night of the year, has been an important day in many cultures for centuries. Today I would like to tell you more about traditions that used to be cultivated by the Germanic peoples (northern part of continental Europe) during Yule - as they called the winter solstice and the period of celebrations that followed.

Sumptuous feasts were held for the whole villages or towns. Yule was likely connected to the cult of Odin, so it is no wonder that the first toast of ale was drunk to him; the second to the gods Njörðr and Freyr for good harvests and peace, and the third to the current chieftain or ruler.

Some other traditions include the Yule log (burning a part of an especially selected piece of wood every evening until the end of the festive season - it was said to have protected the household from lightning and fire); Yule goat (an invisible spirit that would appear some time before Christmas to make sure that the Yule preparations were done right); Yule boar called the Sonargöltr (on which oaths were sworn; the tradition of preparing a boar is reflected in the modern Christmas ham); and Yule-singing (today reflected in Christmas carols).

Ham and carols are not the only modern-day traditions that have their roots in the Yule celebrations. The reason for this is that many indigenous customs were incorporated into the new Christian tradition after christianisation of the Germanic lands. Other Christmas practices of today, that originate from old pagan ways, include: decorating a tree, exchanging gifts, burning candles, receiving a visit from Santa Claus (who was called different names in different cultures and his role varied).

This year the period of Yule ends around 1 January. It is still observed by Neopagans. Even though Yule in its original form is celebrated by few nowadays, its spirit lives on in the form of our Christmas traditions.

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A Christmas card with a Yule goat

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An infographic on how to cultivate Yule traditions today

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An infographic of old pagan traditions throughout the year