The pagan celebration of the winter solstice is known as Yule, and it’s one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. It simultaneously celebrates the shortest day of the year, midwinter, the return of the Sun, and a festival of rebirth. This year, it occurs from December 21, 2022, to January 1, 2023.
What is the Wiccan Christmas called?
| Yule |
|---|
| Observed by | Various Northern Europeans, Germanic peoples, Modern Pagans, Spiritual Satanists |
| Type | Cultural, Germanic Pagan then Christian, secular, Modern Paganism |
| Date | winter solstice |
| Frequency | Annual |
What holidays do Wiccans celebrate?
Festivals
- Winter Solstice (Yule)
- Imbolc (Candlemas)
- Spring Equinox (Ostara)
- Beltane (May Eve)
- Summer Solstice (Litha)
- Lughnasadh (Lammas)
- Autumn Equinox (Mabon)
- Samhain.
What does the winter solstice mean to pagans?
Today, many Pagans still celebrate Yule on the day of the Winter Solstice. Pagans celebrate the rebirth of the sun through gift exchanges, merriment, and deep spiritual reflection. For Pagans, this is a time of new beginnings, rebirth, transformation, getting rid of unwanted habits, and creativity.
Are winter solstice and Yule the same? – Related Questions
What do you do on the spiritual winter solstice?
The winter solstice is considered the seasonal dark night of the soul. Spiritually, it’s a time to honor both the light and the darkness that resides within each of us. Take small scraps of paper and write down the things that you would like to let go of.
What rituals are performed on winter solstice?
Here are some customary ways to celebrate the solstice—you might notice that some resemble beloved Christmas traditions.
- Build a Yule Altar.
- Make an Evergreen Yule Wreath.
- Burn a Yule Log.
- Decorate a Yule Tree.
- Exchange Nature-Based Gifts.
- Give Back to Nature.
- Celebrate in Candlelight.
- Set up a Meditation Space.
Why is solstice important to pagans?
Significance of the solstice in Paganism
Today, the celebration of the solstices is mostly strongly associated with Paganism. The Pagan festival of Litha is one of the most important in the Pagan religion, commencing on the eve of the Summer Solstice it celebrates the midsummer and the power of the sun god.
Who is the pagan god of winter solstice?
Saturnalia. Saturnalia is an ancient Roman Pagan festival honoring Saturn, the god of agriculture and time. It started on December 17 and generally lasted 7 days.
What religion believes in winter solstice?
The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. The celebration of Winter Solstice takes place on the shortest day and longest night of the year.
Why is winter solstice evil?
The Winter Solstice Can Be Sinister
Celtic traditions include lore that the solstice was a time for troublesome spirits to walk the Earth, as does ancient Germanic lore. Zoroastrian reflections on Solstice warn of it being a long night full of evil spirits.
Does the Bible talk about winter solstice?
December 25th is not the date mentioned in the Bible as the day of Jesus’s birth; the Bible is actually silent on the day or the time of year when Mary was said to have given birth to him in Bethlehem.
What are 3 facts about winter solstice?
Winter Solstice Facts: 11 Things You Should Know
- Winter Solstice is not always the same day.
- Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere.
- Polar night occurs in the whole Arctic Circle.
- Do you know that days get colder but not warmer after Winter Solstice?
How do you honor winter solstice?
EMBRACING TRADITIONS
- MEASURE THE DAYLIGHT. Winter solstice can be a reminder of our connection to the natural world.
- MAKE A WREATH. Some holiday traditions, such as hanging mistletoe and wreaths, have roots in pagan solstice rituals.
- PREPARE A FEAST.
- DINE BY CANDLELIGHT.
- BURN A YULE LOG.
- CELEBRATE THE LIGHTS.
What do you eat on winter solstice?
This festival marks the time for families to get together, celebrate the year they have had, and enjoy the bounties of the end-of-harvest time. Special foods include tang yuan (glutinous rice balls), dumplings, mutton soup, eight treasures porridge, and daikon.
What gifts do you give on winter solstice?
Don’t worry about going shopping; traditional solstice gifts come from nature. Give a small handmade wreath, beautiful crystals, a plant-based candle, or even seeds.
Which crystals for winter solstice?
For the winter solstice, the best crystals to work with are red, orange, and yellow crystals that connect you to solar energy and fire energy. Sit with them in meditation, create a crystal grid, speak your intentions into them, or wear them on your body. Garnet: This is known as the warrior’s stone.
What are the colors of winter solstice?
Candle colors are red, green, white, gold, and silver and Yule incense can be bayberry, pine, frankincense, cinnamon and myrrh, or a combination thereof.
What plant is associated with winter solstice?
Mistletoe. Mistletoe, long associated with winter holiday traditions, is the common name for several families of poisonous, evergreen parasitic plants that grow attached to and penetrating the branches of a tree or shrub.
