Happy Yule Day ! ! ! 

A Brief History:
Origination: The origins of the Yule, also referred to as Jul, goes back thousands of years prior to the Christmas holiday. The etymology of the term “Yule” is a subject of discussion among linguists. Some propose that it is derived from “Iul,” an Anglo-Saxon term meaning wheel, which links it to the Celtic calendar known as the Wheel of the Year. In contrast, within Norse tradition, “Jul” is associated with the deity Odin, who was honored during the Yule festivities.

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Ways to Celebrate: Yule festivities encompassed the lighting of bonfires, the adornment of spaces with holly, mistletoe, and evergreen branches, as well as ritual sacrifices, elaborate feasts, and the exchange of gifts.

Yule Customs: Numerous customs observed during the Christmas season have their origins in ancient Yule traditions. These practices, derived from myths, feasts, folklore, age-old beliefs, oral narratives, and festivals, have been intricately integrated into our contemporary traditions. Are you able to identify any Christmas customs that have been adapted from Yule?

The Solstice: Yule Day is a day for celebrating as the winter solstice is recognized globally, and the Germanic cultures of northern and western Europe specifically commemorated the holiday of the Yule. This celebration marked the midpoint of winter, symbolizing the sun’s rebirth and the illumination it would bestow upon the Earth.

Fourth man courtesy of Openverse

Celebrated: Yule Day is observed yearly with the onset of the Winter Solstice. It has been tradition to observe the day all the way until and into the Christmas holiday.

A Few Facts:
I am sharing a few facts, and more, some trivia, some not trivial. . .

Trivia: Here are some trivial elements of observing Yule Day:

• The midwinter celebration typically spanned a duration of 12 days.
• Vikings adorned evergreen trees with offerings such as food, carvings, and provisions for the spirits of the trees, hoping to entice their return in the spring.
• In a Viking legend, mistletoe, combined with a mother’s tears, brought her son, the God of Light and Goodness, back to life. The Celts also attributed healing properties to mistletoe, believing it could repel malevolent spirits.
• According to Norse customs, Old Man Winter would visit homes to partake in the celebrations. The Viking deity Odin was depicted as a wandering figure with a long white beard and is regarded as the original Father Christmas.
• On the eve of the winter solstice, Viking children placed their shoes by the hearth, filling them with sugar and hay for Odin’s eight-legged steed, Sleipnir.
• Children would visit various homes, bringing gifts of apples and oranges studded with cloves, presented in baskets lined with evergreen branches.
• The Yule log was a complete tree intended to be burned over the course of 12 days in the hearth. The Celts believed that the sun paused during the winter solstice, and by keeping the Yule log alight for these 12 days, they could encourage the sun to resume its journey, thus lengthening the days. The larger end of the log would be placed into the hearth, with wine poured over it, and it would be ignited using remnants of the previous year’s Yule log. Each person would take turns adding sections of the timber to the fire as it consumed. Allowing it to extinguish completely was thought to bring misfortune.

Comcast TiVo DVR – Yule Log courtesy of Openverse

The Present:
Yule is a great part of ushering in the Winter Solstice, getting ready for our holidays that are upcoming, and holiday shopping.

The Future:
Yule will always be a part of of the upcoming holidays! Let’s give and receive thanks with the holiday this great year and in the years to come. . .

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DC: Ye Olde Yule Log courtesy of Openverse

Yule Day