Yule, Midwinter Solstice, Christmas

Milfoil

Since last night was the eve of Yule today starts the 12 days of Yule I thought it might be nice to share what we know about the different Mid Winter traditions, stories and celebrations around the world.

Yesterday I saw 3 Goosander ducks (Merganser) so went looking for more information about them. Along with the Grebe, they are often considered to be the bird in the Shingebiss stories of the Ojibwe

http://www.mpm.edu/wirp/ICW-141.html#winter

This great little story of endurance and fortitude which eventually chases the winter away is very similar to other stories around the world where the Sun is welcomed back after the longest day.
 

Milfoil

Saturnalia

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturnalia

What strikes me between many mid winter celebrations and the story of Shingebiss is the common theme of outwitting winter by doing exactly the opposite. So at a time of harsh cold, limited food, no growth etc, we feast, bring back the warmth and light with big bonfires, the Yule log etc and plan for the year ahead by making wishes (decorating evergreen tree is connected with hanging prayer offerings from the branches of sacred trees)

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3020/2775054525_788d6998ef.jpg

giving of gifts, which although mainly associated with the Christian offerings to the baby Jesus of Gold, Frankinsence and Myrrh by the 3 wise men, also has links to the leaving of gifts of food for the souls of the dead as they complete their long walk from Samhain to Midwinter to find their place in the afterlife. These presents/gifts symbolise the promises of more good things in the coming year. Setting the new cycle of the returning sun off to a good start.

Although the rampant Western commercialism is not sustainable, the essence of gift giving, feasting to excess and lighting the fires goes back a long, long way in northern countries where the Sun dies down in the winter months.
 

Flaxen

This is my favourite time of year for celebrations. :)

I love the dark of winter and use it to honour my ancestors. This website has an article about the Disir and Matrons of North European belief systems. I usually spend time at during Yule to honour these figures.

http://www.friggasweb.org/matrons.html
 

Mi-Shell

This is our Winter Solstice thread from a few years ago and I guess I was "quite talkative" in it... ;)
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=89941&highlight=Winter+Solstice

Here is the translation of a modern-day Lakota Winter Solstice prayer:

Great spirits of the Winter and of the North Direction.
Hear us as we come asking for the wisdom and the courage to age gracefully in our lives and in our endeavors.
Honor us with your presence as we stand in the northern-most place of the wheel of the year
Permit the crystal clarity of winter snow to bring purity to our lives and thoughts, and healing to our bodies and to our world.
Spirit of the White Buffalo, help us to turn the lessons we have learned and the knowledge we have gained into wisdom and abundance, spiritually and physically. Allow us to understand the DIGNITY OF BEING. Help us to learn the truth and beauty of SILENCE, of NOT DOING.
Spirit of the Great White Owl, teach us to fly with quiet grace and seeing eyes through the dark times of our lives.
Give us the patience to share ourselves and our knowledge with those who can use them.
Give us the faith and the courage to continue our journeys through life in dignity, so that one day our energy may once again arrive in the Dawn of the East.
SHOW US HOW TO FIND JOY IN DARKNESS AND IN ENDINGS, AS WELL AS IN LIGHT AND IN BEGINNINGS.
 

Carla

Mi-Shell said:
This is our Winter Solstice thread from a few years ago and I guess I was "quite talkative" in it... ;)
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=89941&highlight=Winter+Solstice

Here is the translation of a modern-day Lakota Winter Solstice prayer:

Great spirits of the Winter and of the North Direction.
Hear us as we come asking for the wisdom and the courage to age gracefully in our lives and in our endeavors.
Honor us with your presence as we stand in the northern-most place of the wheel of the year
Permit the crystal clarity of winter snow to bring purity to our lives and thoughts, and healing to our bodies and to our world.
Spirit of the White Buffalo, help us to turn the lessons we have learned and the knowledge we have gained into wisdom and abundance, spiritually and physically. Allow us to understand the DIGNITY OF BEING. Help us to learn the truth and beauty of SILENCE, of NOT DOING.
Spirit of the Great White Owl, teach us to fly with quiet grace and seeing eyes through the dark times of our lives.
Give us the patience to share ourselves and our knowledge with those who can use them.
Give us the faith and the courage to continue our journeys through life in dignity, so that one day our energy may once again arrive in the Dawn of the East.
SHOW US HOW TO FIND JOY IN DARKNESS AND IN ENDINGS, AS WELL AS IN LIGHT AND IN BEGINNINGS.
Click to expand...

That is wonderful. I have copied into my moon journal, in the Oak Moon chapter. Thanks for sharing it. What is the actual source? Where did you find it?
 

Aulruna

For me, the Twelf Nights (in German Rauhnächte, derived from either "hairy" and relating to animal rituals or Rauch i.e. smoke, possibly from using ritual incense) start with the Solstice - this year on Dec 22nd at 6:30 where I am.

It is the time of year where Germans believe the veil between the worlds to be the thinnest. The Wild Hunt is out and about and it is a time for divination - in the old days, mostly crop related questions were asked, like weather forecasts or the health of animals.

You would not only honour your ancestors, but also benign house spirits. Which reminds me to set some cookies and nuts aside for them...
 

Milfoil

Now that I have some fruit trees, I would like to do something like a wassail for them this year. It's not a common practice up here in the north of England but making an offering and singing their health whilst toasting the tree's good health with a cup of warmed, spiced cider made from their own apples does seem like a good way to go. Don't think I could get away with firing a gun through the branches though so some well placed candle lamps may do the trick.

Gloucestershire wassail

http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/pages/tiWASGLOUC;ttWASGLOUC.html

and an old rhyme:

Wassaile the trees,
That they may beare,
You many a Plum and many a Peare.
For more or lesse fruits they will bring,
As you do give them Wassailing.
 

Disa

Mi-Shell said:
This is our Winter Solstice thread from a few years ago and I guess I was "quite talkative" in it... ;)
http://www.tarotforum.net/showthread.php?t=89941&highlight=Winter+Solstice

Here is the translation of a modern-day Lakota Winter Solstice prayer:

Great spirits of the Winter and of the North Direction.
Hear us as we come asking for the wisdom and the courage to age gracefully in our lives and in our endeavors.
Honor us with your presence as we stand in the northern-most place of the wheel of the year
Permit the crystal clarity of winter snow to bring purity to our lives and thoughts, and healing to our bodies and to our world.
Spirit of the White Buffalo, help us to turn the lessons we have learned and the knowledge we have gained into wisdom and abundance, spiritually and physically. Allow us to understand the DIGNITY OF BEING. Help us to learn the truth and beauty of SILENCE, of NOT DOING.
Spirit of the Great White Owl, teach us to fly with quiet grace and seeing eyes through the dark times of our lives.
Give us the patience to share ourselves and our knowledge with those who can use them.
Give us the faith and the courage to continue our journeys through life in dignity, so that one day our energy may once again arrive in the Dawn of the East.
SHOW US HOW TO FIND JOY IN DARKNESS AND IN ENDINGS, AS WELL AS IN LIGHT AND IN BEGINNINGS.
Click to expand...

Mi-Shell,

Thank you for sharing this. I have printed a few copies, one of which will go on my winter solstice altar.
 

Mi-Shell

Again this year we had a wonderful Winter Solstice celebration. This time at the estate of one of my clients.
On my b- day thread there are pictures and links to minister clement tweeting about what i did.....
Planting seeds among people for whom celebrating the Solstice was new and "exotic" but then ended up "strangely beautiful and sacred" as several participants lated told me.... :)
 
Fire element - magic/spirituality What are these 'kingdoms'?