SEASONS OF CELEBRATION

DECEMBER 21 ~~ YULE (lesser sabbat quarter day)
Astronomical Date: Sun 15 Degrees Capricorn
June 21st in Southern Hemisphere
Alban Arthan, Christmas, Feast Of Torches, Festival of Lights, Festival of Sol, Fionn's Day, Jul, Midwinter, Midwinter's Eve, Saturnalia, Winter Solstice, Yuletide

ACTIVITIES:
Divination
Gift Exchange
Ginger Bread
Hearthfires (extinguished/rekindled)
Kissing under the Mistletoe
Sugar Plums
Wassailing
Welcome Sun at/until Dawn
Wreaths
Yule Log
Yule Tree

CAULDRON: Rebirth

COLORS: GOLD, forest, burgundy, silver, white

DECORATIONS:
Bayberries
Bells
Candles
Candy Canes
Evergreens
Ginger Bread
Holly
Kissing Balls
Lights
Mistletoe
Pine Cones
Poinsettias
Reindeer
Snow People
Spinning Wheel
Stockings
Storytelling
Sugar Plums
Wreaths
Yule Log
Yule Tree

FACTS AND FOLKLORE:
"YOO-el"
Yule derived from 'jul' meaning "wheel" (Norse)

Longest night of the year, shortest day
Most important sabbat (Teutonic)
Mother Goddess gives birth to the baby Sun God or Sun King (the child of promise)
Oak King takes Holly King
Reflect on what has been learned in the past year
Solar year shifts from waning to waxing
Wintertime Crone returns to her Virgin form
Victory of Lord of Light over Lord of Darkness
Year wanes until Midsummer

FEASTING:
Cakes/Candies/Cookies
Fruitcake
Ginger Bread
Goose
Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Popcorn
Pork
Sugar Plums
Turkey

BEVERAGES:
Egg Nog
Wassail