At the Winter Solstice, the two god themes of the year's cycle coincide -- even more dramatically than they do at the Summer Solstice. Yule (from the Norse iul, meaning wheel) marks the death and the rebirth of the Sun God; it also marks the vanquishing of the Holly King, the god of the Waning Year, by the Oak King, the God of the Waxing Year. The Goddess, who was Death-in-Life at Midsummer, now shows her Life-in-Death aspect; for although at this season she is the leprous white lady, Queen of the cold darkness, yet this is her moment for giving birth to the Child of Promise, the Son-  Lover who will re-fertilize her and bring back light and warmth to her Kingdom.

(Eight Sabbats for Witches by the Farrars)

This Sabbat represents the rebirth of light. Here, on the longest night of the year, the Goddess gives birth to the Sun Child and hope for new light is reborn.  Yule is a time of awakening to new goals and leaving old regrets behind.  Yule coincides closely with the Christian Christmas celebration. That's because the early Church sought to win the allegiance of the populace by placing its festivals at or around the time of existing Pagan festivals. The Roman celebration of the birth of the sun God Mithras, for example, was also observed on Dec. 25.  The Christian tradition of a Christmas tree has its origins in the Pagan Yule celebration. Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm during the cold winter months. Bells were hung in the limbs so you could tell when a spirit was present.  

Food and treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat and a five-pointed star, the pentagram, symbol of the five elements, was placed atop the tree.

The colours of the season, red and green, also are of Pagan origin, as is the custom of exchanging gifts.  A solar festival, Yule is celebrated by fire and the use of a Yule log. A piece of the log is saved and kept throughout the year to protect the home. That piece is used to light the next year's log.

(Author Anonymous)

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A Modern Yule Log

Three holes are bored in the top of an oak log for three candles, representing the goddess in her three aspects -- maiden, mother, and crone. (You may need to saw a portion from the bottom of the log to make it sit straight and secure.  Decorate it with ribbons, holly and mistletoe).  Normally these candles are white, red, and black in honour of this triple aspect. This log may be reused year after year, with the candles changed each year.

Spent wax from the candles are tied up in a cloth for the entire year as a charm for protection, fertility, strength, and health

The burning of the Yule Log can easily become a family tradition. Begin by having parent(s) or some other family member describe the tradition of the Yule Log. The tale of the Oak King and Holly King from Celtic mythology can be shared as a story, or can be summarized with a statement that the Oak represents the waxing solar year, Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice, and the Holly represents the waning solar year, Summer Solstice to Winter Solstice.

Lights are extinguished as much as possible. The family is quiet together in the darkness. Family members quietly contemplate the change in the solar year. Each in her/his own way contemplates the past calendar year, the challenges as well as the good times.  Each family member can write a bad habit and/or a wish for the upcoming year on a slip of paper and burn it in the candle flame.  When this process is done, the family sings a song together. The traditional carol, "Deck the Halls," is good because it mentions the Solstice, the change in the solar year, and the Yule Log.

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Ritual

This Sabbat celebrates rebirth and renewal, and the return of longer days as the Lord of the Sun is reborn from the womb of the Goddess. Wreaths and evergreen trees may decorate the home. Set up the Altar with your usual tools. Extra tools will include a Yule log, a small evergreen tree, a wreath representing both the wheel of the year and the goddess, and the God candle that you used in the Samhain ritual. The Yule ritual will be performed skyclad. The Altar will be decorated with a variety of evergreens, and the Altar candles shall be red and green. The colour of the Altar cloth shall be green. Cast the sacred circle.  Then, invoke the God and the Goddess. Then bring the God candle used on Samhain to the front of the altar. Say: "As this candle represents the Lord of the Sun, as did it's blowing out represent His passing, as will it's lighting represent His return."

Take an altar candle and light the God candle. Bringing the altar candle with you, move around the altar to the Yule log at the rear. Light the first candle, saying: "Blessed be the Goddess in her maiden form, fresh and young.  May all the world be born young again with her."

Light the second candle, saying: "Blessed be the Goddess in her motherly form, lovely and heavy with child.  May all that springs from her womb be strong and fruitful."

Light the third candle, saying: "Blessed be the Goddess in the form of the crone, powerful and wise.  Guardian of Magick and the wheel of life."

Now the Yule log has been lit, put the altar candle in it's place.  Return to the front of the altar and stand, facing East. Speak these words: "On this night the Lord of the Sun is reborn and the Goddess and the God are reunited.  As the sun returns and the wheel of the year turns once more, we honour the Goddess and the newly born God, our Mother and Father."

Now is the time for any seasonal activities that you had planned for this evening. Magick is not appropriate. Singing, decorating the Yule tree, etc., are.  After any such business has been taken care of, you may banish the sacred circle.

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