Have you ever wondered what people of other faiths and cultures may be doing as many of us are preparing Christmas or Hanukkah? For Pagans, December 20 marks the start of a 12-day festival that concludes with the New Year. This ancient celebration is a time to celebrate the rebirth of the sun, also marking the longest night of the year. Yule has great significance among the Pagan community due to the fact that it has been celebrated since the last stone age. During the 12 days of Yule, Pagans reflect on the past year and assess hopes for the upcoming year.
The first day of Yuletide, Mothers Night, is celebrated on the eve of Winter Solstice. According to one philosophy website, a common belief among Pagans is that motherly ancestors watch over their families in times of need. On this day, Pagans light candles in honor of the women that came before them, bake cookies, and share their life stories (acropolis.ie).
The second day of Yuletide, Winter Solstice, marks the beginning of astronomical winter. This day is known for the Wild Hunt. This night holds significance because in ancient Pagan history, this is the night Odin, god of death and transition, rode through the sky to collect the souls of the dead, and people stayed indoors out of fear of being swept away. To honor the ancient gods, many choose to stay inside and bake sweets (acropolis.ie).
The third day of Yuletide, Mistletoe, is a time for honoring the God of the Moon. He is honored for the way he lit the way for hunters in the forest at night. On this day, the Pagan people practice courage and log their goals for the new year (acropolis.ie).
The fourth day of Yuletide is a day to honor The Deer Mother. For many years, in ancient Scandinavia, the people intertwined their lives with the deer and became dependent on them. Aside from the fact that the deer was a great resource, there is also an old folk story popular among the Pagan community that tells the story of a deer mother which took to the sky carrying the light of the sun in her antlers and gave birth to the land (acropolis.ie).
The fifth day of Yuletide, Santa, is a day to celebrate the patron saint of children, Nicholas. Nicholas is the origin of the Santa we know today. To celebrate this day, Pagans organize a large feast or potluck with members of their family and community (acropolis.ie).
The sixth day of Yuletide is a day which signifies the renewal of life. In Ancient Pagan history people decorated large baskets full of hand grown goods and paper flowers, to then suspend it from the ceiling above the dining table, similar to a chandelier. To mark new beginnings, Pagans bring a large array of evergreens into their homes (italirail.com). This is thought to be where Christmas trees originated.
The seventh day of Yuletide is a time when witches and spirits can be felt. The most commonly told story among the Pagan community stems from Italy and is about a witch by the name of La Befana. The legend goes that the Three Magi stopped at the home of Befana to find baby Jesus and she tried following them but with no luck. Now she travels by broom to look for baby Jesus at night. Legend has it that if she has visited your home it will be nicely swept to symbolize sweeping away the problems of the year. To honor the legend, Pagans get together to tell the story of the witch (acropolis.ie).
The eighth day of Yuletide, Sing to the Trees, is a day to practice the Ancient Pagan tradition of caroling and whaling. The tradition of Christmas caroling originated from ancient medieval times where livelihoods depended on a stable harvest. To wake up the spirit of the trees and ward off evil spirits that could potentially harm the harvest, Pagans sing songs and perform plays. To celebrate the harvest and food supply today, Pagans practice the tradition of whaling which involves sprinkling a hot and spicy drink onto the trees (acropolis.ie).
The ninth day of Yuletide, Y Fari Lwyd, Mari Lwyd, is a part of ancient Welsh Folklore, but why it is celebrated among Pagans remains a mystery. The day serves to honor the legend of a female horse which goes from house to house trying to break in. To honor the legend, a horse’s skull is placed on a stick and decorated with colorful ribbons and bells. The body of the person holding the stick is covered with a white cloth making it very unsettling (acropolis.ie).
The tenth day of Yuletide celebrates the Scandinavian mythological creatures called tomten, which are elf-like creatures. Tomten offer protection and company throughout the cold winter months. Although they protect, if mistreated, they tend to become very mischievous. It is known among Pagans that the tomten will peek in windows to see if there is anything to steal. In exchange for the protection of the tomten, Pagans leave out porridge for them (acropolis.ie).
The eleventh day of Yuletide, Hygge, serves as a day of relaxation. The word “Hygge” originates from Scandinavia and means “protect from the outside world.” On this day, Pagans stay inside, share food, drink warm beverages and light candles (acropolis.ie).
The twelfth day of Yuletide, Hogmanay, marks the end of the 12-day celebration. This day represents death, life, rebirth, success, and good health. On this day, Pagans attend their church, gather and feast as well (acropolis.ie).