Throughout history, Yule, the celebration of the Winter Solstice has been embraced by our ancestors, across many tribes, races, and peoples across the world. Scholars agree that Yule has it’s roots from a Germanic/Norse Pagan Midwinter celebration known as Jól (Jul). It was originally believed to be a celebration of the wild hunt, and to honor the God Odin. However as time passed, wars were fought, people changed. Some cultures were assimilated, while others were lost completely. The scourge known as Christianity spread across northern Europe, destroying the foundations of many of the survivors. Those cultures were branded as pagans by the zealots, enemies of their church. Yet the Christians grew weary of the constant fighting, and instead convinced the leaders of the pagan tribes to convert, hoping their people would follow. One of the most powerful weapons the church used, was to adopt many of the ancient celebrations, Yule being one of them. As time passed, the ancient traditions were lost, erased, or slowly repurposed. Jól became Yule which eventually became what we call Christmas in the modern world. Celebrations to Odin were shifted to celebrating the Christian God.
As children of those ancient tribes, we still honor the old ways. We celebrate together, not in anger of the lost history, but instead to save the remnants of those practices. This annual celebration of Yule celebrates both the shortest day of the year and it’s longest night. Despite the darkness, there will be joy and celebrations here in our circle, and across the land. After tonight, the days will start getting longer. Springtime, although still buried under the ice and snow, has already been conjured in our minds. As the great wheel turns, we gain a greater understanding of endings, and beginnings.
On Saturday, December 21st, 2024, 2:20 AM, MST, we officially welcome the Winter Solstice, the first day of Winter, to the land.
Tonight we gather to spend time with one another in fellowship and friendship. Hope springs eternal knowing that the sun will return.
Preparing for the 2024 Yule Ritual
This ritual should be preformed outside with a generous bonfire and plenty of food, drink, and good company.
What items you’ll need to collect for this ritual (as written)
Quarter Candles (yellow, red, blue, green)
Large White Candle
Yule Log (Consecrated as the host chooses)
Decorate your altar with winter greens (pine, holly, mistletoe, etc.)
Small White taper candles; enough for one for each person (optional: cut cardboard circles with a small hole through them, push candle through for a ‘drip catcher’)
Pinecones, small pieces of paper, and pencils
Food and Drinks if you choose to celebrate around the circle fire
Any portion of the ritual that is bracketed by <> symbols should be understood as instructional notes and not to be spoken aloud.
Our Yule Ritual for 2024
As it is each Yule, we use the remains of last year’s log to light this year’s fire.
<If you have the end from last year’s Yule log, hold it high above your head and make sure it’s seen by all. Light the end piece first, then put it to the ready-made bonfire – If not, find a suitable small branch or piece of wood to substitute>
Brothers, sisters, Spirits, and Ancestors, Come hither, for I bid ye gather ‘round, for tonight we gather on sacred ground. This night be long, and shadows nil, but hearts are open, and await their fill. We stand united to share and to love, across the land, and skies above. This circle spun, each life a thread, the ancient whispers, the year ahead. Now every friend, every stranger, our kin, and blood, raise your arms and join me as we conjure now this sacred space!
The Winter Solstice – Calling the Quarters
East
On this longest of long winter nights, we open our Yule ritual by looking to the East, the direction of the rising run. For even in darkness, a great hope fills our hearts and warms our soul. Tomorrow, the sun will indeed rise, and it will stay in the sky just a little bit longer than today. Hope will spring eternal as the days pass. Tonight we celebrate many things, especially the ending of the dark half of year, and the lessons we have learned throughout it. <light yellow candle>
South
With light on the horizon, and our minds filled with celebrating, turn with me to the South, the direction of the midday sun. The fire may warm us, but it is the eternal light that nurtures our souls. The flames may placate us for another few months, but it’s the warmer days that fill our minds with new life, new beginnings, and happiness. Soon that great happening will be with us, but not before we spend this night in fellowship and harmony with all those gathered. <light red candle>
West
Now look to the West, the direction of the setting sun, closure, and the ancestors. Remember those who have walked these lands, hunted in the surrounding forests, and forged life from the natural world. Keep the memory of the great hunt’s with you always, for they are the reason why we stand here today. Honor those who provide, honor the Gods for their bountiful gifts, and honor those who continue the ways of our forefathers. <light blue candle>
North
Finally to the North, the direction of the night and of the dormant Earth. Look with your eyes, and with your hearts. The branches of the great trees may be empty, and the ground hard and frozen, but neither dead nor dying, they are at rest for another few months. Life remains, patiently waiting for the longer days and shorter nights. <light green candle>
Gods & Goddesses
From the beginning, our ancestors honored the Great Gods, and Goddesses of their people. Dagda, Danu, Lugh, and Cernunnos of the Celts. Odin, Freyja, Thor, and Frigg of the Norse. Zeus, Hades, Dionysus, and Hymenaios of the Greeks. Apollo, Diana, Jupiter, and Venus of the Romans. Our ancestors revered them, made sacrifices to them, walked alongside of the them, and also bowed down to speak their private thoughts to them. Tonight, we call upon those ancient deities, not to make demands or ask for things, but to offer our sincere appreciation for the many blessings we have received throughout the year. <Light White Candle>
Introduction
On this longest night, as we celebrate the Winter Solstice, let us be thankful for all the things which have shaped our lives through the past year. Let us be mindful of those who helped us when we most needed it, and let us be filled with joy and hope for the year ahead.
Musical Interlude
We begin our Yule ritual as we do every ritual, by raising our collective energy. For that, we always turn to music. For our Yule celebration tonight, enjoy the song The Disir by Aethyrien.
A Brief History of Yule
As it is with most of our history, many of the details have been lost to the annals of time. History tells us that the Winter Solstice was celebrated by many cultures across northern Europe and Scandinavia, yet each did so in their own way. In some cultures, a lengthy celebration of many days was the norm. It is a long-held belief that the twelve days of Christmas originated from an ancient Yule festival lasting that long. Yule was a time to celebrate the hunt, in many cultures, as the hunt meant survival. Sacrifices were made to the Gods after a successful outing, with generous amounts of meat and mead consumed throughout the following days and nights. The tradition of gift exchange also originated from the ancient celebrations, but nowhere on the scale we see today.
One common connection was the Yule log. Each year, many weeks before the Winter Solstice, the men and their sons would travel into the forest and return home with a long thick log, which in some cases was actually a tree. Mead, wine, herbs, and other oil-based dressings would be poured over the log to season it. Then, after a great lighting ceremony, using the remnants of last year’s log to start the fire, the Yule log would be burned. This process could take days or even weeks. It would be slowly pushed into the fire, until nothing remained except a small end piece. It was a symbolic way of ‘helping the sun to return, bringing with it, the light needed for growing crops’.
Yule and its traditions spread from the Germanic tribes to the Celts in Britain and the Gaelic tribes throughout Europe. This was seen as unique, as most pagan celebrations remained localized. Crossing regions was one thing, but crossing cultures was something very rare. Over time and distance, the chosen Gods might have changed, but the celebrations, which included sacrifices, drinking, feasting, and cleansing rituals, grew and became more specific over time by the adopted cultures. Eventually, those traditions were adopted and changed into modern-day Christmas.
Lighting the Yule Log
As time passed, many of the customs of Yule became ingrained in dozens of cultures. The Yule log was one of them. Prior to burning, Yule logs were decorated, blessed, and doused in libations, herbs and magic. We continue that tradition today, in our own way, mingling modern actions with long-standing traditions, and customs. As this part of the year was the darkest time of year, light became and important part of the Yule festivities, for it marked the sun’s rebirth and return to the land.
A Yule log should be considered a sacred object. It can be sourced, cut or harvested on your own land or public land, or received as a gift, just as long as no money or barter is exchanged. Yule logs should never be purchased. There is no rule on how big or how small the log is. It entirely depends on how long you wish to burn it. The type of wood was up to the individual family. Some types were chosen for their spiritual properties, such as wisdom of the oak.
The Yule fire was lit using a remnant from the prior year’s log. Once consecrated, one end of the new log would be placed in the fire and then slowly pushed in for as long as it took to burn. It is considered a cloak of bad luck on the entire family, should it be allowed to burn out before the appropriate time. When the log was nearing it’s end, the fire was put out, and the unburnt end of the Yule log would be tucked safely under the bed, until the following year, when it would be used to start the new Yule log on fire, thus continuing the never-ending cycle.
<Have the group approach and consecrate the Yule log with herbs, spices, drink, and oils>
“With great fanfare and celebration, we light this year’s Yule log. May it provide us with light on this Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year. As it burns, we shall feel its warmth and embrace in the fact that from this night hence, the days will grow longer, the light will return, and hope shall be our reward.”
<Put the Yule log end in the fire>
The Return of the Light
<Ritual leader should distribute candles to all participants>
In ancient times, everyone knew that the Winter Solstice was a hinge point. The longest night had arrived, and from that point forward, the amount of light would grow. Those are facts. But, what isn’t fact is whether Yule was a celebration of light. It seems plausible, but knowing that many of the northern European tribes did not engage in sun worship says otherwise. Once the Celts embraced Yule as it provided an anchor for their Holly King and Oak King duality, many believe it helped add this belief to the original interpretation. Despite the murkiness, many modern day pagans celebrate the return of the sun on Yule.
On our Winter Solstice alter a candle burns; pure and white as the new fallen snow. The flame is the embodiment of a single ray of sunlight; perhaps the first ray of the new day tomorrow. To celebrate we become one with the light. We honor it. We embrace it and share it with not just a few people, but with everyone.
<The ritual leader should light their taper candle and then pass the light to the next persons candle with theirs. That person to the next and so on. The last person can pass the light back to the ritual leader, symbolically closing a circle of light.>
Now I bid everyone to focus on the light you now hold. See it as hope. See it as a beacon for all that can be good in the coming year. Contemplate beginnings and endings, openings and closure. Make a pledge to yourself to become one with this light and embrace all that it symbolizes.
Longest night
Returning light
Turning wheel
A new reveal
Shining through
Strong and true
Seasons change
Hope remains
As the Great Wheel turns, and the sun returns, realize that each of you are your own ray of light through your positivity, your gratitude, and your love for one another as members of this circle and the world around you.
<remind everyone to take their candle home with them as a reminder of this night and the return of the light>
Feasting, Drinking, Giving Gifts & Pinecone Wishes
<depending on the weather, you may wish to share food, drinks, exchange gifts or just socialize around your fire – spend as much time as you’d like, but remember to honor the sacred circle and it’s boundaries – once everyone has had their fill, proceed to the next step and close your circle>
Pinecones are highly symbolic part of nature. As a carrier of seeds, they represent rebirth, renewal, ands new life. They symbolize maturity and patience, only opening when ready. They symbolize fertility, playing their role in the great circle of life. Plus, they are a symbol of Yule, being used in decorations, which are highly visible throughout the modern word.
As we think about the coming year, making plans, wishes and dreams, we can use the pinecone to cement those ideas in our heads. Write down some of your plans and insert the paper into the pinecone. Then, as we do in our cleansing rituals, burn it in the fire and focus on the smoke spreading your thoughts into the air around you. Pull it towards you as you would in a smudging ceremony and make it a permanent part of you.
<allow time for everyone to follow through>
Closing our Winter Solstice Circle
North
With our bellies filled and the joy of celebration filling our hearts, we come to the time when the night must end. Focus your energy and look to the North. Offer your praises to the great spirits of the land as they continue their dormant rest. Start planning now, for those things which you will do once fertility and life return to the land. <extinguish green candle>
West
Now once again turn to the West. Honor the spirits of your ancestors, thank them for engaging, for their teachings, and for their fellowship. They have given each of us the greatest gifts known to humanity – knowledge, experience, strength, and stability. Keep these gifts close to your hearts in the coming year. <extinguish blue candle>
South
Look with me now to the South. The fire is dwindling and the Yule log at it’s end. The last tendrils of smoke from your pinecones is mingling with the air and the universe. Everything is balanced and harmonious. As you leave, leave with a renewed feeling of focus for the coming year, and a warmth in your heart for all things in the natural world. <extinguish red candle>
East
Lastly, as we come to the end of this Winter Solstice celebration, we again turn our gaze to the East, for as we opened this Yule ritual with the forward vision of the new sun tomorrow morning, so shall we close it with the reinforcement of that vision. All eyes shall be upon the horizon as the sun breaks forth across it. The magnificent light and the hope that accompanies it, are within our grasp. <extinguish yellow candle>
Gods & Goddess
Our gratitude flows to the Great Gods & Goddess, who have blessed us with their company. The wonderous love and abundance is evident. As we depart, we ask for blessings in this coming year. <extinguish White Candle>
Our Yule Circle is now open, but never broken!
Huzzah!
Additional Reading
- Beltane Ritual 2025 – The Fire Between the Worlds - April 16, 2025
- The Pagan Roots of Mother’s Day: Celebrating the Divine Feminine - April 11, 2025
- 2025 Full Pink Moon Ritual - April 9, 2025
Thank you. I was waiting for your words of wisdom for this time of year.