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Yule

The pagan celebration of the winter solstice is known as Yule, and it’s one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world. It simultaneously celebrates the shortest day of the year, midwinter, and the return of the Sun. It's also a festival of rebirth. Another ancient ritual: Celtic druids would give mistletoe (gui), which commonly grows on oak trees, as a blessing to symbolize life during Yule. The Celts thought the Sun stood still for 12 days during the darkest time of the year, and they would light logs to keep away evil and welcome in good fortune—now called the Yule log.

When is Yule?

Yule always falls on the winter solstice, which occurs on December 21 or 22 every year. In 2023, it begins on December 21. Some Yule celebrations begin on the winter solstice and continue for multiple days or weeks.

What does Yule have to do with Christmas?

If you think all this sounds familiar, that’s because when Christianity spread (s'est répendue) throughout Europe, many pagan winter solstice traditions were incorporated into Christmas celebrations. As pagan religions were replaced by Christianity across Europe in the sixth and seventh centuries, Christians recognized that people were reluctant to give up all their festivals and rituals. As such, Yule was reformulated to serve the new religion in town.

Yule traditions and how they were celebrated

Host a Yule celebration

Light a Yule log

Put up a Yule wreath (couronne)

Decorate an oak log with pine cones, dried berries, cinnamon sticks, holly, and mistletoe, and place it in your fireplace, if you have one—or make a bonfire outside.

Feasting has always been a winter solstice tradition, with people gathering together to celebrate life in the darkness, connect with others, and feel safe.

Make a wreath of evergreens (like yew, holly, pine, mistletoe, and ivy) to represent everlasting life, protection, and prosperity.

Have a little Yule treat

Declutter your space

Do a Yule ritual

Think about your resolutions and intentions for the coming year. Light a candle and speak your resolutions out loud, then sit with the candle and let it burn down.

I mean, any excuse, right? Treat yourself with something that embraces the natural world around you. This could be a naturally scented candle, a new crystal, a houseplant, or even a cake or pastry.

Yule is a release of the old to get ready for the new, so it’s the perfect time to do some yuletide cleaning.

Christmas around the English speaking countries

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INDIAAlthough Christians make up less than 5 percent of India's population, Christmas is a significant occasion in India. It has become quite commercialized, with people of all religions joining the festivities.Food, glorious food. Christmas in India is all about eating! International luxury hotels serve up vast Christmas buffets with all the favorites: roast meat (including turkey), roast vegetables, and deserts to die for.

The United Kingdom In the UK (or Great Britain and Northern Ireland), families often celebrate Christmas together, so they can watch each other open their presents! Most families have a Christmas Tree (or maybe even two!) in their house for Christmas. The decorating of the tree is usually a family occasion, with everyone helping. Christmas Trees were first popularised the UK by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. Prince Albert was German, and thought that it would be good to use one of his ways of celebrating Christmas in England. Holly, Ivy and Mistletoe are also sometimes used to decorate homes or other buildings. Most villages, towns and cities are decorated with Christmas lights over Christmas. Often a famous person switches them on. The most famous Christmas lights in the UK are in Oxford Street in London. Every year they get bigger and better. Thousands of people go to watch the big 'switch on' around the beginning of November.

THE USA The most important day in the United States is December 25th, which is Christmas Day. It is usually celebrated with a big family dinner in the style of Thanksgiving dinner and usually includes roast turkey, mashed potatoes, and salty meat pies.Plus, it’s the day Santa Claus arrives! That’s why families usually have breakfast together while they open all the gifts he left the night before. The most typical Christmas traditions in the United States: - Christmas stocking = Each family member hangs his or her sock in the fireplace and Santa leaves candy and small gifts that fit inside. -Natural Christmas Tree = And as it is usually a natural tree, its decoration is an annual ritual in which the whole family gets together to decorate it. Underneath it is where Santa Claus must leave all the gifts for the children. - Decoration and lights = In the United States, it is very typical to decorate the exterior of the houses at Christmas with colorful lights that usually form figures like Christmas trees or Santa Claus. - Mistletoe = We have all heard of the famous mistletoe. It is usually hung on the front doors of houses or in living rooms. And it’s said that when two people meet under it, they have to kiss each other… - Gingerbread cookies.

In Australia, Christmas comes in the towards the beginning of the summer holidays! Children have their summer holidays from mid December to early February, so some people might even be camping at Christmas. Some Australians hang wreaths on their front doors and some people will also go out Christmas carol singing on Christmas Eve. People also decorate their houses and gardens with Christmas Trees and Christmas lights. Neighbors sometimes have little competitions to see who has got the best light display. The neighbors often visit each other to look at the light displays at night. Some Australians also decorate their houses with bunches of 'Christmas Bush', a native Australian tree with small green leaves and cream colored flowers. In summer the flowers turn a deep shiny red over a period of weeks (generally by the week of Christmas in Sydney). Poinsettia plants are also popular plants used as decorations. Another speculator tree which might be in flower at Christmas in Australia is the jacaranda. It has bright blue/purple flowers. Depending on where you live in Australia, it can flower from October into December. If you're really lucky you might see birds like lorikeets and rosellas, which make it even more colorful!

Canada Canada is a very large country and people of many different cultural backgrounds live there. Because of this, there are lots of different Christmas traditions in Canada. Many of the traditions and celebrations come from French, English, Irish, Scottish, German, Norwegian, Ukrainian and native/first nation influences. People in Canada send Christmas Cards to their friends and family.Many Canadians open their gifts on Christmas Eve. Some only open their stocking on Christmas Eve. Others choose one gift to open, then save the rest until Christmas Day. Canadians like to decorate their houses with Christmas Trees, lights and other decorations. There's often Christmas stockings hung by the fireplace, ready for Santa! The main Christmas meal is often roast turkey with vegetables and 'all the trimmings' like mashed potatoes and vegetables. Traditional favorite Christmas desserts include Christmas/plum puddings and mincemeat tarts. Christmas crackers are popular with many people in Canada as well. A rich fruit Christmas Cake is also normally eaten around Christmas time!

South Africa Because South Africa is in the Southern Hemisphere, Christmas comes in the summer. So there's lots of sun and beautiful flowers in full bloom. The schools are closed for the Christmas holidays and some people like to go camping. Going carol singing, on Christmas Eve, is very popular in towns and cities. Carols by Candlelight services are also popular on Christmas Eve. And many people go to a Christmas morning Church Service. Traditional 'fir' Christmas Trees are popular and children leave a stocking out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve. The Christmas meal is either turkey, duck, roast beef or suckling pig with yellow rice & raisins and vegetables, followed by Christmas Pudding or a traditional South African dessert called Malva Pudding (sometimes also called Lekker Pudding) - get the recipe. People also like to pull Christmas Crackers! The meal is often eaten outside in the summer sun! If it's really hot they might even have a barbecue or 'braai'. Mince pies are also popular.

New Zealand In New Zealand, like its neighbor Australia, Christmas comes in the middle of the summer holidays. Lots of people like to spend time of the beach, camping or at their Baches (holiday homes) for Christmas. Many towns have a Santa parade with decorated floats (made by local businesses and churches, etc.), bands and marching teams. This can be any time from mid November onwards and is really a commercial event but everyone enjoys them. As it's warm, Santa is sometimes seen wearing 'jandals' (New Zealand sandals) and he might even swaps his red top for a New Zealand 'All Blacks' rugby shirt! Children in New Zealand leave out carrots for Santa's reindeer and Santa might be left a beer and some pineapple chunks!

Christmas history
 The name of the pagan celebration of the winter solstice is ___________. It celebrates __________________________________________________________. The _______________________ would give mistletoe for Yule, and to protect themselves from evil, they would light ________________. Yule is a yearly celebration that happens on __________________________. This pagan tradition was replaced by Christian traditions during the ___________________ centuries. Here is the list of Yule traditions we still know about : - Putting up a ______________ - Lighting a _______________ - Hosting a _________________ - Doing a _________________ - Decluttering your _________ - Having a little ________________