YULE . .
	Yule is celebrated on or about the 21st-22nd June (our Northern friends celebrate it on December 21st-22nd), and is otherwise known as the Winter Solstice. This is the shortest day/longest night of the year, and even though we yet to have our coldest months of July and August, the Sun steadily grows stronger with each passing day. Life is once again stirring in the ground, and we look forward to the day when the frosts are gone. This is the time that the Goddess becomes mother again as she gives birth to her Beltane Baby, thus associated as a fertility ritual with the continuation of life. The night belongs to the Goddess, and is a night of waiting, through Her pregnancy, for the Child of Promise. As a Fire festival a popular custom at this time is the burning of the Yule log. It was traditionally made from Oak or Ash and was decorated with holly and evergreens to symbolise the God and Goddess who are reunited on this day. The Yule log was kept alight for at least 12 days, and in some customs, even up to 12 weeks. It was deemed bad luck for the fire to burn out naturally, so always was put out deliberatly and a small amount kept aside to rekindle the fire the following year. The ashes from the Yule log were often used to make protection, healing and fertilising charms, or scattered over fields to ensure a good crop in the summer. Ashes were also believed could protect from lightening and keep away the devil. Holly and mistletoe are often thought of at this time as they symbolise fertility. Mistletoe berries represented the semen of the Oak and were used to strengthen the Sun which was so weak at this time of the year. The berries are an obvious symbol of fertility and even today we traditionally kiss under Mistletoe at Christmas/Yule. Traditionally, the mistletoe was cut by the Chief Druid from the Oak using a golden sickle on the sixth day of the moon. It was considered an aphrodisiac. Holly is a symbol of protection and the Druids of Old England brought it into their houses as a home for the nature spirits during the harsh Winter months. The red berries of the Holly symbolise blood and sacrifice. Traditionally, Holly should be gathered for magickal uses on the eve of the Winter Solstice, at midnight and without a light. In return, an offering of red wine or your own blood should be left in return for what you have taken. Yule is a time to let go of all fears, all doubts, all outworn ideas, all projects finished, anything in our lives that holds us away from the new beginnings that will lead to new growth. It is a time to let go of the past and walk toward the light. On this the longest night, we renew and rebirth our bodies and spirit self. From the Darknes comes Light. Colours : Red Green White and especially Silver and Gold Herbes: Cinnamon, Myrrh, Cloves, Juniper, Frankincense, Cedar, Pine, Mistletoe. Foods : Cider, Fruit, Pork, Turkey, Nuts, Eggnog, Teas, Cookies Deities: Frey, Nerthus, Woden, Herne, Oak King, Holly King, Sul, Isis, Osiris, Apollo. Symbols: Evergreens, Mistletoe, Ivy, Snowflakes, Yule Log, Gifts, Bells, Candles.
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