Shipping to Mainland Britain Only 
Yule: The Rebirth of the Sun
Yule, celebrated on the Winter Solstice (December 20th – 1st Jan), is one of the most joyous and sacred Sabbats in the Wiccan Wheel of the Year. It marks the longest night and the return of the sun, a time of renewal, hope and rebirth. Many modern Christmas traditions, from decorating trees to lighting candles, derive from this ancient festival.
Origins of Yule
The word Yule comes from the Old Norse Jól, a midwinter festival celebrated by Germanic and Norse pagans. This was a time to honour the rebirth of the sun and give thanks for survival through the darkest days. In Wiccan tradition, Yule represents the rebirth of the Sun God, who was seen as dying at Samhain but now returning to life at the solstice.
Historically, Yuletide was a 12-day celebration and the inspiration for today’s so-called 12 Days of Christmas. Yule involved feasting, drinking, singing and dancing and, like today’s festival, was a time of good cheer. Yuletide was considered the darkest period of the year for Celtic peoples, who countered the long nights and any malevolent spirits therein by lighting fires. The tradition of the Yule Log (when a massive log or bough was burned continuously throughout the entire 12-day period) survives today, if only in the form of a chocolate sponge cake, served as dessert at Christmas time.
Creating a Yule altar
Yule is one of the most eagerly anticipated festivals in the Wheel of the Year. Setting up a Yule altar is a wonderful way to connect with the energy of the Winter Solstice and honour the returning light. You can keep it simple or decorate it lavishly—whatever feels right for you. Start with a central candle in gold, yellow, or white to represent the rebirth of the sun. Surround it with evergreens like holly, ivy, mistletoe or pinecones, which symbolise endurance and renewal.
Add crystals, such as clear quartz for clarity, or garnet for grounding energy. You might also include symbols of the season—a small Yule log, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks or bells to welcome positive energy. Tarot cards also play an important role a Yuletide. If you work with deities, place images or offerings to honour those associated with Yule. Finally, take a moment to set your intentions—whether through a written affirmation, a blessing or a quiet meditation—so your altar becomes a sacred space of renewal and hope for the year ahead.
Yule symbols and traditions
The Yule Log
The Yule log is one of the most famous traditions associated with Yuletide. Originally, a large log was burned in the hearth to symbolise light returning to the world. Today, this tradition is mostly kept alive by the baking a Yule Log cakes at Christmas. However, some Wiccans still honour the more ancient ceremony by burning of a log, usually with carvings, herbs and inscriptions for good luck.
Evergreen decorations
Evergreens are a powerful symbol of life enduring through winter. Bringing holly, ivy and mistletoe into your home is an ancient practice that predates the Christian tradition of decorating Christmas trees.
The Yule Tree
Of course, decorating a tree is one of the most enduring Yule traditions. Long before the Christian Christmas tree, pagans would adorn trees with candles, dried fruit and sun symbols to honour the spirits of nature and the cycle of rebirth.
Feasting and celebration
Even before the advent of Christianity, Yule was a time of feasting, warmth and gathering with loved ones. Traditional Yuletide foods include:
- 🍷 Mulled cider and mead
- 🌰 Roasted nuts and dried fruits
- 🥧 Cakes, pies, and honey-based sweets
Handmade gifts were also exchanged to symbolise goodwill and generosity, another pagan custom adopted by the modern Christmas festival.
Reflection and renewal
Yule is the perfect time for introspection and setting intentions. Consider:
📖 Writing down the lessons you’ve learned from the past year.
🎯 Setting goals for the year ahead.
🌀 Meditating on personal renewal
How to celebrate Yule today
Today, Yule is still over-shaowed by Christmas, a feast day whose religious connotations have long since become lost through commercialisation. But, since much of Christmas has its roots in earlier pagan traditions anyway, we can still honour Yule in its original pagan way:
🌅 Watch the sunrise on the Winter Solstice to welcome the returning light.
🌲 Decorate your home with natural elements like pine, holly, and mistletoe.
🍽️ Hold a feast with family and friends, sharing gratitude and warmth.
🕯️ Perform a simple ritual of lighting a candle and setting intentions for the new year.
❄️ Spend time in nature, appreciating the stillness and promise of renewal.
Final thoughts
Yule is a festival of hope, rebirth, and the promise of brighter days ahead. By celebrating the return of the sun, we embrace the cycles of nature and the wisdom of renewal. Whether through ancient traditions or modern adaptations, Yule reminds us that even in the darkest times, light always returns.
