Since prehistory, the winter solstice has been a significant time of year in many cultures and has been marked by festivals and rites.
Yule coincides with the winter solstice (Dec 21-22 in North), the longest night and shortest day.
Yule celebrates the "rebirth of the sun," the victory of light over darkness, and the promise of Spring and returning life.
You may have seen the thousands of people gathered at Stonehenge in the UK, which was erected between 5,000 and 3,500 years ago, to watch the sunrise. The monument was built to align with the movement of the sun on the solstice.
"Advent" calendar made by my daughter to count down to solstice. She collected and painted the rocks and each day, a rock is removed. Some rocks have special pictures on them to go with the date or the full moon.
My daughter creates these lovely Yule logs and sells them in her Etsy store, Excalibur of Yuletide.
This year sales for her Yule Logs exploded and she was out in the woods trying to find more logs that were appropriate sizes to fill all the orders!
The solstice fire was lit to welcome the return of the sun. Days will begin to grow longer after solstice.
Stump from last year's Yule tree is in the fire. The ashes are saved to use for protection and luck through the year.
Stub from a red candle that was burned at yule last year - saved for good luck and health for the new year
Next to oak slice that has pieces of the first nine sacred woods from the Celtic calendar. So many traditions!
Now, on to Christmas!
