yule log pagan tradition

I also used it due to it’s circular shape to signify the sun, Baby’s breath – since these are so delicate and white, baby’s breath symbolize purity, innocence and love, Star Anise – symbolizes good luck, purification and opens up psychic abilities. A representative of prosperity, comfort, and protection. Once burned, the log’s ashes were valuable treasures said to have medicinal benefits and to guard against evil. There are many different ways you can use your yule log, and I’d encourage you to try creating your own traditions and rituals! Parisian bakers popularized the cake in the 19th century, and different bakeries became known for their more elaborate decorations. See more ideas about yule, yule traditions, pagan yule. As a modern pagan or witch, celebrate Yule by joining festivals, feasting, singing, dancing, and spending time with loved ones. Use cinnamon sticks, 4 – 6″ branches, evergreens, holly, or any decorations you feel connected to! Put one together with items you find outside, and include it as part of your Yule ritual. Following an ancient tradition, save remnants of the fire and use them to start the Yule Log fire the following year. Ancient Yule Tradition of the Boar. Can You Be Spiritual & Follow The Law of Attraction? Wikimedia. Let the Yule Log burn down to a few chunks of charred wood and ashes (or candles burn down). The Yule Log pastry, often decorated with nuts, cream, or cheese (or all three) is also a symbol of the Yule fire, which before burning was inscribed with runes, and decorated with sprigs of other trees – particularly holly, which stayed green all year – another reminder of the coming of the light. It is a symbol of prosperity and luck. The origination of the first Yule log cake or ‘bûche de Noël’ is unknown but some believe it could be as far back as the 1600s. To cleanse the air of the previous year’s events and to usher in the spring, families would burn logs decorated with holly, pinecones or ivy. And what proper bakery would go through a holiday season without a giant, delicate Yule log in the front case? Drill 3 holes to place tapered candles in. We don’t know who exactly made the first Yule log cake, but judging from the individual ingredients it could have been as early as the 1600s. Winter Solstice Traditions for Modern Pagans 1. (from the Llewellyn's Witch's Calendar 1998) TOP. A Yule Log is a log that is burned during Winter solstice and Christmas celebrations. Families would decorate logs with pinecones or evergreens (which represented new life) and burned them. Thanks for sharing! If you choose to burn indoors, turn off all the lights in the house (I typically still leave my holiday lights on). Drill 3 holes to place tapered candles in. I also used boxwood branches for similar reasons. I made two examples for you in the photos below. (Photo Credit: pastemagazine.com) While the origins of the Yule log are attributed to the Scandinavian countries or to Germanic paganism, most would say the tradition started in Ancient Rome, where entire trees would be burned in an effort to keep away Kallikantzaroi. Thank you so much for your kind words! Have each family member write down a bad habit they would like to give up. Acquiring a Yule Log. Listen to Pagan Yuletide music. The Yule Tree was also another important symbol in pagan tradition. © 2020 A&E Television Networks, LLC. Loving h, Pagan Yule Log Meaning, History, and Traditions. However, on a more modest scale since fireplaces or hearths had become much smaller. This is a great idea! I hope your Winter Solstice and Yule is truly magickal and as always remember….. Hold a simple ritual by having each family member write down wishes, place them in the log, and then burn it in your fireplace. FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. As Christianity grew the Yule log tradition continued. Have everyone snuggle up in jackets, mittens, blankets, beanies, and earmuffs! The log itself is traditionally the largest, hardest log that can be gotten from the nearby forest with the intention that it will burn hotly and brightly through the longest night of the year. Perhaps my favorite Yule ritual is a re-visioning of the childhood tradition of leaving cookies and milk out for Santa. If you’d like Yule and Winter Solstice decoration ideas check out this post here! “I don’t mind when peculiar things happen. When it comes to decorating for Yule and Winter Solstice it’s all about colors, symbolism, and light! Another great option is creating a mini version using a pine cone. In ancient Rome, the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, to honor Saturn, the god of agricultural bounty. Cut one side to make it level. Holly (opens your mind to accept revelations and useful for divination), Dried oranges – symbolizes the sun and the shifting of dark to the light, Pomegranates – signify abundance due to their excess of seeds. If there's no room for a tree, use a Yule Log instead. (check out this blog post about Yule and Winter Solstice for more correspondence ideas, you can check out mine from last year here, small cast iron pan to burn their incense and candles on their altar. However, Wiccan households still decorate and burn (symbolically or otherwise) a real log. Families may have burned a log on Christmas Eve, but smaller hearths became the norm so huge logs were impractical. Although some believe its origins are Pagan, the practice of burning a Yule log began in Medieval times as a Nordic tradition. What Is A Yule Log? The celebration was likely originally inspired by pagan mythology, but was eventually adapted to fit a Christian worldview (Christmastide or Christmastime). Twice a week we compile our most fascinating features and deliver them straight to you. I’m into nature spirituality, journaling, natural living and personal development! Marzipan and meringue decorations, two of the most popular choices for Yule logs, appeared on many a medieval table. The tree that the Yule Log was harvested from had to be gifted or cut from your own land. Those small hearths, however, were perfect for baking cakes. ‘Tis the season for rich food traditions, including that of the Christmas Yule log. Many current Christmas traditions owe their roots to the pagan rule celebration, including the Yule log, the Christmas tree, and the tradition of feasting. A Yule log is a wonderful way to celebrate Yule or Winter Solstice with your family and friends! Enjoy your bûche de Noël, and think of the hundreds of years of history behind it. The Yule log, Yule clog, or Christmas block is a specially selected log burnt on a hearth as a Christmas tradition in a number of countries in Europe. The Yule (Juul) Log tradition started in Norway to honor the god Thor. You can add anything you like to your Yule log! You’ve heard the word “Yule” used around Christmas, most often associated with a “Yule log,” of some sort or another. If you decorate your home with a Yule tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions. As the Yule Log burns, ruminate on this past year: what have you learned, what are you grateful for, and what challenges did you overcome? You could use it as a table centerpiece until Winter Solstice and then burn the whole log in your fireplace or backyard fire pit. Decorate it with lights and symbols of the season. ... Another custom dating back to Pagan roots is the burning of the Yule log. If the new Yule Log didn’t light on the first try, it was believed to be a bad omen foretelling misfortune and tragedy to the members of the household. Burn a Yule Log in a hearth, in a bonfire, or by burning candles on, in, or near a log of Oak on an altar. They could also add goals, dreams, or an intention they would like to manifest. Silent prayers would be offered while the tree was burning. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. The tradition of the Yule log began in Norway, where a giant log was hoisted onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. Yule logs make excellent candleholders for altars or even feast table centerpieces. It is believed, if the tradition is followed with sincerity and devotion, it would bring good health, wealth and productivity in the year ahead. It was originally a Nordic tradition. Today, a Yule log is still a Christmas tradition in some cultures; a large log is traditionally burned in the fireplace on Christmas Eve. Slip all the bits of paper into the Yule Log before lighting it. The Yule log is an ancient tradition, but you can make one for your own family’s holiday celebration. Discuss what you’re most grateful for from the previous year and what dreams or goals you have for the next! The Norsemen believed that the sun was a giant wheel of fire which rolled away from the earth, and then began rolling back again on the winter solstice. Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time" or "Yule season") is a festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples.Scholars have connected the original celebrations of Yule to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht.. Later departing from its pagan roots, Yule underwent Christianised reformulation, resulting in the term Christmastide. Once the Yule Log fire is lit, the bits of paper will burn and all those thoughts, dreams, and wishes will be sent out into the universe! Nowadays, most people simply prepare a chocolate cake to represent the log. Cut one side to make it level. Nowadays, few people make Yule logs at home, but that doesn’t mean you should pass up a slice in favor of apple pie or a second helping of mashed potatoes. Pine cones – illustrative of the pine tree, who even during the darkest season of Winter still remain green. Nov 22, 2020 - Explore GypsyKrafts's board "Yule traditions", followed by 630 people on Pinterest. Cover the altar with a winter-themed altar cloth if possible, and in the center, three white candles in individual candleholders. For the most part, yule log rituals involve selecting, celebrating, burning, and then saving a piece of wood—sometimes an entire trunk, sometimes a log, sometimes just a small branch. Yule Log Décor and Dessert. The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in the fire to symbolize the Newborn Sun/Son. One traditional way to make a Yule log is to use a small log. Christmas is almost here, and ‘tis the season for rich food traditions. Rosemary – burning rosemary is said to cleanse the air of negativity. The Yule log is a reminder of the times when European pagans would have bonfires during winter solstice, thereby symbolising the return of the sun with the days starting to get longer again. You could also create a smoke cleanser using the same materials. The Yule Log is a tradition possibly of Germanic or Nordic origin. Another option is by using a bundle of small logs without candles (like I did in the photo above). I wish you the happiest memories with friends and family. Deities: Goddesses-Brighid, Isis, … In ancient times it was decorated with gifts people wanted to receive from the gods. Another lovely and symbolic way to decorate for Winter Solstice is a Yule Log that you can burn later. Yule Goat – Julbock. Learn about Yule Log traditions and create your own. The term “Yule” has a long and somewhat complex history; however, it can broadly be defined as a reference to ancient Norse rituals that have been incorporated into Scandanavian and Germanic Christmas traditions. Now that you’ve created your Yule Log, I bet you’re wondering what you should do with it! I hope you found it inspiring! Hey there friends! How To Make A Pagan Yule Log To Burn. A holiday celebration that began in Norway, on the night of the winter solstice it was common to hoist a giant log onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. Drink warm cocoa, cider, or mulled wine. (He is also believed to have ancient Pagan origins, perhaps as an incarnation of the Norse god Odin.) Create a Yuletide chant, poem, or song. Use salt dough and cookie cutters to make your own Yule ornaments. What Type Of Wood Do You Use For A Yule Log? Each family member can also feel free to journal and reflect quietly on their own. Even now at the darkest time, we know that each day will bring more warmth and light. Some groups claimed the ashes would protect the bearer from lightning—an important quality at a time when houses (and most of the contents in them) were made of wood. The ashes of the Yule log were said to be special and planted in the soil for good luck. I wanted to add this to say farewell to any negativity from the past year and clear the way for a positive new year. Back then, the yule log was steeped in superstition: If it didn’t catch fire on the first attempt, it would bring bad luck. Now is a time for celebrating the season of Winter! . Here are a few ideas: Remember you can feel free to use any type of wood you’d like or choose your Yule Log based on its corresponding meanings. It symbolized the shifting of darkness to light. It dates back to at least 1615, when the first known recipe appeared in Gervaise Markham’s tome “The English Huswife.”. People would feast to celebrate the days finally becoming longer, signaling the end of the winter season. I also like to add some rosemary to banish any negative from this year and open up positivity for next year. Loved ones of every belief have for the Spring Equinox or Ostara – Guided... The seasonal tradition once burned, the Winter Solstice was celebrated at the darkest time, know. God Odin. could use it as a table centerpiece until Winter Solstice is a great time to ancient. This video to see HOW i made my own TWIST on a Yule log piece used... Celebrate Nature and the yule log pagan tradition night of the Yule log tradition continued albeit... Tree among early pagans cake eaten on Christmas Eve, but here are a few ideas get... Yule is the name of the Winter Solstice also often used to the! 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