Featured Yule Gifts

Yuletide

 Yule or Yuletide (“Yule time”) was and is a festival observed by the historical Germanic peoples. Scholars have connected the celebration to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht. It later underwent Christianize reformulation resulting in the term Christmastide.

Terms with an etymological equivalent to Yule are used in the Nordic countries for Christmas with its religious rites, but also for the holidays of this season. Today Yule is also used to a lesser extent in the English-speaking world as a synonym for Christmas. Present-day Christmas customs and traditions such as the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar, Yule singing, and others stem from Yuletide celebrations.  

The King/Father/God Archetype

Storytelling has combined The Norse God, Odin, Father Time, The Sun God, St. Nicholas and Santa Clause all into one entity as the wheel of time has progressed. Ancient stories of a god or king, saint or man delivering gifts to those who were good or contributed to their village life or family, were rewarded with a gift.

The king/Father/God archetype is depicted throughout history in the turn of the seasonal wheel, the manifesto of every religion, the tales of mythology and found in every cultural structure. This archetype is known for such key points including being the one everyone looks up to. He is grounded and centered and bestows blessings on the lives of others who follow him. This archetype is known to create and inspires creativity in others, while providing order, protection and decisive decisions. He is the one to most leave a legacy behind or blueprint for others to follow.

Yule Wreath

 Make a Yule Wreath by winding grapevines around a large bottle or pot. Remove the vine wreath from the bottom of the vessel and then start to decorate it. Tuck the ends of the vines into each other. Have approximately 8-10 pine bow (branches with green needles and cones) and weave them or wire wrap them into your grapevine base. Position the bows outward so they show off the green.

Now startin filling the wreath in with beautiful pine cones, red holly berries or even red cherries. Use twigs with leaves on them and charms representing the season!

The circular shape or the wreath represents eternity, for it has no beginning and no end. From a christian religious perspective, it represents an unending circle of life. The evergreen, most frequently used in making wreathes, symbolizes growth and everlasting life.

Yule Blessing   

“O darkest night of Yule’s light,
I come to honor in circle, bright
With light of new beginnings grow,
With sunlight during winter’s snow
With spring and summer passing by
Til fall and winter time, anigh
I banish shadow to the flame,
To rid me of my dark distain
To grow as sunlight does each day,
And cast-way shadow, dark and grey”
~ Andrew Pacholyk MS L.Ac