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- Pagan families would bring a live tree into the home so the wood spirits would have a place to keep warm in the cold winter months – food and treats were hung on the branches for the spirits to eat
- This is the festival of light out of darkness and the tradition of lighting candles is ever popular
Accordingly, What is Yule and how do you celebrate it? Decorating with greenery, hanging ornaments in trees, caroling, and gift-giving are all customs that originated with Germanic peoples celebrating the day of Yule Some scholars believe that the festival of Yule is closely related to Saturnalia, a week-long holiday that ancient Romans celebrated around the solstice
What are Yule colors? The symbols of Yule are evergreens, the Yule Log, a Yule tree, mistletoe, holly, wreaths, and bells The colors of Yule are white, green, red, gold, and silver Evergreens are popular decorations during Yule because they remind us that life continues through the cold and dark winter
What religion is Yule? The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world
Further, Who is the god of Yule? The modern word ‘Yule’ has a few possible etymological origins; in Old Norse Jól or Jul could refer to a feast to the sun, and formed part of one of the many names given to the chief god Odin who was often known as the Jólfadr or Yul-father due to his strong association with the sun
How do you celebrate Yule like a Viking?
So, how can you celebrate Yule in modern times and still feel like a Viking while you’re at it?
- Sacrifice a goat Okay, maybe don’t sacrifice it, but goats are associated with Odin and were often slaughtered at this time of the year
- Make some mead
- Play some Viking games
What color candles do you use for Yule?
Green, gold, red, and white candles are traditional Yule candle colors Green and gold candles are good options for prosperity, health, and new growth Red candles can be used for courage, willpower (and lust), and white for protection
What is the Yule tree?
The “Yule tree,”, or Christmas tree, is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer species, such as pine, fir, cedar, juniper, or spruce The tradition has origins with ancient civilizations in the middle east, Asia, and Europe
Who practices Yule?
Yule is an indigenous winter festival celebrated by the Germanic peoples The earliest references to it are in the form of month names, where the Yule-tide period lasts somewhere around two months, falling along the end of the modern calendar year between what is now mid-November and early January
Do people give gifts for Yule?
The pagans may have given gifts at the Yule celebration as well Christianity later took over much of Europe, and the Christians, like the Romans, learned that the best way to truly conquer was not to divide, but to incorporate
What did pagans call Christmas?
Pagans celebrate Yule, a holiday that takes place during the Winter Solstice, usually just a few days before Christians celebrate Christmas The two holidays have similarities since Christmas is rooted in both the Germanic Yule, as well as the Roman Saturnalia
What did Pagans call Christmas?
Pagans celebrate Yule, a holiday that takes place during the Winter Solstice, usually just a few days before Christians celebrate Christmas The two holidays have similarities since Christmas is rooted in both the Germanic Yule, as well as the Roman Saturnalia
Is Santa a pagan?
The modern Santa Claus is a direct descendent of England’s Father Christmas, who was not originally a gift-giver However, Father Christmas and his other European variations are modern incarnations of old pagan ideas about spirits who traveled the sky in midwinter, Hutton said
What holidays are actually pagan?
7 Pagan Festivals We Still Celebrate Today
- Christmas
- New Year’s Day
- Easter
- The Roman version of Halloween
- May 1st – Labor Day
- Epiphany or Three Kings Day
- Saint John’s Eve
Is Valentine’s day pagan?
The earliest possible origin story of Valentine’s Day is the pagan holiday Lupercalia Occurring for centuries in the middle of February, the holiday celebrates fertility Men would strip naked and sacrifice a goat and dog