Well as you all know, yesterday was the ancient Pagan holiday of Yule. The End of December is historically known as the Winter solstice and the darkest time of the year. Truly a very powerful night filled with darker energies. This is the longest night and shortest day of the year.
The holiday of Yule Began in the ancient times and was celebrated by the Germanic tribes. The holiday was celebrated based on the lunar calendar to assure that they got the longest day of the year. Now most of our celebration occurs on the 21st just to make is easier. During the winter months especially in the north it would get very cold and the potential for people to die was very high. So in order to survive people would band together and share their resources to ensure the survival of the entire community. This was common especially in Celtic societies where the winters were chilly.
Food was scarce during this time so people would often put of feasts to ensure that everyone got fed and raise spirits so that people would be happy and filled with joy. A pig was also slaughtered on Yule so that everyone could feast. When people were happy and well fed they had a better chance of surviving the cold. This is where the idea of holiday feasting originated from. Also in order to spread merriment and cheer the houses were decorated with holly and mistle toe to liven every-ones spirit. The exchanging of gifts was common in this time as well as it was a gesture to show how much they appreciated everyone for their hard work.
Another Pagan tradition was the decorating of trees with candles. The original use for this was so that anyone who got lost in the cold could find their way home by following the lit up trees. This was a safety precaution to make sure that people did not get lost and die. Also the lights on the tree also added in the lifting of spirits.
So as a Black magicians what spells are good to cast on Yule. Yule is a good night for all types of spells especially darker spells as it is the longest night of the year. Some spells that I like to do are renewal spells where I cleanse myself of unwanted energies and prepare myself for the new year. I will set goals and meditate on those goals attracting those energies to me. This purging spells helps me to let go of unwanted thought and move forward. It is also a very good night for prosperity and abundance spells because it is a time of giving and getting.
I also heard an interesting thing from an old witch last night. She told me that on this night Demons walk the earth and can make contact with the living. This is a good night to Preform Evocations on as the energies as attuned to it.
as for me it is snowing right now which is awsome, and I am getting ready to go to a yule festival that some of my witch friends have put on.
What did you all do for Yule? If you want share you stories.
Happy Yule,
Priestess Akelta
hi there loved your blog i went to a yule party on the 19 2008 to my solitary witches festival at her house it was a great time.