| Yule or the Winter Solstice is scientifically based on | | | | winter solstice, a shaft of sunlight enters the mound, |
| the standing still position of the Sun; this has been | | | | travels down a stone corridor, and illuminates the |
| practiced for over 10,000 years by many cultures | | | | spiral designs on the back wall of the cave. |
| (especially Native Americans, Spanish and Mexican | | | | Yule is one of four Lesser Pagan Sabbats (with the |
| Indians) around the globe with ceremonies and | | | | religious festivals or holidays being Ostara, Midsummer |
| festivals over 12 days). Yule is a kind of spiritual, | | | | or Litha, and Mabon) within the symbolically and |
| psychic, and physiological renewal of mind, body, and | | | | constantly turning wheel of the year. Yule has long |
| soul involving the 4 elements (Earth or North, Air or | | | | been celebrated as the rebirth of the sun (the Sun |
| East, Fire or South, and Water or West) and the 5th | | | | God Ra/Re), of sunlight, and the continual existence |
| element being the Spirit Guide at the top of a right | | | | of life itself. According to Celtic folklore, the Oak King |
| side up pentacle and pentagram (which are | | | | and the Holly King represent the two sides of the |
| mathematically based on geometry). The winter | | | | Greenman or the Horned God (Cernunnos); the Oak |
| solstice is unique among days of the year--the | | | | King oversees the lighter part of the year (at Litha) |
| shortest day and the longest night. Darkness rules | | | | while the Holly King oversees the darker part of the |
| but only briefly; from now until the summer solstice, | | | | year at Yule. |
| the nights will grow shorter and the days longer even | | | | In the northern hemisphere, Yule is generally |
| in Alaska. | | | | celebrated on or around December 21st depending |
| The Winter Solstice's turning point was carefully | | | | upon the day of arrival of the full moon prior to this |
| monitored in many ancient cultures. The stones in the | | | | Sabbat. Yule festivals, ceremonies, and rituals can |
| circle at Stonehenge were aligned to ascertain the | | | | consist of a simple solitary prayer all the way through |
| dates of midsummer and midwinter, as well as the | | | | an elaborate social and spiritual gathering of men, |
| positions of the moon throughout the year. Even | | | | women, and children. Depending upon their spiritual |
| older than Stonehenge is the tumulus at Newgrange | | | | path, some folks observe Yule for 1 day or from 3, |
| in the Boyne River Valley in Ireland. It was built in | | | | 7, or up to 12 days. |
| approximately 4500 B.C.E. On the morning of the | | | | |