30 Days of Witchcraft ~30-Day Challenge~Day 25 Yule

For day 25 of our 30 Days of witchcraft "Write Your Craft" challenge we're discussing Yule. Way back in 2018 I did a lot on Yule one season because my girls were asking a lot of questions, so there is more than what I am adding today and I'll add more this season, but for today let's do that info a correspondence list, shall we?Yule 2022 will begin on Wednesday, December 21 and ends on Sunday, January 1. It will peak Friday, December 21, at 4:48 pm EST in the northern hemisphere. (Yes, you read that correctly, 12 days. See my post here for an explanation…kinda. Yuletide also corresponds with many Old Norse traditions, including the 12 days)

Yule is a pagan holiday that goes back thousands of years and was celebrated by the Germanic peoples of Germany and Scandinavia. No one really knows how old this holiday is because it was written about until about the 4th century. 

Yule is the turn of the light. On Solstice night, the longest night of the year, we celebrate the rebirth of the Oak King. bringer of life. When the sun rises the morning after the peak, the days once again begin to lengthen and the sun stays longer each day, beginning it’s slow thaw of the frozen land.

In olden days, bonfires were lit and cider was drank. Yule logs were lit in fireplaces. Children were gifted clove studded fruit, and plans for the future were dreamed upon. It was and is a time for introspect and family, happiness and love.

Correspondences for this Sabbat

Deities (across all pantheons)

• The Great Mother and Earth Goddess
• Freyja
• Gaia
• Diana
• Bona-Dea
• Isis
• Demeter
• Mabon
• The Sun God
• The Star (Divine) Child
• The Oak King
• The Holly King
• The Green Man
• The Red Man
• The Horned One
• Odin
• Lugh
• Apollo
• Ra

Colors

• Red
• Green
• White
• Gold
• Silver 

Stones

• Quartz
• Ruby
• Diamond
• Pearl
• Garnet
• Snowflake Obsidian

Herbs, Plants, & Spices

• Balsam/Fir
• Holly
• Pine
• Ivy
• Cinnamon
• Cloves
• Laurel
• Blessed Thistle
• Frankincense
• Mistletoe

Food and Drink

• Gingerbread
• Wassailo
• Spiced Cider
• Berries
• Nuts
• Pork
• Turkey
• Goose
• Eggnog
• Ginger tea
• Cranberries

Animals

• Deer
• Reindeer
• Squirrels
• Chickadees
• blue jays
• cardinals
• phoenix
• Turkey
• Goose
• Boar

Spells

• Ritual of the longest night
• To spread peace

Ways to Celebrate this Sabbat

• Burn a traditional Yule log
• Donate food and clothing
• Kissing under the Mistletoe
• Go Caroling
• Decorate an evergreen tree, inside, outside or both
• Keep lots of candles burning as much as possible
• Bake gingerbread and gingerbread cookies in Yuletide shapes, imbuing the dough with intention and blessings
• Mix your own mulling spices
• Take a leisurely bath surrounded by candles, using ritual soap or sea salt to cleanse yourself of any physical and emotional toxins
• Enchant the gifts you give with good luck and prosperity
• Leave blessed treats outside for winter animals
• Make Witches’ Balls and other crafts to hang on the tree
• Invite fairies into the home for winter warmth by bringing holly into your home. Be sure to burn the holly at your Imbolc celebration to wish them farewell. If they stay they can cause mischief all year!

More on this in December!