What are the 12 nights of Yule?
What are the 12 nights of Yule?
Today, most pagans and heathens celebrate the yuletide as running from approximately December 20 – December 31 (but there are variations). For Christians in 567 AD the Council of Tours would officially proclaim that the 12 Days were to be celebrated from Christmas Day through to the Epiphany.
What should we do on first night of Yule?
Here are some customary ways to celebrate the solstice—you might notice that some resemble beloved Christmas traditions.
- Build a Yule Altar.
- Make an Evergreen Yule Wreath.
- Burn a Yule Log.
- Decorate a Yule Tree.
- Exchange Nature-Based Gifts.
- Give Back to Nature.
- Celebrate in Candlelight.
- Set up a Meditation Space.
Why is Yule 12 days?
The Yule log was a whole tree meant to be burned for 12 days in the hearth. The Celts believed the sun stood still during the winter solstice. They thought by keeping the Yule log burning for these 12 days encouraged the sun to move, making the days longer.
What day of Yule is today?
Yule comes up on December 21, on the winter solstice. It is the shortest day and longest night of the year, as the Sun gets its lowest elevation in the sky. Apart from the marking of a new season, the winter solstice also holds a significant symbol for the Sun….Yule dates.
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | December 21 | Monday |
What do Pagans do for Yule?
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.
Is the 12 days of Christmas pagan?
Now, I know that we all sing about the Twelve Days of Christmas, but you might not have realized that the pagan celebration of Yule is twelve days long, starting with the winter solstice on December 21 and ending on January 1.
Do you give gifts on 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 religion is Yule?
The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world.
How can I celebrate Yule?
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.
Did the 12 days of Christmas come from Yule?
Yule originates from the 12-day festival, celebrated by Germanic peoples, around the winter solstice in December and January. By the 900s, Yule was already mapped on the Christian celebration of Christmas and its surrounding festivities.
