Celebrations, music, spells, gifts, books & recipes for Winter Solstice
inspired by ancient Pagan customs & traditions
Winter Solstice has been celebrated in cultures the world over for thousands of years.
Here in the northern hemisphere, nights get longer and days get shorter until (in 2005) December 21
when the cycle reverses. What better time than the start of the solar year to celebrate
the cycle of nature and reaffirm the continuation of life?
In old Europe, this time of year was known as Yule, from the Norse, Jul, meaning wheel. Ancient rituals -- with fertility rites, fire festivals and offerings and prayers to Gods and Goddesses -- are at the root of our modern affinity for candles, evergreens, feasting and generosity during holiday celebrations.
Let there be Light!
Meditate in darkness and then welcome the birth of the sun by lighting candles and singing chants and carols. If you have a indoor fireplace or woodstove, burn an oak log as a Yule log and save a bit to start next year's fire. Decorate your home with electric colored lights. Click on the candle for some spells & rituals related to growth & new beginnings, and books on spellcraft.
A Time of Giving
We all enjoy exchanging gifts and feasting with our friends and family at this time of year but how about extending this beautiful custom to include the other living creatures who share this earth with us? Put up bird feeders and keep them stocked with seed. You can also make decorative wildbird treats by rolling pinecones in peanut butter and bird seed. This is also a wonderful time to visit an animal shelter and adopt a homeless cat or dog. Donate funds and items to environmental organizations. Meditate for world peace.
Making Peace with the Past and Looking into the Future
The four days out of the year that mark the turning of the seasons are especially magical times so dvination of the events of the coming year was and is another prominent feature of Winter Solstice. Tarot, Rune or I Ching readings can be especially significant at this time as can dreams or visions seen in meditation. Winter Solstice is also an excellent time for banishing rituals to eliminate disease, bad habits & addictions.
Yuletide Recipes: the magick in food
Click on the steaming cauldron for a collection of dessert recipes perfect for celebrating Yule and the Winter Solstice. You'll also find magickal associations for some of the ingredients and links to Pagan cookbooks.
What about Santa Claus?
Each culture has had its own traditional character who visits at the time of Winter Solstice, bringing gifts & treats. Today's Santa is a folk figure with multicultural roots. He embodies characteristics of Saturn (Roman agricultural god), Cronos ( Greek god, also known as Father Time), the Holly King (Celtic god of the dying year), Father Ice/Grandfather Frost (Russian winter god), Thor (Norse sky god who rides the sky in a chariot drawn by goats), Odin/Wotan (Scandinavian/Teutonic All-Father who rides the sky on an eight-legged horse), Frey (Norse fertility god), & the Tomte (a Norse Land Spirit known for giving gifts to children at this time of year). Santa's reindeer can be viewed as forms of Herne, the Celtic Horned God.
Santa based on a design by Victor Moscoso
Winter Solstice Carols - reclaiming the celebration of the season
by Megha Morganfield
A collection of 15 holiday songs celebrating the return of the light, and hope renewed for peace and community. Inspired by Mary Daly's book "Gyn/Ecology", Megha Morganfield rewrote 12 tradition carols, retaining their melodies, but enlivening them with universal transcendent messages. A collaborative production, the Winter Solstice Carols is a recording with harp, guitar, piano, violin and voice.
Beautiful Darkness - Celebrating the Winter Solstice
by Jessica Radcliffe/Lisa Ekstrom/Martin Simpson
This unusual collection of tunes, songs and spoken words will help you celebrate the Winter Solstice as the joyous, life-affirming spiritual festival it is meant to be. Includes "To Drive the Cold Winter Away," "Solstice Fire," "The Holly & the Ivy," "One Small Candle/Beautiful Darkness," "Holly Bears the Crown" and 12 more songs of the season. This recording was inspired by John & Caitlin Matthews' book, The Winter Solstice
Solstice Live!
by Paul Winter & friends
A live recording of one of The Paul Winter Consort's legendary annual Winter Solstice Whole Earth Celebrations in New York City. A world music festival with 20 guest artists performing ancient & modern Sun-welcoming songs from all over the world including Celtic Galicia, Ireland, Russia, Native America, Africa, India & the Ecuadoran Andes, SOLSTICE LIVE! captures the adventure & drama of this musical journey through the longest night of the year. Perfect for multi-denominational family celebrations.
Winter Carols
by Blackmore's Night
Richie Blackmore, Candice Night and their Renaissance rock band put together a lovely collection of Celtic and medieval inspired winter holiday music with this CD. As usual, Candice's heartfelt vocals and Richie's brilliant instrumental work shine particularly bright. Even though I personally celebrate Winter Solstice, their Christmas Eve is one of my favorites; the lyrics are multi-cultureal and it captures the spirit of this season beautifully. Winter, Lord of the Dance, Ding Dong Merrily On High, I Saw Three Ships and Ma-O-Tzur are are also standouts.
Here are some of my favorite books on celebrating Yule and other holidays in communion with nature.
Click on the title to learn more about the book.
Wheel of the Year: Living the Magical Life
by Pauline Campanelli
12 chapters... one for each month of the year... containing lore, crafts, recipes, magic,
and ritual for celebrating the seasons and cycles of life.
Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth
by Dorothy Morrisson
Explore the Pagan & regional roots to many of our contemporary rituals & celebrations.
Includes homemade crafts & gift ideas. seasonal recipes,
and a December calendar listing traditions & rituals for every day of the month.
The Pagan Book of Days: A Guide to the Festivals, Traditions, and Sacred Days of the Year
by Nigel Pennick
This fascinating book is like an ancient cultural and religious almanac combining Celtic, Roman, Egyptian and other traditions. There's literally something to celebrate every day!
The Winter Solstice: The Sacred Traditions of Christmas
by John Matthews & Caitlin Matthews
This beautifully illustrated coffee table style book packed with folklore, stories, recipes, games, activities, decorating ideas, and songs of the Winter Solstice would make a beautiful gift.
The Winter Solstice
by Ellen Jackson
This is an excellent introduction to the ancient traditions of Yule for children.
The Return of the Light: Twelve Tales from Around the World for the Winter Solstice
by Carolyn McVickar Edwards
A beautiful retelling of 12 traditional tales... from North America, China, Scandinavia, India, Africa, South America, Europe, and Polynesia... that honor the magical moment of Winter Solstice when "the sun stands still."
Wiccacraft for Families
by Margie McArthur
An excellent reference book for any Pagan,Wiccan or Nature Religion family
packed with seasonal recipes, crafts, ritual ideas & lore.
Create your own family traditions!
Sabbat Entertaining
by Willow Polson (just published Oct 2002!)
Craft projects, seasonal recipes, decorating ideas,
& lots of folklore & activities surrounding the Wiccan Sabbats for all ages.
Witch Crafts: 101 Projects for Creative Pagans
by Willow Polson
Learn to make beautiful holiday gifts for your friends & family... or yourself!
This book features projects for all ages & skill levels and is beautifully illustrated.
The Magical Household: Empower Your Home With Love, Protection, Health and Happiness
by Scott Cunningham
A wonderful little book to help make your home a haven of sacred space and magick,
for the holidays or any time.
Teen Witch Datebook: September 2002 to December 2003
by Frankie Banfer, Gwinevere Rain & Lily Gardner
The first and only planner specifically designed for young witches.
Includes rituals and spells; Moon signs, phases, and times of change;
& articles by well-known Pagan writers to enhance your practice.
Celebrate the Solstice: Honoring the Earth's Seasonal Rhythms Through Festival and Ceremony
by Richard W. Heinberg
Two books in one. A history of Solstice celebration including Stonehenge, ancient Chinese, Mayan & Native American rites... followed by suggestions on creating your own personal seasonal rituals.
The Fires of Yule: A Keltelven Guide for Celebrating the Winter Solstice
by Montague Whitsel
This is not a strictly Pagan book but if your family and friends are a mix of Pagan and Christian, this book on Celtic-inspired Yule celebration might be just what you're looking for
The moon teaches us there always comes a time for self-renewal and new beginnings. Discover in the Lunaria luscious romantic era artwork and prose, an eclectic mix of classical literature, poetry, mythology, esoteric texts, folklore & charms. These treasures honor the Earth, Moon and Sky, as well as love, spirituality and humanity. The Lunaria utilizes thirteen true lunar months including a lovely depiction of each day's changing moon phase. Here you will find all the necessities of a traditional calendar and so much more! Included are traditional calendar dates with each month beginning with the new moon. This calendar provides information regarding which astrological house the moon is in, v/c and aspects, major planetary signs and aspects, traditional and earth holidays, rise-set times, quarter times, eclipses, solstice/equinox times, planet visibility, and, an informative user's guide.
Llewellyn's Witches Calendar 2006
A classic. Includes Wiccan holidays, color correspondences, the best days to plant and harvest, the Moon's sign and phase, planetary motion including retrogrades, and solar and lunar eclipses along with practical tips, invocations, folklore, herb lore, and original scratchboard art by Kathleen Edwards.
Goddesses 2006 Calendar with paintings by Susan Seddon Boulet
Inspiring paintings of the Goddess in her many guises by Susan Seddon Boulet.
Another classic, with such beautiful imagery you'll want to keep it long after the year has passed.
The Faerie Journals 2006 Calendar
This enchanting wall calendar features twelve fairies and includes international holidays and moon phases. A concealed message within the calendar explains this magical, ongoing tale. The accompanying website follows the diary of "The Journal Keeper" and asks for your participation as you are taken into the mysterious realm of Faerie. More than just a calendar, you will be lead on an unfolding adventure in self discovery for the entire year.
Call of the Goddess 2006 Calendar
Visionary artist Helen Nelson-Reed offers thirteen exotic images of the sacred feminine
drawing upon fantasy, myth, dreams, shamanism and mysticism.
Celtic Mandala 2006 Calendar: Earth Mysteries and Mythology
Welsh artist Jen Delyth weaves magical images inspired by the ancient Celts
of the divine forces present in all aspects of nature.
If you appreciate the gracefully complex curves of Celtic knotwork and zoomorphic imagery,
you'll love this uniquely beautiful calendar.
2006 Astrological Calendar
Colorful, contemporary art by Mia Bosna kicks off each month, and monthly horoscopes by Carole Schwalm include the most rewarding and challenging dates for each sign. Youll find major daily aspects, planetary sign changes, in addition to the Moons sign, phase, and void-of-course times. As always, there is a Table of Retrograde Periods and ephemerides for each month. This year's calendar also includes an article about travel planning for 2006 by Bruce Scofield.
My own collection of handcrafted jewelry includes Victorian, Egyptian and stealth Pentacle necklaces, Triquetra Moon jewelry featuring Celtic knotwork, & and tributes to the Cat Goddess Bast including Winged Cat designs and Egyptian pentacles. There's also a section on crystal healing & gemstone magic.
Pagan Greeting Cards
cards for Yule & all the Sabbats... handfastings & other rites of passage featuring Gods & Goddesses, faeries, Celtic knotwork, animal Totems, zodiac signs & more
Spiral
Celtic, historical & mystical gifts - jewelry, medieval reproduction swords & more
T-Shirt King
many Celtic, fantasy & tribal designs
Candlemart
Save up to 80% on candles, holders & unique holiday gift sets
Mystical Posters & Art Prints
beautiful pictures of faeries and angels - framing available
Abundant Earth
environmentally sensitive products for those who care about the Earth. home & garden ornaments, hemp products, meditation tools, wildlife feeders, ecosystem games & toys
The Gift Tree
elegant gift baskets featuring gourmet chocolate, fruit, flowers, wine, bonsai trees & more
All Wine Baskets
the best wine, champagne & gourmet cheeses with same day delivery available
Thanks muchly to Rowan for creating this beautiful website familiar.
Tir Na Nog
lovely introduction to the Faerie realm
Silverbat's Cavern
Information on ChristoPaganism, Wicca & witchcraft
Family Yule Ritual at the Pagan Parenting Page
Jingle Cats
just for fun :-)
