Yule is pronounced EWE - elle takes place December 20 ~23 depending on the year, also know as winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. Solstice night is the longest night of the year celebrated the rebirth of the oak king or sun God. From solstice night forward days become longer then nights.
Symbols of yule: yule log, wreaths or evergreen boughts, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, simmering pots of wassail, and poinsettias.
Herbs of yule: blueberries, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense, holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage and yellow cedar.
Incense of yule: pine, cedar, bayberry and cinnamon.
Colors of yule: red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow and orange.
Stones of yule: rubies, bloodstone, garnets, emeralds and diamonds.
Celebrations: a yule tree is also called a tree of life, originally trees where not cut down they where just decorated outside using candles but now most yule trees are found inside and are decorated with lights. Yule trees are also decorated with or ordainments representing the sun, moon and stars; departing love ones can also be represented in ordainments. Stringed popcorn and cranberries can be strung across the tree. These represent an offering to the God and Goddess. If the popcorn and cranberries are on a tree outside
They are a great way to give back to the earth as the little creatures will enjoy them. Bells can be added to the tree to call attention to the moon Goddess. The tree topper doesn't matter all to much. What it is although most use a five pointed star to represent the five elements (fire, earth, air, water, wind, spirit pointing up). Gift giving is now common with yule tree but still be sure to leave an offering for the Goddess and God. Giving gifts to family and friends is an acceptable way to celebrate yule as you can give them things they will need for the on coming year.
Wassailing is when carollers go door to door singing carols holding up wassail cups begin rewarded with drinks, fruit, bread, and other sweets.
Decorating house is normally done with Holly, ivy, and mistletoe. A spring of holly is normally kept at a door its a invitation of good fortune.
A yule log is a very common way to celebrate yule as its mentioned in Wiccan Rede. A log of cedar, spruce, evergreen, or pine is given as a gift or taken from the land of the owners property and burned, it is consider bad luck if you buy the log. Trees that don't lose their leaves/pine in the winter represent immorality which is why they are used in this ritual. Before the log can be burned it must be decorated in greenery, apple cider, ale and be dudes with flowers. You can always add coins that can be given to children afterwards. After the yule log smoulder for 12 hours and then the ashes can be collected and kept in a small container, spread as fertilizer into a field as good luck for the trees coming into crop. If a piece of log is left it can be kept for next years yule and then added to the fire.
Another form of the yule log is cutting a log horizontally so there's a flat side for it to sit on, then three holes are drilled for 3 candles to sit in the log, the candles can be red/green/ or white symbolizing the season or white / red /black symbolizing the Goddess and green / gold/ and black symbolizing the God. The log will be decorated just like the one placed in the fire only this one won't and it will be placed on the table. Bows, bells and herbs can be added.
The more modern way of doing a yule log is by cooking a cake that looks like a log. The cane can be decorated using edible forms of the real yule log decorations.
