The Interesting History of Yule.

Summary

Yule is a pagan holiday that predates Christianity, originating from Germanic countries during the middle to late Iron Age and celebrating the god Thor and the winter solstice.

Abstract

Yule is a pagan holiday that predates Christianity and is celebrated during the winter solstice. The word "Yule" comes from the Old Norse word "jól," meaning "winter" or "slackening of winter." The holiday was first celebrated in Germanic countries during the middle to late Iron Age and was a festival of the wild hunt, also known as Odin's Hunt. During this time, there was a feast that lasted three days, and animal sacrifices were made. Business deals and arranged marriages also took place during this time. Today, Yule is celebrated as a modern pagan holiday, focusing on rebirth, renewal, and light to drive away darkness.

Opinions

The author of the article provides a detailed history of the Yule holiday and its origins in Germanic countries.
The author emphasizes the importance of the winter solstice in paganism and the celebration of the sun god returning to save humanity from darkness.
The author highlights the modern pagan celebration of Yule, focusing on rebirth, renewal, and light.
The author provides a detailed description of the Yule log and its significance in the holiday.
The author also mentions the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe during Yule, which originated in the 13th century to appeal to the Christian church.
The author notes that many people do not know the history of Yule and its connection to the Norse god Baldur and the myth of his death.
The author concludes the article by encouraging readers to learn something new about the history of Yule.

The Interesting History of Yule.

Another Christmas Lesson.

Yule is a pagan holiday that predates Christianity. The word is a derivative of the Old Norse word jól, meaning winter or slackening of winter. Yule was the time for celebrating the god Thor and his triumph over the giants, with him defeating them on 25 December, which resulted in an end to the old winter and a beginning of a new one.

It was first celebrated in Germanic countries during the middle to late Iron Age. It was a festival of the wild hunt (also known as Odin’s Hunt). There was a feast that only lasted three days during the Winter Solstice, and there was animal sacrifice happening where you also got the Yule Goat and Ham. There were also business deals and arranged marriages were happening during this time.

Yule Log

At that time, it was customary to burn the trunk of a tree on the eve of the winter solstice. The tree trunk would be dragged from the forest, brought to a longhouse, and laid on a hearth. The fire would be lit, and all the family members would return home for a festive dinner. The fire would burn for 12 days, after which nothing but ashes were left. The people of this region used the ashes to fertilize their fields for next year’s crops.

Many people don’t know that mistletoe is connected to the myth of the death of the Norse god Baldur. It happened by mistake while Frigga was trying to protect her son. Frigga found out that the mistletoe killed Baldur, so she ensured that it could never hurt anyone again. She turned it into a symbol of love and healing, and now we kiss under it during Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

The mistletoe is also regarded as a symbol of peace and fertility. It used to be used in healing before it became popularized in the holiday of Yule. The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe was introduced in the 13th century to appeal to the Christian church. However, today, kissing under the mistletoe is more about fun than anything else. Today, people tend to do it because it’s a tradition and they want to make the other person happy. So while people don’t know where this tradition came from, they enjoy it without knowing the story.

Yule Today

Yes, it is celebrated even today thanks to modern paganism. If you are not familiar with paganism, it is a religion that celebrates all living things on earth and nature. The modern holiday of Yule is the celebration of the Winter Solstice, an important event in paganism. Yule focuses on rebirth, renewal, and light to drive away from the darkness. The Winter Solstice is also called the day of the sun god, where he returns to save us from darkness for another year.

So now you know something new.

Works Cited

HuffPost Religion Editors. “The Magical History Of Yule, The Pagan Winter Solstice Celebration.” HuffPost, 20 December 2016, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/winter-solstice-pagan-yule_n_585970abe4b03904470af4c5. Accessed 5 December 2021.

Norton, Lily. “Pucker Up! Why Do People Kiss Under the Mistletoe?” Live Science, 21 December 2010, https://www.livescience.com/32901-why-we-kiss-under-mistletoe.html. Accessed 5 December 2021.

Thompson, Austin, and Scott Beggs. “The Origins of Yule.” Mental Floss, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/610507/history-of-yule. Accessed 5 December 2021.

Wigington, Patti. “History of Yule Celebrations — Paganism and Wicca.” Learn Religions, 25 June 2019, https://www.learnreligions.com/history-of-yule-2562997. Accessed 5 December 2021.

“Yule.” Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule. Accessed 5 December 2021.

The Interesting History of Yule.

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