Entry 004 Yule Traditions

It's that time of year again as the Wheel turns once more. We welcome the rebirth of the Sun God as we gather warm around our fires, snuggled up in blankets to stave off the chill of winter. The Earth is asleep and the Yule Logs are being lit. Trees are being decorated and prayers for snow are being sent on silent wings up into the starry night.

Everyone has a certain tradition that they --or their family-- does to celebrate the Yuletide season every year.

Last year, my Coven accidentally ended up purchasing a pink tree (since we couldn't afford a real one at the time). We thought it was white, but it ended up being baby pink. We did a Yule Tree Blessing while we decorated it, of course it had myriad colors of candy canes, what kind of tree would it be without them?! We also baked small dough men to decorate the tree with, each one blessed. One for each member of the Coven. Since last year a very dear friend of the family passed away, Trung, who had twice been to speak with the Dalai Lama in private audience, he followed the Buddhist Faith with great reverence. In his honor, we did a Buddhist Food Blessing over our Dumb Supper --both in his honor-- and the pink tree was also dedicated to him since he was also a proud member of the Gay Pride Community.

This year, we have much more to celebrate and be happy about. New friends, new additions to the family, new relationships, etc...

So this year we went out and got a real pine (we'll plant it in the yard later on.) We'll be decorating it with garlands, possibly popcorn strings, ornaments, lights, and little dangling skeletons --just to be different! We always celebrate every Yule together as a family, with Coven and friends alike. We hold sabbat and then break fast for Yule Feast that has been cooking all day long. We laugh and chat, goof off and have a good time well into the night. This year we may do Karaoke, I'm writing down some Pagan-oriented Yule songs, perhaps I'll get a group together brave enough (or filled with enough egg nog) to sing achapella. xD We also have a Yule Gift Exchange. We have homemade incense, bath and body products also homemade, jewelry and other hand-crafted gifts to give to eachother.

So what are some of your traditions? How do you celebrate Yule? Christmas? St. Nicholas Day? I invite all of you, be you Pagan or Christian, Catholic or Jewish, Muslim or Buddhist, to share what your traditions are for this time of year!