YULE SABBAT – All about the Pagan Christmas for you!

Yule Sabbat is part of the Wheel of the Year and it is also known as “Midwinter”.

The Winter Solstice is the day when the daylight period is the shortest and the night period is the longest of the year. Witches celebrate this date with joy and happiness.

Yule precedes Imbolc Sabbat and happens right after Samhain Sabbat.

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  • North Hemisphere: 21st ou 22nd of December
  • South Hemisphere: 21st of June
  • Colour: Red, green, golden and white

During Yule, the Goddess is still in her crone phase, sad about losing the Sun God. But this doesn’t prevent her from giving birth to the Sun God again.

Yule Sabbat The Wheel of the year
Yule Sabbat The Wheel of the year

Yule Sabbat and the return of light

The Yule Sabbat is considered the return of the light in the Wheel of the Year.

Since everything became dark when the Sun God died in Samhain, the rebirth of the Sun God in Yule is a sign that soon the harsh winter will be gone and a new era of happiness is getting closer again: the spring!

To celebrate the rebirth of the Sun God, trees used to be decorated with candles, gifts, food, and colorful balls symbolizing God’s fertility.

On top of the tress, the most common adorn used to be one of the most known Pagan symbols: the pentagram.

Is it familiar? Of course, it is!

With the Christianization of Celtic people and Pagans, these customs were adapted for Jesus’s story.

Interestingly enough, in the South Hemisphere, Christmas is celebrated during the Summer Solstice with winter decoration.

Yule Sabbat and the Return of light
Yule Sabbat and the Return of light

During the Yule Sabbat, the God is highly celebrated. He is returning with his energy and light! With this, the Goddess, who is still in the crone phase, will smile again and return to her lady phase.

The Holly King vs The Oak King

In Yule, there’s a battle fought by the Sun God’s two faces. The Holly King (darkness), reigning since Litha, on the Summer Solstice, fights again against the Oak King (light).

In this battle, the Oak King is the winner and this means he will reign again. So, from this moment on, the Sun will get stronger every day until reaching its peak on Litha.

Learn more about the Holly King vs the Oak King legend.

Wheel of the Year: Yule Sabbat and nature

During this celebration of the Wheel of the Year, it was very common to take trees inside the home for sheltering the Spirits of Nature during the Yule Sabbat.

These trees were then decorated. Gifts were offered for the Spirits, food was offered for animals who might find it hard to survive the winter. We can see here a mutual help. Once you shelter the Spirits of Nature in your home, they protect your home in return.

During the Yule Sabbat, the ideal is to celebrate life and the Sun God’s rebirth, so the winter will not be so harsh. Dances, songs, and food are dedicated to the reborn God.

Symbolizing the God’s body fluids, the mistletoe is commonly used to decorate trees, the Yule Log, and the house. Holly is also used, representing the Goddess.

Now that you know about the Yule Sabbat, you can also read about the Yule Rituals.

Yule Sabbat and nature
Yule Sabbat and nature

Sabbats and the Wheel of the Year

You can also read about the other Sabbats which are part of the Wheel of the Year:

General FAQ

What is Yule?

Yule is a Pagan celebration held on Winter Solstice day. It celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God.

What is Winter Solstice?

Winter Solstice is the moment when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky. It’s the longest night and the shortest day of the year.

Is Yule the same as Christmas?

Yule is much older than Christmas. Both celebrations are for the rebirth of the Sun God.

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