Yule, a Norse pagan midwinter festival, celebrates the Winter Solstice, and the promise of the return of the Sun. Before Christianity arrived in Scandinavia, Yule was celebrated from Winter Solstice (Mother’s Night) through January 1st (Yule Night), giving us the origins of the 12 days of Christmas, still observed today. These 12 days were feasting days for the Norse people, and men and boys would chop down a large oak log, adorning it with evergreen leaves, holly, and little statues of the gods, then setting it ablaze in the village center. While it was kept burning for the 12 day Yule period, the whole village feasted, danced, drank mead and ale, played games, and spent time in reflection for the passing year and the year to come. At the end of Yule, ashes from the burned logs would be taken home and spread over roof tops to bring luck. A portion of the log would be saved to light the Yule log the next year.

Yule is the month of Odin, and the word Yule comes from the Old Norse word Jolfadr, meaning ‘Yule Father’, who was to the Norse, an itinerant man in rags, who visited villages at Yule, looking for a meal, a horn of ale, and a warm place to sleep. Those who turned him away would suffer terrible luck in the coming year, and those who welcomed him in to celebrate the feast, would be granted favor, for this old man was of course, Odin in disguise.

Yule is also the time when Jolnir (Odin), leads the Wild Hunt through the sky, along with the spirits of dogs, horses, and humans, a reminder for our deceased ancestors, the Draugr, to stay on their side of the veil. From the Wild Hunt, we get our much sanitized version of Santa Claus riding across the night sky, on a sled pulled by reindeer, to deliver gifts to children.

Oaths were sworn at Yule, and their importance to Norse pagan culture can’t be overstated. Oaths not fulfilled could be punished by death, and though we may take our modern tradition of New Year’s resolutions from this Norse tradition, the Norse took their oaths much more serious. A boar, called the Boar of Atonement or the Oath Boar, would be brought into the village hall or temple and oaths would be sworn on the boar, he being the vessel that delivered these oaths directly to the ears of Freyr and Freyja. The boar was then sacrificed in the names of Freyr and Freyja and the feast of roasted boar would begin, and you guessed it; the traditional Christmas ham is the modern take on the Oath Boar for many families.

My Yule candles are a paean, an homage, to the midnight sky at Winter Solstice, Odin’s Wild Hunt, feasting with loved ones, and reflecting on what traditions mean to us, especially in tough times.

The hand compounded herbal blend contains homemade mead made at Summer Solstice, dried oranges, nutmeg, holly, mistletoe, balm of Gilead, frankincense, and other herbs and plants that for me, evoke this Norse festival.

This purchase is for one pair of Yule Beeswax Ritual Candles.

Please burn candles on a heatproof candle holder. I like to use a plate-style holder to catch any herbs or dripping wax. Keep wicks trimmed to 1/4 for even burning. Do not leave burning candles unattended and keep away from children, pets, and flammable materials.