Yule occurs on the Winter Solstice. This is the time of year when the sun is at its lowest point in the sky (Northern Hemisphere) . The sun will only rise higher and higher in the sky from this point onward. The sun's light is growing as each day passes after this one, this holiday is celebrated as the birth of the sun. This also marks the beginning of Winter.

The waning (diminishing) sun is overtaken by the waxing (increasing) sun, thus the days become longer after the victory of The Oak King over his twin The Holly King. It is at Yule that the Goddess gives birth to the sun. In this aspect, the God represents hope in the coming cold of Winter it the is promise that spring lies ahead.

Yule is a time when we do Rituals and celebrate the increasing daylight, to renew, and to see the world through the eyes of a child. Spells done at Yule tend to raise our spirits, and bring harmony, peace, and joy. During Yule we see the wisdom of past experience begin to glimmer. The experiences we yielded over the harvest season of the times gone past begin to be reborn as wisdom, new light, to guide us further down the Paths we have chosen. Most of the customs, lore, symbols, and rituals associated with "Christmas" actually are linked to Winter Solstice celebrations of ancient Pagan cultures.

THEME: This Sabbat celebrates rebirth and renewal, and the return of longer days as the Lord of the Sun is reborn from the womb of the Goddess.

NAME: Yule is also known as the Winter Solstice, Alban Arthan, Finn's Day, Festival of Sol, Yuletide, Great Day of the Cauldron, and Festival of Growth. It is celebrated between December 20th and 22nd. The reason it varies from year to year is that it depends on when the Sun reaches the southern most point in its yearly cycle

APPROPRIATE YULE GODDESSES :
All Spinning Goddesses. Some Yule Goddesses are: the Dagda, Brighid, Angeronam, Eve, Pandora, Zvezda, Metzli, Yachimato-Hime, Tiamat , NuKua, Isis, Demeter, Gaea, Diana, The Great Mother.

APPROPRIATE YULE GODS:
All Re-Born Sun Gods. Some Yule Gods are: Apollo, Balder, Oak/Holly King, Ra , Saturn , Helios , Ukko Odin, Lugh, The Horned One, The Green Man, The Divine Child, Mabon,Frey

SYMBOLISM OF YULE:
Rebirth of the Sun, The longest night of the year, The Winter Solstice, Introspect, Planning for the Future.

SYMBOLS OF YULE:
Evergreen trees, yule log, , eight-spoked wheel, spinning wheels, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly and mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

ALTAR DECORATIONS: mistletoe, holly, small Yule long, strings of colored lights, Yule/Christmas cards, a candle in the shape of Kris Kringle, homemade wreath, presents wrapped in colorful paper.

DECORATIONS FOR YULE:
strings of dried rosebuds and cinnamon sticks (or popcorn and cranberries) for garlands, to bags of fragrant spices which are hung from boughs. Quartz crystals can be wrapped with shiny wire and suspended from sturdy branches to resemble icicles. Apples, and clove studded oranges and lemons hanging from boughs are strikingly beautiful, natural decorations, and were customary in ancient times.
Adorn the home with sacred herbs and colors. Place holly, ivy, evergreen boughs, and pine cones around your home, especially in areas where socializing takes place. Hang a sprig of mistletoe above a major threshold and leave it there until next Yule as a charm for good luck throughout the year. Have family/household members join together to make or purchase an evergreen wreath. Include holiday herbs in it and then place it on your front door to symbolize the continuity of life and the wheel of the year. If you choose to have a living or a harvested evergreen tree as part of your holiday decorations decorate it with Pagan symbols.