Yule


Yule is the first Sabbat of the year and is also known as Winter Solstice. 
The date of Yule is ranges from December 20th to the 23rd, depending on the year. 
The meaning of the word Yule comes from the Norse word "wheel".

At Yule the God is reborn from the virgin aspect of the Goddess.
The God represents the Sun  which "returns" after this night, to bring fertility to the land.
The Oak king (representing the waxing year)
kills the Holly King (representing the waning year) at Yule. The Oak king reigns until Midsummer when the two battle again with the Holly king as victor.

Yule altars throughout the world show Irelands influence,
and that of the Druids.
The use of holly, pine and mistletoe as decorations.
  Pine trees where decorated with such things as,
fruits for successful harvest,
love charms,
nuts for fertility,
and coins for wealth.
Pine trees were sacred to the Goddess,
since they do not die from year to year they show the eternal aspect of the Goddess.
Another element is the Yule log. 
The log is an oak that is a piece of the May pole from the Beltaine sabbat.
The log has three holes to represent the triple goddess and are impregnated with three candle.
  The candles can be all white or red, white and black,
the tri-aspects of the goddess.