The War on Yule

[pokerfan]

I get so sick of all this 'War on Christmas' whining from the Sean O'Rushilly blowhards this time of year when it was in fact the Christians who co-opted the holiday in the first place by waging a medieval 'War on Yule.'

The other thing that sets me off is when people ask me why I celebrate Christmas when I don't believe in Christianity, as if I'm not entitled to "their" holiday. The thing is, I'm not celebrating Christmas! I'm celebrating Yule, the original holiday before it was stolen by the Christians.

According to the medieval English writer the Venerable Bede, Christian missionaries sent to proselytize among the Germanic peoples of northern Europe were instructed to superimpose Christian themes upon existing local pagan holidays, to ease the conversion of the people to Christianity by allowing them to retain their traditional celebrations. Thus, Christmas was created by associating stories of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Christianity, with the existing pagan Yule celebrations, similar to the formation of Halloween and All Saint's Day via Christianization of existing pagan traditions.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule#Origins

Yule has pretty much everything associated with the holiday anyway, The burning of the Yule log, the decorating of Yule trees, the eating of ham, the hanging of boughs, holly, mistletoe and others are all historically practices associated with Yule.

Just before I posted this I thought I'd check for duplicates like a good citizen. Sure enough, a http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x97968">post from two years ago with the same title. :)


(My virtual Yule log)

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Wohlkum Yoel!

I was lucky in that my high school celebrated Yule--and I learned the Yule carol by that name. My high school was one where Christians were barely a majority, if they were a majority at all--and so Yule was celebrated instead of Hannukah/Christmas.

Now I work with a Pagan and we were the ones assigned with decorating the office. There is a winter village and lots of lights, but no manger scene or things like that. We have a wonderful Yule tree--a fake one because we are a clinic specializing in helping people with allergies. The boss put her stamp of approval on our efforts.

[pokerfan]

2. Excellent!

And beware the Yule Cat! From Iceland comes the legend of the sinister and gargantuan Yule Cat, who, it seems, is ready to eat lazy humans. Those who did not help with the work of their village to finish all work on the autumn wool by Yule time got a double whammy -- they missed out on the Yule reward of a new article of clothing, and they were threatened with becoming sacrifices for the dreaded http://www.simnet.is/gardarj/yule11.htm">Yule Cat.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

5. I'll keep my eye on Lucky

my grey and white domestic shorthair.

[knitter4democracy]

6. That's awesome! I wonder if it started out as linen, though.

Much more work and it needed to be done before winter really set in. Wool is shorn in the fall, too, in Iceland to get the softer coat for finer knitting, but there's less to it (wash, card--that takes the longest, spin, knit) as opposed to linen (rip out the plants, put them in water to rot, then start a multi-step process of hetcheling, hackling, and combing to get the fine fibers, and finally spin and weave).

[maxsolomon]

3. my wife & i delight in wishing our (nominally) christian relatives

"God Jul", and sending out Yule Cards with cryptic solstice references.

[tanyev]

4. Keep Jul in Jultide!

[knitter4democracy]

7. I was thinking of doing a Yule log this year.

We're Eastern Orthodox, but we're also from Northern European tribes (I'm German-Irish-Scot-English, and STBX is Swede-Brit-French). I've got the perfect log for it, too. I was going to have the kids help me get it ready and look up Yule log traditions so we do it right.

[pokerfan]

8. AKA the 'Great Ashen Faggot'

Just did a quick google...

A Yule log, sometimes known as the Great Ashen Faggot, is a large log which is burned in the hearth as a part of traditional Yule or Christmas celebrations in some cultures. It can be a part of the Winter Solstice festival or the Twelve Days of Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, or Twelfth Night.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule_log

Need an excuse for a Christmas party? How about a "traditional" excuse. If this year's party is already planned, add this old tradition to it. Burning a Yule log is probably the oldest Christmas tradition there is.
http://www.noelnoelnoel.com/trad/yulelog.html

To make a Yule Log, simply choose a dried piece of oak and decorate with burnable ribbons, evergreens, holly, and mistletoe. To make a Yule Log with candles (suitable for indoor observances when a fireplace is not available), you will need a round log at least thirteen inches long and five inches thick.
http://thecronescottage.tripod.com/thecottagedecyule2001/id16.html

[knitter4democracy]

9. I have an oak log! I was going to use maple, but I have oak, too.

A really nice one, good and seasoned, too. Ribbons I can get, same with holly (from my front bushes) and evergreens. The kids and I will have fun with that one, I'm sure. Thanks!!

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. Keep the Sol in Solstice! n/t

[SidneyCarton]

11. And a happy Yule to all my fellow DUers who practice.