Post #499752 by The Gnomon on Fri, Dec 18, 2009 11:41 AM

On 2009-12-18 06:31, Chip and Andy wrote:

Winter Solstice

Much older than Christmas is Yule, the pagan holiday that occurs on the hibernal solstice.

You've heard of the 12 days of Christmas. That is taken directly from pagan tradition. The traditional pagan Yule Log was huge. It took 12 days to burn. They'd start on one end and keep advancing the log into the fire little by little until it was all used up. During those 12 days there were pretty much constant festivities, culminating on Yule at the solstice. The practice of decorating trees with ornaments also came from the pagan Yuletide traditions. They would find a magnificent specimen, typically a fruitbearing tree or other sacred hardwood. The decorations and the blessings they would bestow upon those trees were to ensure a bountiful growing season in the coming year. Wassailing is the predecessor of caroling. The pagans during Yuletide would go from farmhouse to farmhouse singing and partying.

Continuing the Yule Log tradition in the 1800s.

[ Edited by: The Gnomon 2009-12-18 11:43 ]