Yule: What Was It and Where Did It Go?

As the Winter season begins, usually near the holidays one will occasionally hear the word "Yule." The word has almost become synonymous with Christmas, and can be heard in music, poems, and of course, certain traditions such as the Yule Log. But what exactly is Yule? Or rather, what was it, and who celebrated it? And what does it have to do with Christmas?

What was Yule?

Yule, also known as Yuletide, was a festival celebrated by the ancient Germanic peoples as early as the 4th century. The event lasted for several days, sometimes up to two months. Early Yule celebrations can be traced back to two different origins, as the Germanic tribe was large and split up. To the far north, the Scandinavians held Yule in honor of their demi-god Odin and his Wild Hunt. The Anglo-Saxons on the mainland celebrated Modranicht. Being that the migration of the Germanic people did not begin until the 4th century and the Viking Age did not occur until 8th century, there is still believed to be some common origins. The original intent of Yule was to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun into the New Year and upcoming Spring. Yule was an indigenous celebration, meaning that while other cultures around the world may have had similar festivals, only the Germanic celebrated Yule.

The Northern Germanic peoples, more commonly known as Vikings, unfortunately did not keep the best records. Their original religion was Vanic, but later Thor emerged as the primary figure. After more influence from southern Europe, Odin was added to the picture and eventually became head of the pantheon. Historical records regarding Odin are a bit fuzzy, but most lore names him as the first King of Sweden. Some scholars argue that Odin was not literally the King, but rather a symbol to represent the first reign of Sweden. Whether or not Odin was a real man, the legend states because of his love to hunt on Sundays, he was doomed to eternally lead the Wild Hunt. The Wild Hunt was a ghostly parade that raced by, chasing away and banishing evil spirits. Many of the European cultures share a version of a Wild Hunt myth led by various people. Odin's hunt was said to be rarely and seen and heard, in fact if someone did witness it it was an omen of death. If one heard it coming they were to drop to the ground out of the way, as Odin was known to come as low in the sky as the yoke of an ox, as he would stop for nothing. Houses and farms would burn in his path. In some tribes, they would carry a piece of steel and some bread, in case they heard the Wild Hunt coming. If it was Odin who approached first, they offered the steel as a gift, if his dogs were first to come forward then the bread was offered. Because of the translations between languages, another common name for Odin is Yule Father.

The Anglo-Saxons, which spanned the northern coast of mainland Europe, and parts of the southern British Isles, celebrated Yule in it's original intent to welcome in the Sun for the New Year. By around the 7th century, Christianization had begun along the outer edges and started seeping north. The Scandinavian people had already begun migrating North when it hit the northern coast, which is why the Vikings did not begin converting until the 10th century. Along with Yuletide, the Anglo-Saxons also celebrated Modranicht, or Night of the Mothers. This was held on what is now known as Christmas Eve, December 24th. It was a sacrificial festival meant to honor the Disir, the goddesses of fertility.

How was Yule celebrated?

Yule was celebrated in different ways across Europe, but most traditions included sacrifice, feasting, and drinking. One common tradition that was prevalent was the burning of the Yule Log. The earliest record of the Yule Log is the 17th century, but it is believed to have long existed before that. The Yule Log was the ceremonious piece of wood that was placed on the fire at the New Year, to "turn the night into day", along with the aid of extra-large Yule candles. Later the Yule Log was more traditionally burned on Mothers' Night.

Another important tradition held among some Scandinavian peoples was the gathering of evergreen branches, and the decorating of a Yule tree. The Germanic people were known for their love and worship of trees, and evergreens represented long-lasting or eternal life. During the time of Yule, around the New Year when it was believed the supernatural was more powerful, wreaths and boughs were hung to help drive evil spirits away.

Many of the Germanic peoples also had another interesting theme in common, although with slightly different views. Possibly dating back to pre-Slavic times, the Yule Goat has been represented in various forms. The Vikings honored the goat because of Thor, who's chariot was pulled by two goats. In other areas the Yule Goat was though to be a spirit that would visit before Yuletide to make sure everything was ready. Early Slavic tradition would have a man dressed as a goat, begging people for gifts. This would take place during their Koliada festival, which took place during Yule. After Christianization, a man dressed as Saint Nicholas would lead the goat. By the 19th century, the Yule Goat was seen as the giver of presents, and someone would usually dress up to give them out to the family. In other areas of ancient Europe, groups of people would go from house to house dressed as Yule characters singing and performing. There would usually be a goat character, who would ask for gifts and perform a prank if denied.

As mentioned above, another popular Yuletide activity was caroling, or wassailing (translated from old English means "be in good health"). This usually took place on Twelfth Night, around January 5th or 6th. The most common was going house to house, singing in exchange for gifts, and offering a drink of wine or ale from their wassail bowl. The other form of wassailing was orchard-visiting. The people would visit the orchards to perform rituals and sing to the trees for a good harvest the following year, waking them and scaring away the evil spirits. Sometimes this would result in a disorderly event as groups of men (and women) would get drunk and more belligerent with each house they visited.

After the conversion to Christianity, Santa Claus was associated with Saint Nicholas, but the idea of Santa Claus dates back further. There is some account of Odin himself, a gaunt man with a long white beard, hooded and cloaked secretly giving out gifts to people. He would fly through the winter sky on his eight-legged horse. Other myths claim he had a dedicated labor team to making these gifts throughout the year, right in his own castle far to the North.

Many other traditions and activities took place, but the ancient Germanic people were widespread and diverse, so each tribe had their own customs. The main purpose of Yule remained consistent throughout however, which is that of worshipping and reawakening the Sun for the New Year. It was a time of rejuvenation, cleansing, recreation, and reflection. In some areas it was mandated by the King for Yuletide to continue until all of the ale was gone. There were great feasts, especially those featuring the common Yule boar, which was sacrificed to the Sun and the fertility goddesses. Drinking, dancing, singing, games, and all-around joyousness were staples to the ancient Yuletide celebrations.

What happened to Yule?

As has already been hinted upon throughout this, the expansion of Christianity began to pick up speed nearing the 10th century. While the rest of Europe was already converting, the Scandinavian people proved a little more difficult. Beginning with Denmark, the Germanic nations began to give in, although at first only by name. It took several generations for Christian ideals to actually root themselves into the people. This happened by slowly blending Christian practices into the existing pagan practices, such as building churches on or near ritual sites, or in the case of Yule, incorporating many ideas into the evolving Christmastide. This also happened with other pagan observances, such as with their Spring festivals and the Christian Easter. Over time the old religion was cast aside, along with old traditions, their gods, their rituals and sacrifices, and so on. Traditional Yule was lost, bits of it swallowed up by Christmas, which had also assimilated ideas from the Roman Saturnalia, until eventually a more modernly recognizable Christmas emerged, a mixture from many cultures. Although the word "Yule" is still occasionally used, and exists in some other languages, it mostly refers to the Christmas holiday. The original traditional Yule is gone, although there are some small groups who are trying to revive aspects of it.

What of Yule still exists today?

Many traditions of Yule still exist in modern Christmas. With the Roman Saturnalia being brought into the mix, the Germanic traditions were given more support as the the two festivals were similar. One practice that was prevalent among both and still exists today is the hanging of evergreen wreaths, and the decorating of an evergreen tree. Boughs and leaves, such as mistletoe, were hung then as well. Many people around the world today also still light a Yule log, sometimes on Christmas Eve and sometimes on New Year. Gathering and drinking still occur, of course, as well as singing and caroling. Ham is commonly served as a Christmas meal, just as the Yule Boar was served centuries ago.

Perhaps one of the most interesting, as well as one of the most characteristic, themes of the holiday to stay alive is that of the giving of presents, and Santa Claus. Beginning as the blue-cloaked, lean, bearded Odin to Saint Nicholas to the jolly fat man in a red suit we are all familiar with, Father Christmas has seen several transformations. Even the idea of someone in the family dressing up to give out presents, as the Yule Goat once did.

Today, traditional Yule is not (and can not) be celebrated. Several generations ago, Wiccans and neopagans, as well as the Church of Satan (LaVeyan), began reviving certain aspects of Yule, such as with Yule Logs and Candles, and reciting incantations. Being that it is synonymous with the Winter Solstice, and many neopagan practices also borrow from the Druids and Romans who had similar festivities, it makes it easier to support the new age revival of some ancient Yule traditions. 

It's quite intriguing to think about how modern culture today is such a mixture of so many unique peoples and histories. Most cultures and religions share similar elements, even two thousand years ago ancient people who were spread out, and in some cases isolated from each other, still believed and celebrated the same things. Even just the subject of Santa Claus alone could be an entire piece on its own, we only touched upon a part of the Germanic contribution to that tradition. The idea of evergreen trees representing longevity, the dedication to reviving the Sun for the New Year, the practice of chasing away the evil spirits, and most importantly gathering together in merriment -- these themes existed all over the world, and still to this day in some aspects.

It makes one wonder, if everyone back then all over were doing the same things, perhaps they knew something we've forgotten..?