12/13/2025
Celebrating Yule and Christmas
December 13, 2025
Hello again, my friends!
Oh, it is the most lovely time of the year. Right now, we are under a winter storm warning. The snow is just beginning to fall, and brutal temperatures, heavy snow, and high winds are expected. But here in the Enchanted Cabin, the wood cookstove is crackling, radiating warmth to the room, and to my heart.
As promised, this is the tale of Yule, and why we celebrate it right alongside Christmas.
Growing up, I was a rather… ummm… shall we say unique child. We didn’t find out until well into my adult years that I am actually on the autism spectrum. Being wired the way I am, I have always questioned things that simply didn’t make sense to me.
For instance, when we celebrate Christmas, we often hear that Jesus is the reason for the season, that Christmas is the celebration of Christ’s birth. But then my overly logical brain started asking questions like: What does a Christmas tree covered in shiny baubles have to do with the birth of Christ?
If Jesus was born in the Middle East, there would not have been an evergreen tree in the manger. Sorry, but it just couldn’t have been a thing.
And then there was the whole Santa Claus situation. How did a jolly man in a red suit, flying through the sky in an open sleigh pulled by reindeer, fit into the story?
Well… gather ’round, and let me tell you a true story.
Long before the birth of Christ, there were tribes and cultures across Celtic, Norse, and other northern European lands, places we now call England, Ireland, and beyond. These were rugged people who learned how to survive brutal winters and harsh landscapes. Their calendar wasn’t made of paper; it was written in the land itself.
They followed the turning of the Wheel of the Year, the natural progression of the seasons, and carefully tracked the movements of the sun, moon, and stars. This was their timekeeping, their compass, and their way of understanding life.
These people were called Pagans, a word that simply meant “country-dweller” or “one who lived outside the cities.” It wasn’t derogatory at all, no different than us saying someone is a city person or a country person today.
It wasn’t until much later that early Christians began referring to these groups as heathen when they resisted abandoning centuries of culture and tradition to adopt a new belief system. And honestly, if you think about it, most of us would push back pretty hard if we were told we must suddenly abandon everything we know and believe or else.
Fast forward a bit.
As the Roman Empire began to fracture, Emperor Constantine sought unity above all else. One step toward that goal was the Council of Nicaea, which worked to clarify Christian doctrine, particularly the nature of Christ. Around this same era, church leaders also faced the challenge of integrating Christianity into cultures that already had deeply rooted seasonal traditions.
Rather than erase those traditions entirely, many were blended and reinterpreted.
The result was that Christian celebrations gradually aligned with existing seasonal festivals. Christmas was placed near the Pagan celebration of Yule, the Winter Solstice. Easter aligned with Ostara, and later, autumn traditions blended with Samhain.
(We will absolutely tackle those stories in later posts.)
So… what is Yule?
Yule marks the Winter Solstice, usually around December 21st, and traditionally lasts for twelve days. Yes—twelve days.
(What?! Is this where the Twelve Days of Christmas came from? Because that song actually has nothing to do with the Christian holiday… but—(sigh)—back to the story.) Winter Solstice is an actual, scientific thing.
The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. But more importantly, it marks the return of the light. From that point forward, the days slowly grow longer. For people living in northern lands, this was a moment of deep hope. It meant survival. It meant life would return.
This symbolism made Yule a natural place to anchor the story of Christ’s birth. The return of the Sun… the arrival of the Son. Potato, potahto, you get the picture.
Here’s the part that made everything finally click for me: Almost anything in modern Christmas celebrations that connects to nature has Pagan roots.
Evergreen trees symbolize life continuing through darkness.
Candles celebrate the returning sun.
Shiny ornaments were offerings to spirits or fairy folk.
Holly, mistletoe, feasting, gift-giving, fires in the hearth, singing, decking the halls, dashing through the snow, it all comes from ancient seasonal traditions.
And here’s the beautiful part:
That’s okay!
Learning that these traditions were blended intentionally, to bring harmony rather than division, allowed me to fully enjoy the season for the first time. Now, when I decorate the tree or hang evergreen garlands, I feel connected instead of conflicted.
Stringing dried oranges and cranberries makes me appreciate the gifts of nature. Celebrating the birth of the Son or the rebirth of the Sun fills my soul with peace and meaning.
This year, our family gathering will take place on the Winter Solstice, where we’ll honor the traditions of our ancestors. And on Christmas Day, we’ll celebrate the birth of Christ at our daughter’s home as is our Christian tradition.
There is room for all traditions around the Christmas tree.
Thank you so much for being here. Later this week, I’ll share some Yule traditions we love, along with the menu for our upcoming celebration feast.
Until next time,
I am forever yours,
Suzy