Happy Yule!

[Father Bill]

For those who are so interested:

The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world.

Ancient people were hunters and spent most of their time outdoors. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives. Because of this many ancient people had a great reverence for, and even worshipped the sun. The Norsemen of Northern Europe saw the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. It was from the word for this wheel, houl, that the word yule is thought to have come. At mid-winter the Norsemen lit bonfires, told stories and drank sweet ale.

The ancient Romans also held a festival to celebrate the rebirth of the year. Saturnalia ran for seven days from the 17th of December. It was a time when the ordinary rules were turned upside down. Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions and giving presents.

The Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year (21st December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on trees and give it as a blessing. The winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months.

It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the yule log. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year.

Many of these customs are still followed today. They have been incorporated into the Christian and secular celebrations of Christmas.

[Ninehostages]

For those who are so interested:

The Pagan celebration of Winter Solstice (also known as Yule) is one of the oldest winter celebrations in the world.

Ancient people were hunters and spent most of their time outdoors. The seasons and weather played a very important part in their lives. Because of this many ancient people had a great reverence for, and even worshipped the sun. The Norsemen of Northern Europe saw the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. It was from the word for this wheel, houl, that the word yule is thought to have come. At mid-winter the Norsemen lit bonfires, told stories and drank sweet ale.

The ancient Romans also held a festival to celebrate the rebirth of the year. Saturnalia ran for seven days from the 17th of December. It was a time when the ordinary rules were turned upside down. Men dressed as women and masters dressed as servants. The festival also involved decorating houses with greenery, lighting candles, holding processions and giving presents.

The Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year (21st December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months.

It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the yule log. The Celts thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year.

Many of these customs are still followed today. They have been incorporated into the Christian and secular celebrations of Christmas.

I am very interested. I don't know if the baby Jesus was born at Midwinter but it is an entirely appropriate time to celebrate the nativity. That's when darkness is conquered.

[grizzbass]

My son really likes druid history.

[Ninehostages]

My son really likes druid history.

There aren't many real ones around, anymore so I have to rely on modern interpretations of them based on really thin archaeology, Ancient Greek references and rather hostile Roman propaganda.

[grizzbass]

[QUOTE=Ninehostages;1389518]There aren't many real ones around, anymore so I have to rely on modern interpretations of them based on really thin archaeology, Ancient Greek references and rather hostile Roman propaganda.[/
That applies to him also

[Jock Scot]

Grizzbass.

The Druids, as far as I am aware, were at their zenith pre Roman times. The Romans did their very best to exterminate the Druids and were pretty successful at it, by all accounts. So perhaps a few thousand or so years ago, the druids may have exterminated mistletoe growing oak trees. I have no idea.

What I do know from long personal experience of farming in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire---- my family still farm down there---- where mistletoe grows almost everywhere in the Severn and Wye valleys on assorted trees and where we still have many fine oak trees that are at least 700 years old, some are considerably older, and my family have been planting oak trees and nurturing them for almost as many years, I have no record, or recollection of mistletoe growing on young, old or even ancient oaks there.

Interestingly we even had a real Druid working on the farm----a nice chap---- I was quite young at the time and could not take the idea that seriously, but the older generation took the Druid thing much more seriously in minor sort of way, but as I suppose, they were Christians of some sort they still gave him considerable respect.

[grizzbass]

The romans really put their whole heart into something once they decided it was in their interest to accomplish it. The druids unfortunately fell into that category.
I asked because around here they talk about how different parts of this country were 1000 or 2000 years ago. Much wetter or drier etc. Deserts that weren't barren as they are now. So I just wondered if early in the first century that may not have been true of parts of the UK. I imagine that would be a fairly specific area of study. Oaks and holly patterns and growths in early first century Brittania.
The oldest oak in america is estimated 1500 but most apparently go significantly less say 500. Their are apple orchards near us in the mountains and we go hike on the nature conservancy established there. They have many oaks in the 500 age although they lost a lot last winter due to a massive snowstorm which tore quite a few of them apart.
When I was serving as a missionary for my church I used to say if I wasn't a mormon I'd be a pagan (especially a norse pagan). The norse gods were so much cooler than the romans or greeks gods. The more I've read of the Scots/Irish druids and paganism that also applies. Especially Artio. Any goddess that can change into a bear is cool. I guess that applies to a lot of other gods though such as zeus who was often a goose but that also explains why he wasn't cool to me. You could be a bear but pick a goose

Grizzbass.

The Druids, as far as I am aware, were at their zenith pre Roman times. The Romans did their very best to exterminate the Druids and were pretty successful at it, by all accounts. So perhaps a few thousand or so years ago, the druids may have exterminated mistletoe growing oak trees. I have no idea.

What I do know from long personal experience of farming in Gloucestershire and Herefordshire---- my family still farm down there---- where mistletoe grows almost everywhere in the Severn and Wye valleys on assorted trees and where we still have many fine oak trees that are at least 700 years old, some are considerably older, and my family have been planting oak trees and nurturing them for almost as many years, I have no record, or recollection of mistletoe growing on young, old or even ancient oaks there.

Interestingly we even had a real Druid working on the farm----a nice chap---- I was quite young at the time and could not take the idea that seriously, but the older generation took the Druid thing much more seriously in minor sort of way, but as I suppose, they were Christians of some sort they still gave him considerable respect.

[Jock Scot]

For those who are so interested:

-----------------

The Winter Solstice falls on the shortest day of the year (21st December) and was celebrated in Britain long before the arrival of Christianity. The Druids (Celtic priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months.

---------------------------------

I don't want to rain on your parade Bill, but mistletoe growing on oak trees in the UK is a very very rare thing. Actually, almost never might be more accurate. I have never seen it doing so. I actually took the trouble to Google the subject just and it confirms my experience. Mistletoe commonly grows on apple trees, poplars, hawthorn, limes and other trees, but not oak.

The mistletoe harvest down South, particularly from the fruit orchards of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire were/are harvested at this time of year and sold at a special one day market at Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire. In a good year for berries on the mistletoe, many tens of thousands of Pounds(£) of it were-----still are--- sold. I am not sure though, if the event has taken part this year for obvious reasons.

[Father Bill]

I don't want to rain on your parade Bill, but mistletoe growing on oak trees in the UK is a very very rare thing. Actually, never might be more accurate. I have never seen it doing so. I actually took the trouble to Google the subject just and it confirms my experience. Mistletoe commonly grows on apple trees, poplars, hawthorn and other trees, but not oak.

The mistletoe harvest down South, particularly from the fruit orchards of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and Herefordshire were/are harvested at this time of year and sold at a special one day market at Tenbury Wells in Worcestershire. In a good year for berries on the mistletoe, many tens of thousands Pounds(£) of it were-----still are--- sold. I am not sure though, if the event has taken part this year for obvious reasons.

No rain, Jock. Factual information is always welcome. Original post adjusted accordingly and with thanks.

[Pleater]

The year has definitely turned - after months of insomnia and anxiety, last night I went to bed early and slept until noon today - I do not deliberately mark the turning of the year and the changing of the seasons, it is just that they seem to mark me.

So on the first day of the new year, astronomically - Veis heil, or wassail, or go well - or however you express it.

Astrologically, the conjunction of the two great planets moves us out of an Age of Earth into an Age of Air - odd how something defined centuries ago can suddenly seem relevant in a way which ten years earlier seemed to be insignificant. So here I am sending my best wishes over the ether to wherever on the globe you happen to be, and may this next year be less interesting for all of the right reasons.

Anne the Pleater.