The War on Yule

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.



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)

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.

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.

my grey and white domestic shorthair.

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).

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

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.

Just did a quick google...

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!!