Pagan Yule Festival in Milford Saturday

MILFORD – Long before the birth of Jesus Christ left its mark upon the world's cultures, pagans viewed dark days leading to the winter solstice as a time of the sun's rebirth.

On Saturday, members of the Spiral Scouts - a pagan-based youth organization based loosely on the Boy Scouts - will celebrate the winter solstice, or the yule, as it was known in Celtic circles, at the Unitarian Universalist Church on Elm Street.

Beginning at 9 am, the Second Annual Yule Festival will include crafts for children, music played on a Celtic harp, a drumming circle, a bake sale and lots of stories and songs.

Organizer Jess Baribault, state coordinator of the Spiral Scouts, said the event is open to everyone and will give people who have grown up fearing pagans a chance to experience their culture.

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