The Simplicity of the Yuletide Season

It’s that time of year again–people are decking the halls and running around like mad, scrambling to find the perfect gifts at the right price. There’s baking and cards and wrapping and photos with the Big Guy in the red suit and putting up lights and picking out trees… and the list seems never ending, so that by the time the actual day rolls around, folks are more tired than merry, and just about burned out on Christmas and good cheer. It’s a bit puzzling to watch, to be honest.

For those who celebrate Yule, however, especially if trying to balance Christmas (or other holidays) at the same time, the celebration can get lost in the shuffle and commercialism surrounding the season.

Thankfully, Yule is best in its simplicity and quiet passing of time and turning of the wheel. It is nearly the opposite of the madness of the rest of the season, since it is about rest and renewal. If you want to ensure you celebrate, honor Nature, and maintain the simplicity and beauty of the season, here are some easy and inexpensive ways to make your Yule quiet, cozy, satisfying, and in keeping with tradition–all without adding to the holiday

stress!

Get A Potted Tree For The Holidays Instead Of A Cut Tree

At this time of the year, we definitely take more than we give as we harvest thousands of pine trees for Christmas and Yuletide celebrations the world over. Instead of choosing a cut tree, which will be tossed away after the holiday season, consider either buying a potted tree that can be planted in the spring. While cared for properly, it will survive the winter and can be planted once the ground has thawed. If you can’t get a potted tree, you can turn any pine cone into a seedling that can be planted in spring! All you need is a pine cone, a small pot with soil, and some water. Soak the pine cone in the pot with water and it will eventually sprout! (As a side-note, if you do need to buy a cut tree, consider setting it up as a bird or small animal sanctuary after the season–set it up as a shelter from the harsh winter conditions and periodically put out bird seed or other goodies. In the spring, it can then be chipped and used as mulch!)

Decorate An Outdoor Tree With Nature-Friendly Decorations

This is a wonderful activity, especially if there are little ones in the house, because they can help. Make bird-feeder ornaments with pine cones, peanut butter and bird seed. Dry fruits, such as oranges, apples, cranberries and string them on hemp or sustainable, bird-friendly twine as garland. Hang nuts and berries as ornaments. (You can also do this for your indoor tree as well! You can even add popcorn to the indoor tree decorations!)

Make Natural Ornaments and Decorations

Much like the suggestion above, this activity can be done with children or solo. One of the best parts about it is the foraging for the items to use! It’s a great way to spend some time outdoors, with nature, while choosing what to use for the decorations. Choose twigs for snowflake ornaments or pine cones or holly branches or pine branches. If you live near the ocean, you can even gather shells and stones and drift-wood for your decorations! You can make anything from wreaths and swags, to ornaments and gifts! Use dried fruits and berries to adorn them and simple ribbons to add extra beauty. Stud an orange with cloves for a sweet smelling hanging decoration! You can also make witch balls from items collected, or incorporate them into salt-dough ornaments for the tree! You can also make natural pot pourri from natural items such as apples, cinnamon, oranges, cloves, etc. If you are able, you can even collect materials to make your own Yule log for your hearth’s mantle! (Natural decorations are also a wonderful way to honor loved ones who have passed away. Consider all-natural grave blankets or swags so that when they are tossed by the cemeteries, they will be nature-friendly).

Incorporate Natural Items On Your Altar

After making the decorations and ornaments, be sure to set aside a few items for your Yule altar. As there are generally no “rules” for an altar, you can incorporate them however, and wherever you want. You can incorporate aspects of the coming winter season, the Crone, and the return of the sun all through items collected!

Make Hand-Made Gifts Instead of Giving Store Bought Gifts

They don’t have to be elaborate and you don’t have to spend a lot on materials. Like anything within the Craft, intent is what most matters–and anything that comes from the heart and made by hand infuses your love, intention, and energy into it. Hand-made ornaments, natural candles, infused oil blends, a floral arrangement with flowers and greens, a hand-sewn item–all will likely mean more to the recipient than anything from a store! (If you’re not particularly crafty, stop in to a small shop and pick out something special. This will allow you to pick something unique and perhaps more tailored to the recipient than any generic box-store item, and it will support your local community and small businesses and neighbors!) Children can make hand-made cards also.

Make Home Made Baked Goods and Treats

Similar to hand-made gifts, home made baked goods are a wonderful way to share love and incorporate magick into the recipe for prosperity, health, or protection to your loved ones! Again, it doesn’t have to take a lot of time or money to bake something and infuse your love and energy into something for someone. This is a great way to again utilize natural ingredients, special herbs and spices, and harvested fruits or nuts and other ingredients. Make a Yule log cake for the family, and if there are little ones, have them help decorate the baked goods–as it will incorporate their love and enthusiasm into them as well! Your cookies can be in shapes for winter (snowflakes and snowmen), nature (deer, reindeer and trees), and you can even make sigil shapes for cookies carve sigils into pie crusts or dough for luck, protection, or prosperity.

Have A Yule Feast

Along the same lines of baking for your loved ones, this is a great way to get everyone together during the season but before the traditional Christmas dinner (where either everyone wants to host or no one does!) You may also choose to forego an additional family gathering and instead have a celebration with friends. This is a great way to also make your friends who are unsure about “what you do as a witch” to see just how warm and welcoming it is! Create a simple feast (a hearty stew or soup that has simmered in a cast iron pot all day and some freshly baked bread) and incorporate ingredients and herbs and spices to provide your friends with love, harmony, prosperity, and health. Remember, this is more about togetherness and sharing time and love–not about showing off your kitchen skills or your house or anything else we tend to go overboard on when hosting others for dinner. You can also make your own Wassail or cider or even Yule tea using fruits and spices (addition of alcohol for the Wassail is optional and may vary by the company in attendance!)

Have a Yule Bonfire

Have a big, outdoor bonfire to celebrate the return of the light! Have mulled wine, Wassail, or cider. Sing songs and chants. Cast a circle and say blessings and spells for the coming year. Write hopes and wishes on parchment and burn them in the fire.

Sit By The Yule Fire (Indoors)

If you’re not one to brave the great outdoors once the temperatures drop, you can also do a quieter, and more subdued fire inside. Light candles on the mantle, choose or “dedicate” a special log for the fire (unless you have an electric fireplace, in which case, you may say a simple Yule blessing as you turn it on). Have a warm drink, wear cozy pajamas or clothes, and sit with blankets and pillows. Reflect on the calendar year closing, and the one ahead. Write down some wishes or goals for the coming year and burn them in the fire (or candle flame). If gathering as a group, talk about the outgoing year. Remember those who have gone, laugh, cry. Be together and present in the moment. If gathering with children, share a Yuletide story and talk about their year and hopes and dreams for the coming calendar year. Sing songs.

Give Back to the World Around You

Volunteer at a hospital or shelter (homeless, animal, domestic abuse–any place where kindness and a loving hand is needed). Visit the elderly or those without relatives and bring food or small gifts. Head up a toy drive, clothing drive, or food drive (again, for a food pantry or a local animal rescue). Give the gift of time and love to those who need it most. This is a great way to teach children to care about the world around them and to learn about gratitude. Honor your blessings in life by being a blessing to someone else.

Have a Yule Ritual

Last, but certainly not least, have a ritual on Yule. Celebrate the return to light. Honor the Crone. Let go of things no longer serving your best self, and look toward renewal and change. Say a Yule blessing and spell at your altar. Light candles corresponding to Yule and the intentions you have for the season and the coming calendar year. Forgive and release. Reflect. As with altars, there really is not a “right or wrong” to how to celebrate Yule so incorporate what feels right for you at that time. Most importantly, be sure not to become so bogged down by the season that you push aside this time or are too tired to take this time. It doesn’t have to be a long, drawn out ceremony (though it can of course, be). It’s OK to be many things for many people this season–as long as you don’t forget to take time to be yourself as well.

(If you need Ritual items, you can always find them at Cerridwen’s Hearth).

Of course, these are just a few suggestions to help keep your Yule cozy and stress free and some of the activities will vary by location obviously. It is by no means an exhaustive list, and there is no “rule” as to how few or how many you may want to try and no rule saying that you have to do them all! The main takeaway is to find simple and easy ways to honor your loved ones and nature during this season without spending a lot of money or adding time to your holiday “to do” list. Rather, this list suggests activities that will give you a chance to slow down and take in the joys of the season, if only for a few minutes here and there! Remember, time is one of the most valuable gifts you can give anyone!

Have a Blessed Yuletide Season and Wishing you Love and Light for the coming year!