Inspiration to Make Yule Merry and Solstice Bright

Food
• Mulled Wine -- There is something very jolly about mulled wine. It speaks of good cheer, hearth fires, and family.
• Gingerbread Men -- What if instead of baking gingerbread men you baked Solstice Children? In honor of the newborn sun? Maybe bake little Cernunnos or Moon Goddess cookies. Lots of possibilities with the rich taste of ginger!
• Hot Cross Buns -- Making these as sunwheel buns sounds like a delicious way to welcome the sun!
• Orange Pound Cake -- I always try to make foods that are in some way solar-oriented for the Solstice. There isn’t anything sunnier than citrus.
• Stuffed Pork Roast -- When it gets really cold out then its hog-killin’ time. In the cold months families would generally have fresh pork to eat for a bit before the meat was cured, sugared, salted, smoked, or otherwise preserved.
• Latkes -- Potatoes are a chthonic food. Growing in the darkness we draw them into the light, smother them in yellow butter, and use them to feed our inner fire. Perfect for Solstice!
• Chocolate Yule Log -- No fireplace? No problem! Edible Yule logs are an old tradition as well and make a lovely centerpiece for your feast.

Decorations
• Yule Goats -- A Scandinavian tradition, I find Yule goats utterly charming. Much cuter than reindeer! Maybe you could make your own, or perhaps your local IKEA will carry them.
• Goddess Eyes -- When I was a kid we called these God’s Eyes, but whatever you choose to call them they are fun to make and their radiating design honors the sun!
• Pinwheels -- While generally associated with summer, pinwheels make great sunwheels, look fab in the winter wind, and can be made at home in sunny colors. A spinning wheel makes a great energy raising focus as well.
• Fruit and Vegetable Candle Holders -- Dorothy Morison had the great idea of using apples as candle holders, although you could use sweet potatoes, beets, onions, squash, pears, pomegranates, pineapples, or other fruits and vegetables. As the return of the light symbolizes the promise of the fruitfulness of the earth, it seems right that the fruits of the earth should bear light!
• Yule Log -- It’s more than just a big ole’ hunk of wood. Give it a prominent place in your home. Wrap it in ribbons and tuck bits of paper with wishes written on the ribbon. Instead of decorating it all at once, decorate it a little bit each day. Make it an ongoing meditation of the season for your family to participate in together!