Mistletoe

Gwyl Canol Gaeaf (Winter Solstice) Yule
Druid ar Môn
22nd DEC 2007

Holly King / Santa Claus: There are as many theories of a “historical” Santa Clause (or “Saint Nicholas”) as there are ethnic cultures. As an Keltic folk archetype however, the old man wreathed in holly is the Holly King. He represents the “waning year”, the “old year”, or the “dark half” of the year. At winter solstice the Oak King (or the Sun, or the New Year) is born, and the Holly King’s reign is over.

Mistletoe: The mistletoe was sacred to the Druids. The custom of kissing under the mistletoe may derive from the custom of enemies refraining from killing each other if they should happen to meet under its sacred branches. Presumably the custom became friendlier and friendlier with time. Other scholars say that the lusty connotations of the plant derive from the belief that the clusters of white translucent berries were drops of the God’s (or the Oak King’s) semen. The Oak King takes the place of the Holly King, and rules the waxing year, or the “New Year

Candles: The extinguishing of candles at winter solstice rituals (including Amaltheia’s) represents the deep darkness of the longest night. Their relighting shows us that the light will return to us. In the moments of total darkness, we are “between the worlds”: between the old year’s death and the new year’s conception. Yule Log:
The word “yule” is from the Saxon word for “wheel”. The Yule Log,O.E. geol, geola “Christmas Day, Christmastide,” from O.N. jol (pl.), a heathen feast, later taken over by Christianity, of unknown origin. The O.E. (Anglian) cognate giuli was the Anglo-Saxons’ name for a two-month midwinter season corresponding to Roman December and January, a time of important feasts but not itself a festival.
Burned at Midwinter, is a magical bridge between one year and the next. The fire under the Yule log is lit with a piece of last year’s Yule Log, symbolizing the continuity of the cycles of life. The ashes of the Yule log were scattered on the fields to ensure fertility

WEB PAGE TO KATE

http://www.witchcraft.org/kate.htm

LINK TO LISTEN TO
Emma Restall Orr, Joint Chief Druid of the British Druid Order; Kate West, a Wiccan High Priest of the Hearth of Hecate and Richard Thomas, an Anglican priest discuss modern Paganism.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/holydays/autumnequinox.shtml

PAGAN WICCA LINKS FROM THE BBC

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/searc…

YEAR CHART YOU CAN PRINT
The Pagan seasonal cycle is often called the Wheel of the Year. Almost all Pagans celebrate a cycle of eight festivals, which are spaced every six or seven weeks through the year and divide the wheel into eight segments.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/paganism/

Duration : 0:2:54

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Song: Pagan Celebration – Celtic Evocation
Artist: Vampiria
Album: Among Mortals (2001)

1.Prelude (Part I – Awake to eternity, Part II – Vampires & mortals) 05:30
2.Legacy In Blood04:19
3.Ambassador Of Morning (Salve Luxfer) 03:48
4.Brother Wolf (The path Of Seventh Moon) 06:45
5.The Hand Of Death 04:48
6.Legend Of A Curse 04:38
7.Crown Of Crows 06:18
8.Pagan Celebration (Celtic Evocation) 05:03
9.Satan Legion´s Comes 04:48
10.Requiem For A Vampire (Forest Of Agony)06:31

Lyrics

Amongs the trees i watch, as the begins of the forest gather, before the flames of a bonfire. Old and demented elves, whip branches of fire against the black earth.
The flames feed on souls, while a demon shakes o pot, the witches gather in a circle and, dead flowers adorn the center. Amidst obscurity. I see taking place, the pagan celebration, of the creatures of the black forest.
Beneath this sky, the contles stars, the wolves sing their saddest song the elves madden, and the witches sleep, now the moon shines in all it’s intensity.
The druids begin to look for mistletoe, the plant that granrs them eternal life, and when the spirits rise, everything shine! Beneath this sky of countless stars i watch.

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Extras: http://linguaspectrum.com/lessons/language_lessons/Symbols%20of%20Christmas/

This is a WATCH AND LISTEN English lesson. It has no words on screen. It will help your listening if you watch this version first. There are many symbols associated with the English Christmas. The most famous is Santa Claus, but there are others like holly and mistletoe. These evergreen plants have their roots in the ancient festivals of Yule and are still important today. This lesson explores the Christian symbols and those connected with Yule and Saturnalia. It also looks at more recent developments that have made Christmas so commercial. There are more materials to go with this lesson at http://linguaspectrum.com/lessons/language_lessons/Symbols%20of%20Christmas/

Duration : 0:4:56

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Extras: http://linguaspectrum.com/lessons/language_lessons/Symbols%20of%20Christmas/

There are many symbols associated with the English Christmas. The most famous is Santa Claus, but there are others like holly and mistletoe. These evergreen plants have their roots in the ancient festivals of Yule and are still important today. This lesson explores the Christian symbols and those connected with Yule and Saturnalia. It also looks at more recent developments that have made Christmas so commercial. There are more materials to go with this lesson at http://linguaspectrum.com/lessons/language_lessons/Symbols%20of%20Christmas/

Duration : 0:4:50

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A reminder that Christmas is based off od Yule.. The event that predates christmas.

Duration : 0:0:57

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