Yule (20/12)

Undoubtedly, of all the ancient festivities of Yol (other-scandish jól, other-English ♫éol) — is the most important, most sacred and most powerful winter holiday. On these nights, all the worlds converge in Midgard: gods and goddesses descend to earth, trolls and elves talk to people, the dead come out of the Lower Worlds. Those of the people who often communicate with the Other World leave their bodies for a while and join the horsemen of the Wild Hunt (oskorei — riders of Asgard) or become werewolves and other spirits.

Also Yol — are the days of the great feast and holiday, on which all members of the clan gathered together in order to once again meet the Sun, rising from darkness, and review the revived world. It is no coincidence that elements of the holiday have been preserved in Christian Christmas —; for example, this is an evergreen tree, symbolizing life that will continue after the winter cold.

The origin of the word Yol is lost in the depths of centuries. Most likely, it goes back to the Indo-European root with the value «rotate», «twist», «wheel». Perhaps it means «turn time», «turn of the year», «time of sacrifices» or «dark time».

According to tradition, Yol lasts 13 nights, which are called «Nights of Spirits», which is preserved in their German name, Weihnachten. These thirteen nights are from the first sunset to the last dawn — a gap between two years, a sacred period during which there is neither the usual time nor the usual boundaries when the lot of the gods is drawn, and the spindle of the goddess of Fate rotates.

In ancient times, among the Anglo-Saxon tribes, Yule began the night before the winter solstice (depending on the year — from December 19 to 22). This night was called «mother» and previously, apparently, was dedicated to rituals. She is currently greeted while spending the evening with her family.

However, the most important moment of the Yol — holiday is, of course, the winter solstice and the longest night of the year, during which the spirits become the real rulers in this world. That night they lit the «koster Yolya» and protected the house from evil spirits. On the same night, the most sincere vows and promises were made. They also believed that one should not be alone on this night —, because then a person is left alone with the dead and spirits of another World…

Yule ends on «Twelfth Night» (actually, the thirteenth, as evidenced even by its Old Icelandic name, Threttandi) — that is, January 6 according to Christian chronology (if we count from the night of Christian Christmas on December 25) or December 31 — January 1 according to Old German chronology (if you count from December 19 or 20).

The next day was considered the «day of fate» — everything that was said and done before sunset determined all the events of the coming year (where the well-known superstition — « came from, just as you celebrate the New Year, so you will spend it»). It was believed that there were no truer signs than those revealed during the «Twelfth Night». And the strongest words are those spoken that night.

It should be noted that, according to some historians, in ancient times the German Yule was celebrated a few days later than the Christian Christmas. Thus, in Norway and Sweden, «Twelfth Night» (Whip Day) fell on January 13; some believe that «Twelfth Night» was celebrated on January 14 according to the modern calendar. However, most modern Asatru communities nevertheless prefer to combine Yule with the Christian holiday of Christmas and the winter solstice.

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