Which Jul time traditions to you celebrate?

From 

Monica at My Kitchen Wand 

In Germany, Frau Hölle is seen most often these days on the picture cover of chocolates and is explained as a grandmotherly sort who brings the winter snows when airing/shaking out her feather beds. Dig a little deeper and interesting connections begin to build. Hölle is German for the biblical world of Hell. Hel is the Scandinavian Goddess of the Underworld, daughter of Loki, described as half black, half white, grim faced with a pretty closed heart. A very different picture indeed and much more understandable as a Goddess of the Winter Solstice. In Celtic traditions, the Holly and Oak Kings are said to be locked in perpetual biannual battle for the right to reign. Some hold that these battles take place at the equinoxes and that each king is at his strongest at his solstice. Another perspective is that the fighting happens on the solstices, when the dark and light halves of the year peak and reverse. One king relinquishes power to win it back six months later. It must be exhausting work taking care of the planet when six months of ruling weakens one enough to loose the next fight. Le Befana is a relatively newer Italian celebration sourced in the story of a witch who was asked to join the three wise men as they travel to see the new born king. She declines and then regrets her decision. It has the same theme of naughty and nice gift giving to children seen in Sinterklaas, St Nicholas, Odin and Santa Claus. It is held on what is now known as Epiphany, January 6. These are just three examples of legends connected to Jul that are outside the scope of what most people are celebrating right now. What most think of as Christmas traditions, are rooted in earlier practices. Saturnalia is a Roman festival, held between December 17 and 23rd. It honours Saturn and one of the ways of celebrating was to hang metal ornaments outside on trees. Early Germanic tribes honoured Odin similarly by decorating trees with candles and fruit. Fruitcake gifts are also much older than one might think. They go back to ancient Egypt where cakes were placed in the tombs of departed loved ones, also made with honey and fermented fruit. They pop up again with Roman soldiers heading off to battle and in the crusades where soldiers brought them along as they traveled to the Holy Land. Before Christmas caroling was wassailing. The word wassail, comes from Old Norse "ves heill", and means to "be healthy". As a noisy ceremony, usually held in a fruit orchard, it encouraged abundant harvest and prosperous herds, with participants greeting, waking and blessing the tree's spirits through music and homemade spirits. With fewer orchards in easy reach the greeting and blessing became more family to family through good wishes, the singing of songs and more of those homemade spirits. However with community gardens being more popular, there is also an increased interest in wassailing. Gift giving, Yule logs, kissing under mistletoe, decorating with boughs of evergreens and holly all have longer associations with this time of the year than Christmas. They are however all good starting points to enjoying the fact we don't have all the answers and there may be even older customs and meanings than the ones mentioned above. Traditions will change. They have after all, their own lives to live and stories to tell, if one is willing to listen. They also alter to reflect cultural priorities and marketing goals. It is worthwhile to explore why we hold certain traditions dear and to explain them as fully as possible to coming generations so that they might also more deeply find meaning in the symbolism, purpose and practices of the season. Ultimately, for me, Jul time is about the returning sun/son and is a recognition and appreciation of our need for light in the world, both physically and spiritually. A slate clearing light that renews beginnings and opens fresh possibilities. Jul Blessings to you and yours, Monica

Here is one example of how traditions change. The picture above is of an Advent wreath. It is something I build most years for my home. Growing up I learned that one candle is burnt each Sunday on the four Sundays before Christmas, a time that in Scandinavia is called ǣrra ġēola or "before Jul". Today I recognize this as the wheel of the year with candles at the cardinal points. The tradition began when cart wheels were taken off carts and brought indoors so that they could be kept dry and the iron would not rust. The wheels were lifted horizontally to the roof, above the hearth and to help keep the aroma of the cottage to a minimum, draped with evergreens to sweeten the air. Candles were placed on the rims to help with light during long winter nights. Today horizontal wreaths remain in churches, themed with the story of the birth of Jesus while vertical wreaths are decorated with all manner of bright baubles and ribbon for houses. I very much enjoy the layers of this tradition and see wreaths differently with the added information.