Have you ever wondered why so many religions and cultures celebrate major holidays this time of year? The celebrations of Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Saturnalia and Yule all occur between October and early January. Each of these celebrations is a little different, but the main ideas are the same. And all these celebrations have somewhat similar themes of rebirth, fires or light, feasting, gift-giving, cheerfulness and goodwill towards others. These holidays are intended to provide us with a time for reflection, resolution, renewal and memorable time with family and friends.

All of the popular holidays we celebrate this time of year had their roots over four thousand years ago in Egypt. It all started as a huge festive event to celebrate the rebirth of the sun god- Horus. This was the beginning of the new solar year that later became known as the Winter Solstice or Yule. Winter Solstice is the day of the year when the sun reaches it’s lowest point in the sky and the light of day is at it’s shortest and darkness the longest. Egyptians and other ancient people of this time relied solely on the sun and fire for light and heat. The Winter Solstice meant that the days would now start to get longer and the earth warmer. The return of the sun was celebrated with fires, feasting and joy. This year the Winter Solstice is at exactly 7:22 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 21.

The ancient Egyptians that began the Winter Solstice celebrations had a 12 month calendar, so their festivities lasted for twelve days- one for each month of the year. This period of celebration later became known as the twelve days of Christmas or the Yule season. Egypt was very central to civilization at this time and this sun-honoring ritual rapidly spread to the surrounding lands of Mesopotamia, Babylon, Persia, Greece and the Roman empire. The Romans greatly expanded the festivities to include honoring some other dieties, particularly Saturn. Their god Saturn was believed to control the pulse of the universe, plant germination and to be the source of knowledge for agriculture and peaceable living. The ancient holiday of the Romans became know as Saturnalia.

When Christianity sprang up in this area there was much effort to convert the people to this new religion. In an attempt to make the transition to Christianity easier and more acceptable, in the fourth century the date for Christmas was set to December 25th- the middle of the traditional holiday celebration.

Bits and pieces of the rituals established by our ancestors at this time of year are still evident in our modern day celebrations. Because herbs were crucial to the health and well being of the ancients, they played a major role in ancient Winter Solstice festivities. Some herbs common to this time of year are juniper, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, rue, sage and thyme. In past generations, peppermint candy and oranges were indulgences only to be had at the holidays. Cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg are the primary seasonings in plum pudding and mince pie while sage, rosemary and thyme flavor stuffing for holiday geese and turkey. Ginger was used for gingerbread houses and cookies.

Legend has it that Joseph cleaned away the old hay in the manger and replaced it with the freshly cut herbs of horehound, pennyroyal, rue, sweet woodruff, thyme, bedstraw, star-of-Bethlehem and lavender for Mary and her Baby. Frankincense and myrrh were both gifts that the Wise Men brought to Jesus. These were gifts that were traditionally offered to the Sun Gods – particularly Ra. Other plants that have taken significance of this time of year are holly, mistletoe, ivy and evergreen trees. Evergreen trees have traditionally symbolized eternal life and protection and have become central home decorations of the Yule season.

The Celts typically celebrate Yule by reenacting a battle between the aging Holly King (representing the darkness of the old year) and the young Oak King (symbolizing the light of the new year). And of course the Oak King always wins. The Green Man is another Celtic figure symbolic of the transition from the death of Winter to the birth of new life in Spring.

At this time of year it is common to get caught up in and at the same time condemn the mass commercialization that is so prevalent. One way to make the Yule season more meaningful and enjoyable is to take time to establish or partake in family rituals. This will help to rekindle the link to our ancestors and reflect on what is truly important this time of year. At our house, we have an outdoor bonfire on the Winter Solstice and use sage smudges for cleansing around the fire. We then come into the house and have a Swiss cheese fondue (I live in the New Glarus area) that symbolizes our ancestors gathered around a communal pot of food. On Christmas day we have wassail, the traditional drink of ancient Scandanavians and bread pudding from our Germanic ancestry.

Yule logs, which are typically cut from oak trees, are also very symbolic. The origins of the Yule Log came from northern Europe with the Druids paying homage to their sacred Oak. Christians later adapted the burning of the Yule log to represent the destruction of pagan beliefs and the acceptance of Christ as the light of the world.

Our family has been making a Yule log for several years and it has become a ritual that everyone looks forward to. My husband considers the land where he hunts to be sacred and it is from here that he carefully selects an oak log for us to decorate. We put some candles on the log along with pine cones and some evergreen sprigs. Our Yule log is used as a centerpiece on the dining table. Before our Christmas eve dinner, someone from each of the family groups makes a wish for the new year and lights one of the candles. After enjoying the Yule log throughout the Yule season, on new years day the family elder burns the log in the fireplace. This is our way of bringing closure to the holiday celebrations and it is also our offering for peace, good health and good will throughout the new year.

A good way to help reduce the stress of the holiday season is to begin a simple yet meaningful ritual in your family based on your culture or ancestry. Understanding how people of different beliefs and cultures celebrate the Yule season might also help move us all towards greater peace on earth.

Peace and happiness to you and your family this Yule season.