Copyright © 2001 Gray Seal

If your family enjoys ritual, you can welcome back the sun at Yule with this simple winter ceremony. The first thing you'll need is a Yule Log. If you make it a week or two in advance, you can enjoy it as a centerpiece prior to burning it in the ceremony. You'll also need a fire, so if you can do this ritual outside, that's even better. As the Yule Log burns, all members of the family should surround it, forming a circle.

Here's How To Do It:

If you normally cast a circle, do so at this time.

This first part is for the adults – if there is more than one adult, they can take turns saying the lines, or they can say them together:

   The Wheel has turned once more, and
   the earth has gone to sleep.
   The leaves are gone, the crops have returned to the ground.
   On this darkest of nights, we celebrate the light.
   Tomorrow, the sun will return,
   its journey continuing as it always does.
   Welcome back, warmth.
   Welcome back, light.
   Welcome back, life.

The entire group now moves deosil (clockwise, or sunwise) around the fire. After each member has returned to their original starting position, it is time for the children to add their part. This section can be divided amongst the children, so that each gets a chance to speak.

   Shadows go away, darkness is no more,
   as the light of the sun comes back to us.
   Warm the earth.
   Warm the ground.
   Warm the sky.
   Warm our hearts.
   Welcome back, sun.

Finally, each member of the group should take a moment to tell the others one thing that they are thankful for about their family – things like “I am happy that Dad has a job during these troubling times,” or “I’m glad that Mom is such a great cook,” etc. You get the idea.

After everyone has had a chance to speak, walk around the fire, deosil, one more time and end the ritual. If you can, you should save a bit of this year's Yule log to add to the fire for next year's ceremony.