The longest night gives birth to the returning sun. The Oak King defeats the Holly King. The divine child of light is born from the dark womb of the Great Mother. Promise of warmth returns. We have survived the darkness.

Tradition · Wiccan ModernQuarter

Correspondences

Elemental Correspondence
Earth
Planetary Correspondence
Saturn

Offerings

Offerings
Yule log burningWassailMulled wineEvergreen decorationsCandles lit through nightGifts of lightBreadDried fruits

Sacred timing

Sacred Timing
Begins
Sunset before solstice
Peak
Dawn after longest night
Ends
Sunset solstice day
Moon phase ideal
Any waxing preferred
Planetary hour
Sun or saturn

Symbols and forms

Alternate Names
Winter SolsticeMidwinterAlban ArthanSaturnaliaJulLongest Night
Symbols
Yule logEvergreen treeWreathCandlesMistletoeHollySun wheelStar

Practice

Invocation Approach
Tone
Joyful welcome of returning light
Address to
Sun godChild of promiseStar goddessHolly king departingOak king arriving
Relationship
Witness to solar rebirth
Warning
Rest required before expansion
Resonance
Those needing hope and renewal
Modern Practice

Vigil through longest night, lighting candles to welcome sun's return. Burn yule log (oak for returning sun). Exchange gifts representing light carried through darkness. Set intentions for year ahead, but gently—this is still rest time, not action time. The light has returned but is newborn, fragile.

Nature and meaning

Mythology Summary

The longest night gives birth to the returning sun. The Oak King defeats the Holly King. The divine child of light is born from the dark womb of the Great Mother. Promise of warmth returns. We have survived the darkness.

Deities
All godsMithrasApolloRaBaldurFreyrSaturnBrigidIsisMary

Details

Pronunciation
YOOL
Wheel Position
Winter solstice
Order
2
Dates
Northern hemisphere
Primary
December 21
Range
December 20 to december 23
Astronomical
Winter solstice sun enters capricorn
Southern hemisphere
Primary
June 21
Range
June 20 to june 23
Themes
Rebirth of lightHope in darknessLongest nightSun returnInner lightRestStillnessPromiseThe child of light born
Secondary Elements
Fire
Secondary Planets
Sun
Zodiac Position
Capricorn ingress
Correspondences
Colors
RedGreenGoldWhiteSilver
Stones
GarnetRubyBloodstoneClear QuartzEmerald
Herbs
HollyIvyMistletoePineCedarFrankincenseMyrrhCinnamon
Scents
Pine resinCedarFrankincense boswellia sacraMyrrhCinnamonOrange
Woods
OakPineHollyYew
Animals
StagWrenRobinBear
Tarot
The SunThe StarThe Hermit
Runes
JeraSowiloDagaz
Ritual Focus
Primary
Welcoming returning sunHope magicSetting year intentions
Workings
Solar invocationCandle magicVigil through nightInner child workLight within darkness
Avoid
BanishingAggressive magicOverextension
Veil work
Threshold between death and rebirth
Preceded by
Samhain
Followed by
Imbolc
Opposite Sabbat
Litha
Wheel Teaching

Light is reborn from deepest darkness. The promise comes before the manifestation. Rest in darkness, trust the return. Hope is not naivety—it is the sun seed planted in the void.

One of 3,120 entries in the Grimoire — the whole library, every cross-reference, is free to take. Take the whole thing Is it wrong somewhere?

Referenced by 102

Every entry that names Yule, grouped by the system it comes from.

☥ Deities 89

🜂 Incense & resins 12

🜔 Elements 1

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