Dear Reader,
Happy Yule!
Today is 21 December, the Winter Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. It’s the shortest day and the longest night of the year. For thousands of years, people have marked this moment with festivals of fire, warmth and hope. One of the most enduring celebrations is Yule, celebrated across ancient Northern Europe by Germanic and Scandinavian peoples long before Christmas existed.
This is one of my favourite days of the year I have to say, and I love all the symbolism and connections to nature that it represents. In the UK, the exact moment of the solstice is 3.03 pm GMT today. In London, we will get 7 hours, 49 minutes and 42 seconds of daylight with the sun setting around 3:53 pm, but this will vary for everyone depending on where you live.
So today, our newsletter is a little different but I hope you like the suggestions of how you can celebrate this wonderful day.
And for those in the Southern Hemisphere…
While we in the north are marking the longest night, people in the Southern Hemisphere are experiencing the exact opposite — the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. In Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and beyond, this date is filled with sunshine, outdoor celebrations, beach gatherings and midsummer traditions. Christmas there has its own flavour: barbecues, warm evenings, light-filled festivals and a sense of vibrancy rather than hibernation. It’s a beautiful reminder that while the world shares the same celestial rhythms, we experience them in wildly different ways. Where we look for the return of the light, others are soaking in its brightest moment — yet both ends of the earth are connected by the same turning of the season.
Simple, Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Yule Today
🕯️ 1. Light a Candle for the Returning Sun
A single candle lit at sunset on the solstice is one of the simplest Yule rituals.
– Focus on renewal, hope, or a personal intention.
– Let the flame symbolise the sun’s slow return after the longest night.
🌲 2. Bring Evergreens Into Your Home
Evergreens represent resilience and life through winter.
– Decorate with pine, holly, ivy, or rosemary.
– Create a small Yule altar or a nature‑inspired centrepiece.
🔥 3. Burn (or Bake!) a Yule Log
- Traditionally, a log was burned to protect the home and welcome the sun.
- Today, people decorate a log with candles, greenery, and ribbons — or bake a chocolate bûche de Noël.
- You can also write wishes or intentions on paper and burn them safely in a fire pit.
🌅 4. Watch the Solstice Sunrise or Sunset
A powerful way to honour the turning of the year.
– Sunrise marks the return of the light.
– Sunset honours the longest night.
This is a popular modern practice, often shared with friends or family.
🍲 5. Host a Midwinter Feast
Feasting is one of the oldest Yule traditions.
– Serve warming foods: root veg, bread, mulled cider, spiced desserts.
– Invite storytelling, gratitude sharing, or a quiet moment of reflection at the table.
🎁 6. Exchange Handmade or Nature‑Based Gifts
Yule gifts don’t need to be commercial.
– Dried orange garlands
– Herbal sachets
– Beeswax candles
– Small charms or ornaments
This echoes the old custom of sharing blessings and abundance.
🌌 7. Do a Year‑End Reflection Ritual
Yule is a natural pause point.
– Write down what you’re releasing from the old year.
– Note what you’re calling in for the new one.
– Burn, bury, or keep the notes depending on your intention.
🌿 8. Craft Yule Decorations
Crafting is a big part of modern Yule celebrations.
Ideas include:
– Salt‑dough ornaments
– Dried citrus slices
– Cinnamon stick bundles
– Evergreen wreaths
– A decorated Yule tree (a pre‑Christian tradition!)
🔮 9. Create a Quiet Hearth Moment
Even without a fireplace, you can create a hearth space:
– Candles, blankets, warm drinks
– A book, journal, or meditation
– A moment of stillness to honour the season’s inward energy
🎶 10. Hold a Small Gathering or “Yule Party”
Modern Yule gatherings often include:
– Craft tables
– Potluck dishes
– Candle lighting
– A gratitude circle
– A sunrise breakfast the next morning
With love and excitement for today and the coming festivities,
Happy Yule, Happy Christmas and wishing everyone a very Happy New Year.
Gail x
