The Wheel Turns Once More.....Yule/Winter Solstice Options

[thelma]

Yule, also called the Winter Solstice, arrives around December 21st each year. The word Yule is thought to have come from the Norse "iul" or "jul" or the Anglo-Saxon "hweol," all meaning "wheel." The word Solstice comes from "sol" meaning "sun," and "sistere" meaning "to stand still." The Winter Solstice is the first official day of winter, but it is also the Wiccan Sabbat that celebrates the Goddess giving birth to a Son, the Young God. This is NOT an adaptation of the Christian birth of Jesus, to the contrary, the Christians adopted the Pagan celebration of Yule for THEIR use in 273 C.E. (Common Era).

Yule/Winter Solstice is the time of great darkness and marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. This is the time when life retreats from the Earth, when all is still and bleak within the cold grip of winter. This is the Pagan Sabbat that acknowledges and celebrates the rebirth of the Sun. In our symbolism of the Year as a constantly turning Wheel, this is the spoke where the Oak King (representing the light half of the year) vanquishes the Holly King (representing the dark half of the year), and thus ensures that the light and warmth of the Sun will begin to increase each day. Winter Solstice celebrations often echo both of these sentiments, often beginning in silent darkness and ending in a blaze of light, fire, and laughter. On Yule, many Wiccans light fires, Yule logs or candles to welcome the Sun's returning light.

While Yule is most often juxtapositioned with Christmas today, Yule and Winter Solstice celebrations far outdate the Christian Christmas celebration. December 25th, the popular date to celebrate Christ’s birth, was also the birthdate of Mithras, the ancient Persian Sun God of light and the guardian against evil. Christianity didn’t even celebrate “Christmas” until the Fourth Century, and even as late as 1740, it was a normal workday for the Puritans in the New World of America. They viewed Christmas as a Pagan holiday, and forbid any celebrations and/or decorations of acknowledgement of the day.

Many of the traditional Christmas symbols originated from Pagan Yule activities. Evergreens, decorating and lighting trees, Yule logs, wreaths, holly, mistletoe, and the giving of gifts are all examples of things that have their origins in the Pagan religions. Let's look more in depth at some of these symbols.

Throughout centuries and cultures, the evergreen has been a potent symbol of rebirth. In Winter, when all is brown and dead, the evergreen symbolizes immortality. They are reminders of the survival of life in the plant world, and of growth and fertility, which has been threatened by the absence of Light.

Contemporary Christmas trees are a vestige of the Pagan practice of bringing greenery into the home during the Winter Solstice to symbolize life in the dead of winter. The custom of decorating trees is thought to have originated in the Roman custom of decorating homes with laurel and evergreen trees at the Kalends of January (the Roman Winter Solstice celebration). It is interesting to note that, as with many other traditions adopted by the Church, the decorated evergreen (now called a "Christmas Tree") was originally condemned by the Church in Rome. Even as late as the sixth century, Bishop Martin of Braga forbade the "adorning of houses with green trees." So obviously, the Christian adoption of the evergreen tree as a holiday symbol was another case of, "If you can't beat'em, join'em!"

The tradition of adorning the top of the tree with a five-pointed star (pentagram) also originated as a Pagan practice. The five points of the star symbolized the five elements of Earth, Air, Fire, Water, and Spirit. Christians later adopted this tradition with the star representing the star that shined over Bethlehem when Jesus was born.

Pagans traditionally made wreaths of evergreens, holly or ivy. The circle shape symbolized the Wheel of the Year and the completion of another cycle.

(IMG:http://jsmagic.net/xmasgraphicswreaths/img53.gif)

Holly was particularly prized to decorate doors, windows and fireplaces because of its prickliness -- to either ward off or snag and capture evil spirits before they could enter and harm a household.

(IMG:http://www.kidsdomain.com/holiday/xmas/clip/holly1.gif)

Mistletoe was held sacred by both the Druids and Norse and was known as the golden bough. Once called Allheal, it was used in folk medicine to cure many ills. North American Indians used it for toothache, measles and dog bites. Today the plant is still used medicinally, though only in skilled hands...it's a powerful plant. It was also the plant of peace in Scandinavian antiquity. If enemies met by chance beneath it in a forest, they laid down their arms and maintained a truce until the next day.

Celts believed this parasitic plant held the soul of the host tree. Mistletoe was used by the Druid priesthood in a very special ceremony held around this time, to be precise, five days after the New Moon following Winter Solstice. The Druid priests would cut mistletoe from a holy oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground. The priest then divided the branches into many sprigs and distributed them to the people, who hung them over doorways as protection against thunder, lightening and other evils.

The folklore, and the magical powers of this plant, blossomed over the centuries. A sprig placed in a baby's cradle would protect the child from faeries. Giving a sprig to the first cow calving after New Year would protect the entire herd.

Now for the kissing part. Although many sources say that kissing under the mistletoe is a purely English custom, there's another, more charming explanation for its origin that extends back into Norse mythology. It's the story of a loving, if overprotective, mother. The Norse God Balder was the best loved of all the Gods. His Mother was Frigga, Goddess of love and beauty. She loved her Son so much that she wanted to make sure no harm would come to him. So, She went through the world, securing promises from everything that sprang from the four elements--Fire, Water, Air, and Earth--that they would not harm Her beloved Balder. Leave it to Loki, a sly, evil spirit, to find the loophole. The loophole was mistletoe. He made an arrow from its wood. To make the prank even nastier, He took the arrow to Hoder, Balder's brother, who was blind. Guiding Holder's hand, Loki directed the arrow at Balder's heart, and He fell dead. Frigga's tears became the mistletoe's white berries. In the version of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga is so grateful that She reverses the reputation of the offending plant, making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.

Yule Log - A special log was chosen on the eve of Yule, for the holiday fire. A small piece from the previous year's log was used to light the fire. The lighting of the fire was a festive family event, to hurry the return of the Sun. Charred pieces from the fire would be kept to protect the house through the coming year. The wood most often sought for the Yule log were birch, oak willow or holly.

Today, the burning of the Yule log is a well-known tradition, but it's not often done outside of the Pagan community anymore. What if you don't have a fireplace or fire pit to burn a Yule log? You can decorate a small log with candles and burn the candles or designate a special candle as a
"Yule candle" and allow the candle(s) to burn completely beginning on the eve of Yule. Oftentimes, the Yule log is represented as a log cake that is eaten instead of burned.

(IMG:http://marriottschool.byu.edu/emp/new/cmas/yule.gif)

Gift Giving - Long before the three wise men brought gold, frankincense and myrrh to the newborn Jesus, the tradition of giving gifts was common during the Roman festival of Saturnalia.

Saturnalia is one of the best known ancient celebrations of the Winter Solstice. The name comes from the Roman God Saturn, who ruled over agriculture. He was the main God honored at this time, after the Fall crops had been sown. Saturnalia lasted for several days (typically 7, but various officials changed the length of the festival on a few occassions). Saturnlia was the greatest festival of the Roman year and was marked with great feasting, gift-giving, dancing, playing, and relaxing. Homes were decorated, work was suspended, and there was general merry-making done by all.

On the Music thread on this board, Lily and I have posted some lyrics/songs appropriate for Yule that you may be interested in looking at. I'm hoping that in this thread we can all share our stories, recipes, rituals, and even crafts pertaining to Yule/Winter Solstice.

I'd like to share the following readings from my Book of Shadows:


WINTER SOLSTICE/YULE:

And so the shortest day came and the year died
And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing to drive the dark away

They lighted candles in the winter trees
They hung their home with evergreens
They burned fires all night long to keep the year alive

And when the new year’s sunshine blazed
Awake they shouted, reveling
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them
Echoing behind us……listen!

All the long echoes, sing the same delight
This shortest day as promised wakens the sleeping land
They carol, feast, give thanks
And dearly love their friends
And hope for peace

And so do we, here, now
This year and every year
Welcome Yule!

******************************************************

The Holly and the Ivy

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown

The rising of the Sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry tunes
As we Pagans sing with cheer

The holly bears a blossom
White as the lily flower
The Goddess shares the Solstice Sun
Days grow longer with its power

The rising of the Sun
And the running of the deer
We celebrate with joyous hearts
The Wheel of the Year

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood
The Goddess brings the Solstice Sun
To allow our hopes to bud

The rising of the Sun
And the running of the deer
These blessed signs of life’s renewal
Will banish away fear

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn
The Goddess lights the Solstice Sun
As we welcome the new Moon

The rising of the Sun
And the running of the deer
The Green Man and the Holly King
Are always welcome here

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall
The Goddess gives the Solstice Sun
For the wonder of us all

The rising of the Sun
And the running of the deer
In perfect love and perfect trust
May our hearts be ever clear

The holly and the ivy
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown

The rising of the Sun
And the running of the deer
The playing of the merry tunes
As we Pagans sing with cheer

****************************************************


As I Walked Out On Yuletide

As I walked out on Yuletide
The winter winds blew cold
I saw the Winter King astanding
Grey and grim and old
His cloak was pulled around him
A Child was in his hand
And He sang, Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be!
And Blessed Be again!

****************************************************

Turning, Turning

Turning, turning
Spirits yearning
Reaching for the night
Colors going, shadows growing
Darkening the night
Ancient story told
Renewed with the cold
The year is turning towards the light
The Yule log’s burning to roll back night
And we’re discerning a promise bright

*************************************************************

[Lily]

I wanted to share a story here that a friend of mine gave me a few years ago that I absolutely love. I hope you like it too:

Visions of Sugarplums by Margaret Morrison

Five minutes before the Winter Solstice circle was scheduled to begin, my mother called. Since I'm the only one in our coven who doesn't run on Pagan Standard Time, I took the call. Half the people hadn't arrived, and those who had wouldn't settle down to business for at least twenty minutes.

\"Merry Christmas, Frannie.\"

\"Hi, Mom. I don't do Christmas.\"

\"Maybe not--but I do, so I'll say it.\" she told me in her sassy voice, kind of sweet and vinegary at the same time. \"If I can respect your freedom of religion, you can respect my freedom of speech.\"

I grinned and rolled my eyes. \"And the score is Mom - one, Fran - nothing. But I love you, anyway.\"

People were bustling around in the next room, setting up the altar, decking the halls with what I considered excessive amounts of holly and ivy, and singing something like, \"O Solstice Tree.\"

\"It sounds like a...holiday party.\" Mom said.

\"We're doing Winter Solstice tonight.\"

\"Oh. That's sort of like your version of Christmas, right?\"

I wanted to snap back that Christmas was the Christian version of Solstice, but I held back.

\"We celebrate the return of the sun. It's a lot quieter than Christmas. No shopping sprees, no pine needles and tinsel on the floor, and it doesn't wipe me out. I remember how you had always worked yourself to a frazzle by December 26.\"

\"Oh honey, I loved doing all that stuff. I wouldn't trade those memories for all the spare time in the world. I wish you and Jack would loosen up a little for the baby's sake. When you were little, you enjoyed Easter bunnies and trick-or-treating and Christmas things. Since you've gotten into this Wicca religion, you sound a lot like Aunt Betty the year she was a Jehovah's Witness.\"

I laughed nervously. \"Yeah. How is Aunt Betty?\"

\"Fine. She's into the Celestine Prophecy now, and she seems quite happy. Y'know,\" she went on, \"Aunt Betty always said the Jehovah's Witnesses said those holiday
things were pagan. So I don't see why you've given them up.\"

\"Uh, they've been commercialized and polluted beyond recognition. We're into very simple, quiet celebrations.\"

\"Well,\" she said dubiously, \"as long as you're happy.\"

Sometimes long distance is better than being there, 'cause your mother can't give you the look that makes you agree with everything she says. Jack rescued me by interrupting.

\"Hi, Ma.\" he called to the phone as he waved a beribboned sprig of mistletoe over my head. Then he kissed me, one of those quick noisy ones. I frowned at him.

\"Druidic tradition, Fran. Swear to Goddess.\"

\"Of course it is. Did the Druids use plastic berries?\"

\"Always. We'll be needing you in about five minutes.\"

\"Okay. Gotta go, Mom. Love you.\"

We had a nice, serene kind of Solstice Circle. No jingling bells or filked-out Christmas Carols. Soon after the last coven member left, Jack was ready to pack it in.

\"The baby's nestled all snug in her bed,\" he said with a yawn, \"I think I'll go settle in for a long winter's nap.\"

I heaved a martyred sigh. He grinned unrepentantly, kissed me, called me a grinch, and went to bed. I stayed up and puttered around the house, trying to unwind. I sifted through the day's mail, ditched the flyers urging us to purchase all the Seasonal Joy we could afford or charge. I opened the card from his parents. Another sermonette: a manger scene and a bible verse, with a handwritten note expressing his mother's fervent hope that God's love and Christmas spirit would fill our hearts in this blessed season. She means well, really. I amused myself by picking out every pagan element I could find in the card.

When the mail had been sorted, I got up and started turning our ritual room back into a living room. As if the greeting card had carried a virus, I found myself humming Christmas carols. I turned on the classic rock station, but they were playing that Lennon-Ono Christmas song. I switched stations. The weatherman assured me that there was only a twenty percent chance of snow. Then, by Loki, the deejay let Bruce Springsteen insult my ears crooning, \"yah better watch out, yah better not pout.\" I tried the Oldies station. Elvis lives, and he does Christmas songs. Okay, fine. We'll do classical--no, we won't. They're playing Handel's Messiah. Maybe the community radio station would have something secular humanist.

\"Ahora, escucharemos a Jose Feliciano canta `Feliz Navidad'.\"

I was getting annoyed. The radio doesn't usually get this saturated with holiday mush until the twenty-fourth.

\"This is too weird.\" I said to the radio, \"Cut that crap out.\"

The country station had some Kenny Rogers Christmas tune, the first rock station had gone from John and Yoko's Christmas song to Simon and Garfunkel's \"Silent Night,\" and the other rock station still had Springsteen reliving his childhood.

\"--I'm tellin' you why. SANTA Claus is comin' to town!\" he bellowed. I was about to pick out a nice secular CD when there was a knock at the door.

Now, it could have been a coven member who'd forgotten something. It could have been someone with car trouble. It could have been any number of things, but it certainly couldn't have been a stout guy in a red suit--snowy beard, rosy cheeks, and all--backed by eight reindeer and a sleigh. I blinked, wondered crazily where Rudolph was, and blinked again. There were nine reindeer. Our twenty-percent chance of snow had frosted the dead grass and was continuing to float down in fat flakes.

\"Hi, Frannie.\" he said warmly, \"I've missed you.\"

\"I'm stone cold sober, and you don't exist.\"

He looked at me with a mixture of sorrow and compassion and sighed heavily. \"That's why I miss you, Frannie. Can I come in? We need to talk.\"

I couldn't quite bring myself to slam the door on this vision, hallucination, or whatever. So I let him in, because that made more sense then letting all the cold air in while I argued with someone who wasn't there. As he stepped in, a thought crossed my mind about various entities needing an invitation to get in houses. He flashed me a smile that would melt the polar caps.

\"Don't you miss Christmas, Frannie?\"

\"No.\" I said flatly, \"Apparently you don't see me when I'm sleeping and waking these days. I haven't been Christian for years.\"

\"Oh, now don't let that stop you. We both know this holiday's older than that. Yule trees and Saturnalia and here-comes-the-sun, doodoodendoodoo.\"

I raised an eyebrow at the Beatles reference, then gave him my standard sermonette on the appropriation and adulteration that made Christmas no longer a Pagan holiday. I had done my homework. I listed centuries, I named names- St. Nicholas among them.

\"In the twentieth century version,\" I assured him, \"Christmas is two parts crass commercialism mixed with one part blind faith in a religion I rejected years ago.\" I gave him my best lines, the ones that had convinced my coven to abstain from Christmasy cliches. My hallucination sat in Jack's favorite chair, nodding patiently at me.

\"And you,\" I added nastily, \"come here talking about ancient customs when you--in your current form--were invented in the nineteenth century by, um...Clement C. Moore.\"  

He laughed, a rolling, belly-deep chuckle unlike any department-store Santa I'd ever heard.

\"Of course I change my form now and then to suit fashion. Don't you? And does that stop you from being yourself?\" He said, and asked me if I remembered Real Magic, by Isaac Bonewits.

I gaped at him for a moment, then caught myself. \"This is like `Labyrinth', right? I'm having a dream that pretends to be real, but is only made from pieces of things in my memory. You don't look a thing like David Bowie.\"

\"Bonewits has this Switchboard Theory.\" Santa went on amiably, \"The energy you put into your beliefs influences the real existence of the archetypal--oh, let me put it simpler: `in the beginning, Man created God'. Ian Anderson.\" He lit a long-stemmed pipe. The tobacco had a mild and somehow Christmasy smell, and every puff sent up a wreath of smoke. \"I'm afraid it's a bit more complicated than Bonewits tells it, but that's close enough for mortals. Are you with me so far?\"

\"Oh, sure.\" I lied as unconvincingly as possible.

Santa sighed heavily.

\"When's the last time you left out milk and cookies for me?\"

\"When I figured out my parents were eating them.\"

\"Frannie, Frannie. Remember pinda balls, from Hinduism?\"

\"Rice balls left as offerings for ancestors and gods.\"

\"Do Hindus really believe that the ancestors and gods eat pinda balls?\"

\"All right, y'got me there. They say that spirits consume the spiritual essence, then mortals can have what's left.\"

\"Mm-hm.\" Santa smiled at me compassionately through his snowy beard.

I rallied quickly. \"What about the toys? I know for a fact they aren't made by you and a bunch of non-union elves.\"

\"Oh, that's quite true. Manufacturing physical objects out of magical energy is terribly expensive and breaks several laws of Nature--She only allows us to do that on special occasions. It certainly couldn't be done globally and annually. Now, the missus and the elves and I really do have a shop at the North Pole. Not the sort of thing the Air Force would ever find. What we make up there is what makes this time a holiday, no matter what religion it's called.\"

\"Don't tell me,\" I said, rolling my eyes, \"you make the sun come back.\"

\"Oh my, no. The solar cycle stuff, the Reason For The Season, isn't my department. My part is making it a holiday. We make a mild, non-addictive psychedelic thing
called Christmas spirit. Try some.\"

He dipped his fingers in a pocket and tossed red-gold-green-silver glitter at me. I could have ducked. I don't know why I didn't.

It smelled like snow, and pine needles, and cedar chips in the fireplace. It smelled like fruitcake, like roast turkey, like that foamy white stuff you spray on the window with stencils. It felt like a crisp wind, Grandma's hugs, fuzzy new mittens, pine needles scrunching under my slippers. I saw twinkly lights, mistletoe in the doorway, smiling faces from years gone by. Several Christmas carols played almost simultaneously in a kind of medley. I fought my way back to my living room and glared sternly at the hallucination in Jack's chair.

\"Fun stuff. Does the DEA know about this?\"

\"Oh, Frannie. Why are you such a hard case? I told you it's non-addictive and has no harmful side effects. Would Santa Claus lie to you?\"

I opened my mouth and closed it again. We looked at each other a while.

\"Can I have some more of that glittery stuff?\"

\"Mmmm. I think you need something stronger. Try a sugarplum.\"

I tasted rum ball. Peppermint. Those hard candies with the picture all the way through. Mama's favorite fudge. A chorus line of Christmas candies danced through my mouth. The Swedish Angel Chimes, run on candle power, say tingatingatingating. Mama, with a funny smile, promised to give Santa my letter. Greeting cards taped on the refrigerator door. We rode through the tree farm on a straw-filled trailer pulled by a red and green tractor, looking for a perfect pine. It was so big, Daddy had to cut a bit off so the star wouldn't scrape the ceiling. Lights, ornaments, tinsel. Daddy lifted me up to the mantle to hang my stocking. My dolls stayed up to see Santa Claus, and in the morning they all had new clothes. Grandma carried in a platter with the world's biggest turkey, and I got the drumstick. Joey's Christmas puppy chased my Christmas kitten up the tree and it would have fallen over but Daddy held it while Mama got the kitten out. Daddy said every bad word there was but he kept laughing anyway. I sneaked my favorite plastic horse into the nativity scene, between the camels and the donkey.

I came back to reality slowly, with a silly smile on my face and a tickly feeling behind my eyes like they wanted to cry. The phrase \"visions of sugarplums\" took on a whole new meaning.

\"How long has it been,\" Santa asked, \"since you played with a nativity set?-\"

\"But it symbolizes--\"

\"The winter-born king. The sacred Mother and her sun-child. Got a problem with that? You could redecorate it with pentagrams if you like, they'll look fine. As for the Christianization, I've heard who you invoke at Imbolc.\"

\"But Bridgid was a Goddess for centuries before the Catholic Church-oh.\" I crossed my arms and tried to glare at him, but failed. \"You're a sneaky old elf, y'know?\"

\"The term is `jolly old elf.' Care for another sugarplum?\"

I did. I tasted gingerbread. My first nip of eggnog the way the grown-ups drink it. Fresh sugar cookies, shaped like trees and decked with colored frosting. Dad had been laid off, but we managed a lot of cheer. They told us Christmas would be \"slim pickings.\" Joey and I smiled bravely when Mama brought home that spindly spruce. We loaded down our \"Charlie Brown Christmas Tree\" with every light and ornament it could hold. Popcorn and cranberry strings for the outdoor trees. Mistletoe in the hall: plastic mistletoe, real kisses. Joey and I snipped and glued and stitched and painted treasures to give as presents. We agonized over our \"Santa\" letters...by now we knew where the goodies came from, and we tried to compromise between what we longed for and what we thought they could afford. Every day we hoped the factory would reopen. When Joey's dog ate my mitten, I wasn't brave. I knew that meant I'd get mittens for Christmas, and one less toy. I cried. On December twenty-fifth we opened our presents ve-ery slo-wly, drawing out the experience. We made a show of cheer over our socks and shirts and meager haul of toys. I got red mittens. We could tell Mama and Daddy were proud of us for being so brave, because they were grinning like crazy.

\"Go out to the garage for apples.\" Mama told us, \"We'll have apple pancakes.\"

I don't remember having the pancakes. There was a dollhouse in the garage. No mass-produced aluminum thing but a homemade plywood dollhouse with wall-papered walls and real curtains and thread-spool chairs. My dolls were inside, with newly sewn clothes. Joey was on his knees in front of a plywood barn with hay in the loft. His old farm implements had new paint. Our plastic animals were corralled in popsicle stick fences. The garage smelled like apples and hay, the cement was bone-chilling under my slippers, and I was crying.

My knees were drawn up to my chest, arms wrapped around them. My chest felt tight, like ice cracking in sunshine. Santa offered me a huge white handkerchief. When all the ice in my chest had melted, he cleared his throat. He was pretty misty-eyed, too.

\"Want to come sit on my lap and tell me what you want for Christmas?\"

\"You've already given it to me.\" But I sat on his lap anyway, and kissed his rosy cheek until he did his famous laugh.

\"I'd better go now, Frannie. I have other stops to make, and you have work to do.\"

\"Right. I'd better pop the corn tonight, it strings best when it's stale.\" I let him out the door. The reindeer were pawing impatiently at the moon-kissed new-fallen snow. I'd swear Rudolph winked at me.

\"Don't forget the milk and cookies.\"

\"Right. Uh, December twenty-fourth, or Solstice, or what?\"

He shrugged. \"Whatever night you expect me, I'll be there. Eh, don't wait up. Visits like this are tightly rationed. Laws of Nature, y'know, and She's strict with them.\"  

\"Gotcha. Thanks, Santa.\" I kissed his cheek again. \"Happy Holidays.\" The phrase had a nice, non-denominational ring to it. I thought I'd call my parents and in-laws soon and try it out on them.

Santa laid his finger aside of his nose and nodded.

\"Blessed be, Frannie.\"

The sleigh soared up, and Santa really did exclaim something. It sounded like old German. Smart-aleck elf. When I closed the door, the radio was playing Jethro Tull's \"Solstice Bells.\"

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

[thelma]

Wow, Lily. That was soooo sweet. It brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing that here. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/grin.gif)

[Lily]

No problem. Thanks for posting this thread btw...i was going to but realize that I couldn't. I'm going crazy at the moment because I moved all of my electronic BoS stuff to my Laptop - including everything I had on the wheel of the year. I've found bits and pieces of it online but my Yule information is only on my Laptop now and I can't find the CD I used to put it there! as it has no disc drive or cd burner I can't even get it off! grrrrr. It's too bad too because it had all sorts of information on the different types of religious celebrations at Yule, facts about Jack Frost, etc.

blah...I need to get that darned card to give my laptop net access!!!

[thelma]

Computers.....I think most of us have a love/hate relationship with 'em.

[Lily]

I'm leaning towards hate at the moment...lol. With the amount of non-home time I've had that's been eating up my 'net time it sure would help to have that net access on my laptop right about now!!

[thelma]

More Yule "stuff:"



Items appropriate for Yule:

Herbs - Mistletoe, holly, evergreens
Colors - Red, green, white
Oils/Incense - Cedar, pine, myrrh, cinnamon, frankincense

 
Related Festivals and Other Celebrations:

Christmas - Christian holiday commemorating the birth of Jesus, the son of God. Popularity for this holiday has spread from Christian circles to include most of the secular world.

Saturnalia - Week-long holiday from ancient Rome, to honor the God Saturn, who ruled over sowing and agriculture. Many Pagan Yule traditions started during Saturnalia.

Hanukkah - Seven day Jewish celebration of lights that marks the lamp oil miracle at the Jerusalem temple.

Kwanzaa - A more contemporary African holiday, that also lasts for 7 days. Each day marks a virtue or principle of daily living.
 

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Some Yule Recipes:


Chocolate Decadence Yule Log


(IMG:http://image.allrecipes.com/global/recipes/big/15704.jpg)

A classic holiday cake that is so rich, it makes you feel
   absolutely decadent! You roll it up jelly roll style, and then
   decorate it to look like a log. Prep Time: approx. 30 Minutes.
   Cook Time: approx. 30 Minutes. Ready in: approx. 2 Hours.
   Makes 1 log (12 servings).

2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
5 eggs
3/4 cup white sugar
2 (1 ounce) squares
   unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons water
2 tablespoons coffee-flavored liqueur
2 tablespoons white sugar 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
confectioners' sugar for dusting
4 (1 ounce) squares semisweet
   baking chocolate
1 (8 ounce) package cream
   cheese, softened
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon coffee flavored liqueur

Directions:
1 Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
   Lightly spray a 10x15 inch jellyroll pan and line with
   parchment paper. Sift flour with baking powder and salt and set aside.
2 In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs on high for
   several minutes until they are very pale and fluffy. Gradually
   add in the sugar, beating 1 to 2 minutes more or until
   very thick. Gently, but thoroughly, fold in the flour mixture.
3 Melt the chocolate in a small saucepan over low heat.
   In a small bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons of water with
   the 2 tablespoons coffee liqueur and the remaining 2
   tablespoons sugar and the baking soda, then gradually stir into
   the melted chocolate until smooth. Quickly, but
   thoroughly, fold chocolate mixture into batter.
4 Pour batter into prepared 10x15 inch pan. Bake at 350
   degrees F (175 degrees C) for 18 to 20 minutes, or until a
   toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Lightly sift
   an even layer of confectioners sugar over a cloth napkin
   or tea towel (do not use Terry-cloth). Flip the cake out
   of its pan onto the prepared cloth as soon as it comes
   from the oven. Carefully peel away parchment paper. Lightly
   dust top of cake with confectioners sugar, then trim away
   crisp edges. Starting with one of the short sides of the
   cake, immediately roll the cake up in the cloth, jellyroll
   style, and cool thoroughly on a rack.
5 For the Filling and Frosting: In a small saucepan
   over low heat, melt the chocolate. Remove from heat and let
   cool to lukewarm. In a medium bowl, beat the cream cheese
   with the confectioners sugar until smooth, then blend in
   the vanilla extract and coffee liqueur. Blend in the
   melted chocolate. Unroll the cake and spread about 1/3 of the
   filling evenly over the surface. Roll the cake back up.
6 Arrange cake roll on serving tray, then frost
   generously, swiping with an icing spatula to form the long 'bark
   line' design. Swipe ends of cake in a circular motion to
   simulate the tree-rings of a cut log. Decorate log as desired
   to look like holly leaves, berries, and snow.



*****I must confess that I have never tried this particular recipe. However, I have made several Yule log cakes before, but I cheat by using box mixes instead of making "from scratch." For instance, I use a white or yellow cake mix for the cake and follow directions for baking in a jelly roll pan, then I use chocolate pudding prepared from a box for the filling, and ready-made frosting to frost. After I make a log pattern on the frosting by using the tines of a fork, I then decorate using green spearmint jelly candies in the shape of leaves and red hots for the berries. If you're short on time, this cake is cute and still tastes great. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/smile.gif)

***********************************************************

Yule Stollen


This is packed with dried fruit and filled with a
   marzipan surprise. Prep Time: approx. 30 Minutes. Cook Time:
   approx. 50 Minutes. Ready in: approx. 3 Hours . Makes 1 loaf
   (15 servings).
  
1 tablespoon active dry yeast
2/3 cup warm milk (110
   degrees F/45 degrees C)
1 large egg
1/3 cup white sugar
1/2 tablespoon salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cups bread flour 1/3 cup currants
1/3 cup sultana raisins
1/3 cup red candied cherries, quartered
2/3 cup diced candied citron
6 ounces marzipan
1 tablespoon confectioners' sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1 In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk. Let stand
   until creamy, about 10 minutes.

2 In a large bowl, combine the yeast mixture with the
   egg, white sugar, salt, butter, and 2 cups bread flour;
   beat well. Add the remaining flour, 1/4 cup at a time,
   stirring well after each addition. When the dough has begun to
   pull together, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface,
   and knead in the currants, raisins, dried cherries, and
   citrus peel. Continue kneading until smooth, about 8 minutes.

3 Lightly oil a large bowl, place the dough in the bowl,
   and turn to coat with oil. Cover with a damp cloth and let
   rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

4 Lightly grease a cookie sheet. Deflate the dough and
   turn it out onto a lightly floured surface. Roll the
   marzipan into a rope and place it in the center of the dough.
   Fold the dough over to cover it; pinch the seams together
   to seal. Place the loaf, seam side down, on the prepared
   baking sheet. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise until
   doubled in volume, about 40 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat oven
   to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

5 Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce
   heat to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C), and bake for a
   further 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown. Allow loaf to
   cool on a wire rack. Dust the cooled loaf with
   confectioners' sugar, and sprinkle with the cinnamon.

*********************************************************
 
Wassail
(serves 32)

Please note this recipe serves 32. You can half or quarter the ingredients to make less if necessary.

Ingredients:
1 gallon apple cider
2/3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons whole allspice
2 teaspoons whole cloves
2 three inch cinnamon sticks
2 oranges, studded with cloves

Directions:
Heat all ingredients except oranges in a Dutch oven, to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 20 minutes, strain. Pour into a small punch bowl or large pitcher and add oranges. Serve hot.

**********************************************************

Pork Roast with Rosemary and Garlic

* 4 lb pork roast
* 2 cloves garlic, chopped
* rosemary, dried
* olive oil

Preheat your oven to 325F. Place the roast in a pan, then rub the meat first with olive oil and then the chopped garlic and rosemary. Pierce the pork with a knife and stick in some pieces of garlic and rosemary.

Cook for approximately 35-40 minutes per pound of meat.

******************************************
 
 
 
 

[thelma]

I could have posted this on our Joke/Humor thread, but since it involves this "holiday time" of year, I thought I'd post it here.

I guess you could call this, "Can't We All Just Get Along?? or........


Why The Christmas Party Was Cancelled


Subject: Holiday party
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
TO: Everyone
RE: Christmas Party
DATE: December 1

I'm happy to inform you that the company Christmas Party will take place on December 23, starting at noon in the banquet room at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue. No-host bar, but plenty of eggnog! We'll have a small band playing traditional carols ... feel free to sing along. And don't be surprised if our CEO shows up dressed as Santa Claus!

===============

The Holiday Party
FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 2
RE: Christmas Party

In no way was yesterday's memo intended to exclude our Jewish employees. We recognize that Chanukah is an important holiday which often coincides with Christmas, though unfortunately not this year. However, from now on, we're calling it our "Holiday Party".

================

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 3
RE: Holiday Party

Regarding the note I received from a member of Alcoholics Anonymous requesting a non-drinking table...you didn't sign your name. I'm happy to
accommodate this request, but I can't put a sign on a table that reads, "AA Only"; you wouldn't be anonymous anymore. How am I supposed to handle this? Somebody?

================

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 7
RE: Holiday Party

What a diverse company we are! I had no idea that December 20 begins the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which forbids eating, drinking and sex during daylight hours. There goes the party! Seriously, we can appreciate how a luncheon this time of year does not accommodate our Muslim employees' beliefs. Perhaps Luigi's can hold off on serving your meal until the end of the party...the days are so short this time of year...or else package everything for take-home in little foil swans. Will that work? Meanwhile, I've arranged for members of Overeaters Anonymous to sit furthest from the dessert buffet and pregnant women will get the table closest to the rest rooms.

================

FROM; Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 8
RE: Holiday Party

So December 22 marks the Winter Solstice...what do you expect me to do, tap-dance on your heads? Fire regulations at Luigi's prohibit the burning of
sage by our "earth-based Goddess-worshipping" employees, but we'll try to accommodate your shamanic drumming circle during the band's breaks. Okay???

================

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 9
RE: Holiday Party

People, people, nothing sinister was intended by having our CEO dress up like Santa Claus! Even if an anagram of "Santa" does happen to be "Satan," there is no evil connotation to our own "little man in a red suit." It's a tradition, folks, like sugar shock at Halloween, or family feuds over the Thanksgiving turkey, or broken hearts on Valentine's Day. Could we lighten up?

================

FROM: Pat Lewis, Human Resources Director
DATE: December 10
RE: Holiday Party Vegetarians!?!?!?

I've had it with you people!!! We're going to keep this party at Luigi's Open Pit Barbecue whether you like it or not, so you can sit quietly at the table furthest from the "Grill of Death", as you so quaintly put it, and you'll get your #$%^&*! salad bar, including hydroponic tomatoes...... but you know, tomatoes have feelings, too. Tomatoes scream when you slice them... I've heard them scream, I'm hearing them scream right now...!

============

FROM: Teri Bishops, Acting Human Resources Director
DATE: December 14
RE: Pat Lewis and Holiday Party

I'm sure I speak for all of us in wishing Pat Lewis a speedy recovery from his stress-related illness, and I'll continue to forward your cards to his attention at the sanitarium. In the meantime, management has decided to cancel the Holiday party and give everyone the afternoon of the 23rd off with full pay.

Happy Chanu-Kwanzaa-Solsti-Rama-Mas!
_________________

[Lily]

ROFLMAO!!

Oh my...lol...that was hilarious. A friend of mine actually just went through something like this while trying to create the holiday newsletter at her work. You wouldn't BELIEVE some of the crap she had to deal with and changed because it was too "Christmas" which is too "Christian" for some (or rather one) folks.

While I am not Christian I have absolutely no problem with Christmas. Whatever you name something or whatever specific icons...it doesn't matter. When it comes down to it it's a time between you and your god/dess to celebrate the turning of the wheel, love, family, friendships...a rose by any other name yadda yadda.

Sometimes political correctness drives me around the bend!!

[thelma]

I found this site that offers free Winter Solstice e-cards. I haven't sent one yet, but I did look at the artwork/designs, and they look very pretty. Here's two examples:


(IMG:http://www.jpc-artworks.com/gallery/ecards/solstice/images/hking_ecardTN.jpg)

(IMG:http://www.jpc-artworks.com/gallery/ecards/solstice/images/smoon_e-cardTN.jpg)

[thelma]

More Yule recipes! These are variations on eggnog. Please note that these recipes (except for the low-fat one) all call for raw eggs, so use your own discretion. I haven't tried any of these but found them from cooking sites online.


Yule Eggnog

Serving Size : 14
Preparation Time :0:30

* 1 cup rum
* 1 cup Cognac
* 1 pint sweet cream
* 1 pint whole milk
* 6 eggs
* 1 cup powdered sugar
* nutmeg


Separate the eggs. Set aside the egg whites in a container in the refrigerator. In a large mixing bowl, beat the egg yolks, sugar, rum, cognac, milk, and cream until smooth. Chill in refrigerator overnight.

When ready to serve, put the refrigerated rum mixture into a punch bowl. Beat the egg whites until stiff and fold them into the refrigerated rum mixture. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.

 

Eggnog For One

by The Dairy Cookbook; Culinary Arts Institute
Serves 1

* 1 egg -- beaten
* 1 tablespoon sugar -- or
* honey
* 1 dash salt
* 3/4 cup cold milk
* 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 dash nutmeg


Combine egg with sugar and salt; add milk and vanilla. Serve cold in tall glasses and sprinkle with nutmeg. Serves 1.

Variation: For a fluffy eggnog, separate egg, beat yolk as above, then fold in stiffly beaten white.

 

Low Fat Eggnog

Serving Size : 12

* 4 c skim or lowfat milk
* 12 oz can evaporated skim milk
* 8 oz carton frozen egg product -- thawed
* 1/2 c sugar
* 1/3 c light rum
* 1 tsp vanilla

(For a non-alcoholic version, leave out the rum.)


Over medium heat, stir skim milk, evaporated skim milk, egg product, and sugar about 10 min or until slightly thickened. Do not boil.

Remove from heat. Stir over a bowl of ice water for 2 min. Cover.

Chill 4-24 hours. Stir in rum and vanilla. Add more skim milk until desired thickness. Sprinkle with ground nutmeg.

[Lily]

Just wanted to wish everyone a happy Yule. Goddess bless.

[thelma]

I received a question via PM asking me if Wiccans celebrate Christmas or if it's okay for Wiccans to celebrate Christmas. I answered the poster, but also said I would post my answer here (and on the Wheel of the Year thread) for those that might be wondering the same thing.


Do Wiccans celebrate Christmas?

Of course, Wiccans are free to celebrate Christmas as much or as little as they desire. For Wiccans and Pagans in general, Christmas isn't a religious holiday, but one steeped in traditions with family and friends just like it is for most of the secular world. Earlier on this thread, I explained how most of the traditions associated with Christmas are actually Pagan in origin. So, when you decorate a tree, hang a wreath or mistletoe, give gifts, prepare your young ones for the arrival of Santa, or prepare eggnog or spiced cidar, for examples, you're actually following traditions that have absolutely nothing to do with the Christian religion and/or the birth of Christ.

Because most of us were raised in homes that celebrated Christmas in some form, most Wiccans that I know still do celebrate it, although they have shifted the emphasis to spending the day with and having great meals with family and friends, as opposed to celebrating the birth of Christ. Have you ever heard people bemoan the fact that Christmas lasts just one day and that it's alot of work to prepare and then have it over so quickly? Well, that's one of the great things about celebrating both Yule and Christmas. We're able to spread out activities and do some on Yule and some on Christmas. It's more a matter of celebrating the season instead of just focusing everything on one day alone.

A great way to celebrate Yule, and this season of giving is to also remember the creatures of nature this winter and/or those in your community less fortunate than others. It can be as simple as putting bird seed out for neighborhood birds in your backyard, or going to a local park or habitat where you live and leaving food for the wild ones. (Where I live, my boyfriend and I bring peanuts and carrots to the prairie dogs, who are often forgotten and not fed much in the winter months.) Or, you can bring canned goods to a local food bank or volunteer to serve or deliver meals for shut-ins or those at community or homeless shelters. Take the time to visit seniors who have no one to visit them in retirement homes and hospitals, or contribute toys to a local women's domestic violence safe house.

There are many ways to give of ourselves. Of course, none of this is necessary in order to have a Happy Yule or Merry Christmas, but I think it serves to remind us how fortunate we are and teaches our children a wonderful lesson about giving and the true meaning of this (and any) holiday.

So, celebrate our beautiful sabbat of Yule, steeped in rich traditions that honor our earth and the changing of the seasons. But, feel free to also embrace the customs of Christmas if you so choose. That's the freedom given to you as a Wiccan/Pagan.

May all of you have a Blessed Winter Solstice and Bright Blessings for the New Year!

[thelma]

Well, since the Wheel continues to turn and it's getting close to that time of year again, I thought I'd bump this thread up to the first page. (IMG:style_emoticons/mediablvd/grin.gif)

[Jincks013]

Ok.. *grins* I'll fess up to this being the first time i've read this thread.
So I thought I'd share a Yule story with you from last year when my eldest daughter decided she wanted to celebrate Yule instead of Xmas.

We lived, at the time, in a modular home i'd bought two years before so we had no fireplace and instead went out into the forest, over an hours drive away, to find a Yule 'log' for us.

We drove up onto a place called Battle Mountain, the place of the last stand of the Umatilla Nation agianst the U.S. Calvery, but thickly forested and beautiful. We got out of the car and took our backpacks and prepared for a hike on a snowy winter day into the woods for our log.

Now the hike is as much fun as the finding of the perfect Yule Log for us.
Interestingly my mother had taught me when I was my daughters' age about using a Yule Log with candles instead of buring a log when you have no fireplace.

We walked for about an hour and a half when Kiila, my daughter, got excited about a log she found, it was part of a branch which had broken off a tree, a pine branch, still redolant with the pine's crisp scent but much to long for us to put in the backpack. I had brought a small handsaw for just this kind of purpose.

We cut the log, put it in the backpack and had a small lunch then went back home.
I showed her how to use a hand drill to make holes appropriate for holding our candles in it. She skinned her knuckles doing it but we had a good time.

We decorated the Yule log with bits of greenery from the hedges and Ivy from the fence. On the Eve of Yule we lit the candles and let them burn until they melted down completely.

To this day she keeps that log, wax and all with her.
This year we shall be apart for Yule but when she called she said she had her Yule log out on her dresser and isn't budging on putting it away.

Her only concession was to saw off a tiny peice of her log and send to me so we will both have a brand of the old log to light this years with. I've never been prouder of my daughter.

[thelma]

Jincks, I got a lump in my throat reading your story about your log-finding adventure with your daughter last year. Thanks so much for sharing that!

I know the sadness and emptiness one can sometimes feel being apart from their children (of any age) during the holiday times, and that's so lovely that she's sending you a piece of the log. What an astute daughter you have, and I can see why you're so proud.

[thelma]

Don't think we have a gingerbread recipe listed yet, so here's a recipe for Yule gingerbread.

Yule Gingerbread

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups flour
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup butter
3 eggs
4 tbs milk
1/2 cup light molasses
2 tbs dark molasses
2 tbs ground ginger
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
2 tsp baking soda

PREPARATION:

Preheat your oven to 375F. Combine all the dry ingredients (except baking soda) in a large mixing bowl. Add 3 tbs of milk into a large saucepan along with the molasses (both) and butter. Melt together over low heat. Add beaten eggs and flour mixture to the melted ingredients. Dissolve baking soda in remaining 1 tbs of milk, then add to the batter. Pour batter into a greased 10-inch baking pan. Bake for approximately 45-50 minutes, or until a toothpick stuck in the middle comes out clean.

*********************************************************

I just found these recipes and thought I'd also post them here. I personally haven't tried any of them yet. If any of you make any of the items listed on this thread, you might want to post how they turned out and if you and your family/friends liked them or not.

Yule Celebration Recipes:

Morning Julegroed

4 cups milk
A couple of almonds, finely chopped
1 rounded teaspoon of butter/margarine
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup washed white rice
A pinch of cinnamon powder
1/2 cup thick cream

In a large saucepan, heat the milk until boiling. Add butter/margarine, then add the rice and turn down the heat. Cover with lid, and let rice simmer slowly for about one hour or until the milk is absorbed. Transfer to a non-metal bowl and fold in the cream and almonds. Serve in small bowls with sugar and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Sun Up Egg Squares

1 pound pork sausage, cooked & drained
1 1/4 cups Bisquick
4 ounces mushrooms, sliced
12 eggs
1/2 cup sliced green onions
1 cup milk
2 medium tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 teaspoon salt
2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 teaspoon each; pepper, oregano

Layer the sausage, mushrooms, onions, tomatoes, and cheese in a well greased 13"x9"x2" baking dish. Beat together the remaining ingredients in a non-metal bowl and pour over sausage mixture. Bake, covered, in a 350 degree oven until golden brown and set (about 30 minutes). Cut into 12 3-inch squares. Serves 12, can be halved.

Shortest Day Ham Loaf

1 pound ground pork
1/2 cup fine bread crumbs
1 pound ground ham
1 medium tomato, chopped
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk

Mix all ingredients above and shape into 2 individual loaves. In a saucepan combine:
1 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup vinegar
1 teaspoon dried mustard
1/2 cup water

Bring sauce to a boil, pour over the loaves, place loaves in a 350 degree oven and bake for 1 hour, basting regularly. Makes 10-12 servings.

Yuletide Slaw

4 cups red cabbage, shredded
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon black pepper, coarsely ground
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons sugar
1/4 cup salad oil
2 tablespoons parsley
1 green bell pepper, chopped

Combine and toss the vegetables together. Mix salt, pepper, salad oil, lemon juice, sugar and parsley and pour over the vegetable mixture. Refrigerate for 1 hour, toss briskly before serving. Makes 8 servings.

Festive Ham Balls

3 cups Bisquick
2 teaspoons parsley flakes
10 1/2 cups smoked ham, diced
2 teaspoons spicy brown mustard
4 cups sharp cheddar cheese, grated
2/3 teaspoon milk
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

Lightly grease a 15 1/2" x 10 1/2" baking pan. Mix all above ingredients in a non-metal bowl. Shape mixture into 1" balls. Place the balls about 2" apart in the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees, or until brown. Remove from pan and serve immediately. Makes 16 servings.

Brighter Day Cheese Ball

3 tablespoons finely chopped pecans
1/4 teaspoon red hot pepper sauce
1 pkg. (8-oz) Neufchatel cream cheese
1/4 teaspoon minced garlic
3 green onions w/tops, finely chopped
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup minced parsley

Preheat the oven to 350. Spread out chopped pecans on a cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes or until toasted, tossing once. In a small non-metal bowl, mix the cream cheese, onions, mustard, red pepper sauce, and garlic with mixer at a medium speed for 3 minutes. Stir in the cheddar cheese. Wrap in plastic wrap and shape into approx. 4" ball, refrigerate for 15 minutes. After, on a sheet of waxed paper, toss the pecans and parsley. Unwrap the cheese ball and carefully roll it around in the mixture, covering it completely. Rewrap the cheese ball and place in refrigerator until time to serve. Serve with crackers or fresh vegetables. Makes 24 servings.

Hot Spiced Wassail (non-alcoholic)

4 cups cranberry juice
6 cinnamon sticks
5 cups apple cider
1 orange, studded with whole cloves
1 cup water
1 apple, cored and sliced
1/2 cup brown sugar

Mix juice, cider, and water in large saucepan or crock pot. Add cinnamon sticks, clove studded orange, brown sugar and apple slices. Simmer mixture for 4 hours. Serve hot. Makes 12 servings.

Solstice Surprise Salad

1 large unpeeled cucumber
1 15 1/2 ounce can whole chestnuts
4 ounces cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons French dressing

Wash and dry cucumber. Cut into quarters, lengthwise, then thinly slice into a non-metal bowl. Grate cheddar cheese and add to cucumber. Break up the chestnuts into fairly large pieces and add. Toss well to mix, adding the French dressing. Chill for one hour before serving. Makes 6 servings.

Roasted Lamb Feast For A (Sun) King

1-3 pound shank leg of lamb
2 teaspoons olive or canola oil
1/8 teaspoon each, salt and pepper
4 large sweet potatoes, peeled, cubed
8 cloves garlic
6 parsnips, cut into 1" pieces
2 large sprigs fresh rosemary
1 lemon, sliced

With a sharp knife, trim all fat and cartilage from the lamb. Season with the salt and pepper. Make 1" deep slits all over the leg of lamb. Use most of the garlic and all of the rosemary by pushing 1/2 garlic cloves and a few rosemary leaves into each slit. In a large roasting pan, combine oil with the sweet potatoes, the parsnips (turnips may be substituted), and the rest of the garlic. Move the vegetables to the side of the pan, and place the leg of lamb in the center. Move the vegetables around the lamb, surrounding it. Roast the lamb and vegetables for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Turn the vegetables occasionally so that they cook evenly. Remove from the oven, and with a slotted spoon, transfer the vegetables to a serving dish. Keep warm. Place the lamb on a carving platter and cover with foil. Allow to stand for 5-10 minutes. Slice the roasted lamb and serve with warm vegetables. Makes 6 servings.

The Best For Last Bars

1/4 pound butter
10 ounce raspberry chocolate chips
12 ounce can evaporated milk
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate
3 1/2 cups sugar
7 ounce jar marshmallow creme
1 heaping tablespoon of instant coffee
1 teaspoon vanilla

In heavy saucepan or double boiler melt the butter. Add evaporated milk, sugar, and coffee. Bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and add raspberry chocolate chips and bittersweet chocolate. Stir the mixture until all ingredients are melted. Add the marshmallow creme and stir until well blended. Stir in the vanilla. Pour into a slightly greased 9" x13" pan. Refrigerate. Cut into bite-sized bars when cooled. Makes 12 servings.

[thelma]

Since the Winter Solstice will soon be here, I thought I'd post another bit of trivia.

On this thread, we've previously discussed how the early Christian Church adopted and adapted many Pagan traditions into their own Christian holidays in order to appease and appeal to the Pagans they were converting to Christianity. While doing some research recently on this topic, I came across a quote from Pope Gregory I and another example of a Pagan tradition that was adopted by Christians.

Pop Gregory I once wrote, "Converting heathens is easier if they are allowed to retain the outward forms of their traditional pagan practices and traditions, while recasting those traditions spiritually towards the one true God instead of to their pagan devils."

Have you ever wondered why ham is one of the common foods traditionally served on Christmas? Turns out it's another example of a changed Pagan tradition. The Islandic Pagans used to sacrifice a pig to the God Freyr at Yule celebrations. When the Christian Church gained power, it decided to retain this tradition for Christmas, although through the years it's been changed from a pig to ham.