12 Days of Yule?

Merry Meet, Younglings.

This is an interesting question, and one that every magickal youngling should ask themselves.  Yule is our holiday, to be sure, and it is the time that is most special for some of our folk if you have Christian friends and relatives.

I am no exception.  I am the only Pagan in my family, and I tend to keep my version of the holidays to myself.  While my family celebrate Christmas, my tradition involves celebrating the 12 days of Yule.

My husband is Asatru, and a full-on Viking.  Part of being his guide through the world of magick has been teaching him what an Asatruar celebrates.  We are very strange, as we do celebrate Christmas in our house, but not the part involving...well, you know who.  We honor Santa and Krampus on this night, and for those who do not believe in Santa, you are missing out on what he truly represents as an icon.

But I digress.  Most of you have heard the song "12 days of Christmas."  Sadly, there are not 12 days in this holiday.  This stems from the actual 12 days in Yule, which is what the Asatru celebrate.

Starting on the 21st of December, which was the Winter Solstice this year, it runs all the way to the 31st.  Each of the 12 days represents a month for that same year, and on each day, you reflect on that specific month's events.  The first night is called Mother Night.  The last night, December 31st, is called Twelfth Night.

I cannot go too much more into what is entailed with the rituals of this holiday.  I am still learning about all this myself.  But I have found that whatever feels right to you when you celebrate any holiday is the best way.  I'm an Ecclectic Pagan, so I don't follow the strict guidelines of any specific tradition.  All I have done to celebrate is lit a red candle and reflected on what has happened during the year.  Sometimes, that is all you really need.

If you do have legit questions about this, send me a line.  I am more than happy to do the research in finding more about it.  It doesn't hurt to try, right?

Love to all.  Blessed be.

-- Quinn

P.S.  If you do celebrate this holiday, also drop me a line.  Knowledge is true power, and the more I know, the better I can assist others.  Thank you.