Yuletide!

[Mrs. Testicle]

I feel bad that I havn't been posting. But still, Yule is almost here!

How do you guys celebrate?  

[Mrs. Testicle]

I'm the only one in my family that's Pagan, so I don't have much of a chance to celebrate this occasion properly. I would love and appreciate greatly a few ideas, however.  

[MST3Kakalina]

i take a few minutes out of my day to light candles, meditate, maybe ritual cleansing so i go into the new year clean.  

[PurpleDragonsGems]

however i can with family and friends.  

[ProfessorZed]

Ritual focusing on family, friendship, togetherness, and hope with the local Pagan Association (which reminds me, I have a circle-casting and quarter calls to write). After that, a bigass potluck (cauldron-luck?) dinner and random gift exchange.

At home with family, the usual tree/presents/dinner/passing out thing.  

[Cerulean Crayon]

My familie's Jewish, but I have them celebrating Dec. 21 every year because it's my birthday...if I incorperate a few rituals into my birthday, what's it to them? They don't realize...  

[Starlock]

There's a place run by some liberal Christians that has some hermitages (straw houses with no technology save a wood-burning stove) that I might retreat to for the day, but there's also going to be a Yule gathering by one of the local Pagans. If I go, it'd be my first groupie solstice gathering so I'll try to make it to that even though I won't know everybody there.  

[queertastrophy]

I'm actually not sure how I'll be celebrating this year, as I haven't officially dedicated myself to my path (and don't plan on doing so for quite a while--more research and soul-searching needs to be done).

I'll probably read over the Eddas, and meditate a bit if I have the time (alas, work is a b***h plus my boyfriend is in town that week).

A friend of mine is an Asatruar and she's attending a feast that night with her friends (she knows a whole bunch of Asatruar up in the Forest City area). It's a pity I can't go; I would love to be there. gonk  

[Mrs. Testicle]

This sounds cool. I'll definately steal incorporate some of your ideas and make them maybe, part of my own traditions.  

[iRTsuki]

This year im doing a small ritual with my club then i celebrate with my family and we all celebrate my birthday too cuz thats like a few days before lol.  

[LadyEladrin]

Erishkegal

Ritual focusing on family, friendship, togetherness, and hope with the local Pagan Association (which reminds me, I have a circle-casting and quarter calls to write). After that, a bigass potluck (cauldron-luck?) dinner and random gift exchange.

At home with family, the usual tree/presents/dinner/passing out thing.

That sounds sooo familiar... hrm... 4laugh

I've still got to re-arrange my altar for Yule and decorate the house and tree. Those are a part of welcoming the seasons that I always do, from Yule to Samhain. Especially the altar part.  

[TeaDidikai]

Yule? As in Yule proper? I spend with my Asatru friends. mrgreen They take care of the ritual aspects. More power to them!

Koljada? That's another story!  

[Mrs. Testicle]

:3

Yuletide always makes me feel so...nice.  

[Jasta]

Really looking forward to Yule smile I'll be spending it with my Circle, and have been making preparations today, calling a vote as to location, discussing food who's bringing what, and who's doing what. We basically do the standard ritual at sunset to say goodbye to the Sun, and then have the "Feast" - which will be roast pork this year. Then we stay up all night to welcome the Sun as he is "reborn" in the morning. We leave an oil lamp burning all night, a family tradition on my part, so that he will be able to see find his way to us. We'll also be doing minor spellwork to think about what we want in the new year (in my families tradition, Yule is Pagan New Year), and working to manifest those goals.

I also made my Circle a small present each - a glass bottle which I filled with oak leaves (to represent the God), pine needles (to represent the Goddess), cinnamon, (for prosperity) and ginger (so that their wishes would come true).  

[LadyEladrin]

That's a neat little tradition, Jasta. I like the idea of leaving a light burning so the sun can see its' way back. Is that an older tradition, or just something from your family? I might've heard of it somewhere before, but my brain is all fuzzy and I can't remember right now.