How to Make a Solstice Yule Log

The Yule log helps recall the ancient pagan tradition of celebrating the winter solstice with bonfires.

Yule is the celebration of the winter solstice, which marks the point when Earth's northern hemisphere is farthest from the sun. Ancient pagan tradition celebrates this as a day when, having reached the point of greatest darkness, the earth slowly begins to return to the light. Centuries ago, the winter solstice was celebrated with bonfires. The burning of a Yule log provides a sacred means of connecting with the element of fire during the longest night of the year.

Things You'll Need

• Oak log
• Ribbons made from natural fiber
• Dried holly leaves
• Knife
• Kindling
• Matches or lighter
• Essential oil (optional)

Instructions

1. Find a medium-size to large oak log in advance of Yule. Place it in a warm, dry place. When Yule arrives, you want the log to be very dry so that it will create a good blaze.

2. Decorate the log on Yule. Tie ribbons of natural fabric to it, along with dried holly leaves. The combination of oak and holly relates to the solar year, with oak representing the waxing solar year, from Yule to Litha (summer solstice), while holly signifies the waning solar year, from the sun's zenith at summer solstice to its gradual decreasing in light toward winter solstice.

3. Create sacred space by invoking the elements of air, fire, water and earth and the four cardinal directions. Call in any deities or helping spirits you work with on a magickal level.

4. Think about what you want the coming year to bring you. With a knife (your sacred ritual knife or athame if you have one), carve a symbol of what you want to manifest for the coming year into the log. You may wish to put some essential oil on the mark you carved to give it additional power.

5. Build a fire starting with twigs for kindling, using matches or a lighter to get the fire started. Place the Yule log on top. The old tradition was to let solstice bonfires burn for 12 nights; modern pagans try to keep the fire ablaze for 12 hours. If possible, try to recreate the sense of the Yule fire as light in the midst of darkness by minimizing the use of electric lights while the log burns.

Tips & Warnings

• In ancient times, people would toss the ashes of the Yule bonfire on the fields for an abundance of crops in the coming year. Some modern pagans place the ashes in a small cloth bag or amulet, or retain a piece of the Yule log to place on the fire for the following solstice.

References

• Circle Sanctuary: Winter Solstice Celebrations for Families and Households
• Earth Witchery: The Yule Log
• North Star Astrology: Merry Yuletide, Old and New Traditions