witchhazel in winter

lime trees in winter

Yule December 19 - 22

Winter Solstice

  Rebirth of the Sun,  longest night of the year, winter Solstice, Introspection.

Symbols : Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, christmas cactus.

Herb : Bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Food : Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb's wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense : Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colours : Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Crystals: Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities : Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents