The
Celtic feast of the Winter Solstice was called Yule and took place about December
21; it marked the longest, darkest night of the year. Hot apple cider and,
sweetened cakes, filled with dried fruit saved from sunnier days were favorite
treats at Yule; and homes were decorated with holly and pine boughs; mistletoe,
sacred to the Great Mother was hung--kissing is a mild token of her Fertility
Rites. Yule was a celebration of waxing solar light, and in honor of the divine
Sun child an Oaken Yule log decorated with holly was burned. The old Holly
King gave up his Life to make way for the reborn Sun Child: Yule celebrated
the sleep of death of the old King, and the womb-sleep & birth of his newest
incarnation. Because the exact date of the birth for Jesus Christ-the King
of Light to all Christians- is unknown, the Church assigned it to this time,
a date already sacred to ancient peoples. (from The
Celtic Wheel of the Year)