Sacred Circle Yule

Dies Natalis Solis Invicti!
(the birthday of the unconquered Sun)

Today we celebrate the return of the Sun and the end of the longest, darkest night of the year.

In Celtic lands, the dark and light half of the year are personified as the Oak King who rules from Winter Solstice to Summer Solstice, and the Holly King, who reigns from the Summer to Winter Solstice. We see the echoes of the Holly King in some older depictions of Santa Claus, with his staff or his hat decorated with holly. Within Sacred Circle, we celebrate many traditions that are sacred to this season, and this year we honored the Holly King in his traditional mantle of red and white, as the holder of the last warmth of the sun before the longest night sets.

Sing we of a mystery, now as long ago
Blood red holly berries, red upon the snow
The Oak King shall rise, the waxing year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell to the Holly King

Now in deep midwinter all seems in a trance
Comes the golden Oak King in His age old dance
Comes He to slay, yet honor He does bring
To His fallen brother the darksome Holly King

Soon will be midsummer, the year's wheel turned around
Then shall be the Oak King there upon the ground
Ever it comes, once more the years waning
Then shall be victorious the Darksome Holly King

Sing we of the Mystery now as long ago
Blood red holly berries, red upon the snow
The Oak King shall rise waxing year to bring
Therefore bid we farewell to the Holly King

Thank you to all of the wonderful members of our community, friends we have known long and friends we have only just met, for bringing your warmth, love and light to the Temple. We thank the Goddess and God for your friendship, and cherish all of you who come to share your light with us. Thank you to all of our younger members for helping us to call on the Holly King!

We were blessed tonight to witness the joining of two lovers for a year and a day handfast, and we congratulate Elena and Kevin and wish them well on their journey together.

As the wheel turns once more, we send our love to all those who could not join us tonight for our Yule celebration, and hope that they will return to our circle soon. Don't forget to mark our next circle, the 6th Annual MoonCraft Year Spell on Saturday, Jan. 2nd on your calendar!

You can see all of our photos from Yule in the slideshow below, enjoy and keep with you our blessings for the Return of the Light!