It's been a while since I wrote something but I could'nt let Yule pass, because it's one of my favorites sabbaths. But, it's also a time of the year where you may give a lot a gift, letting you with empty pockets. I will begin with a short description of the sabbath and will then give you advice on how to celebrate Yule on a low budget.
What is Yule?
Simply put it's the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. It may sound sad like this (except if like me you really love night), but it also means that after this day the sun will slowly return to make brighter days.This sabbath, taking place on the 21st-22nd of december in north hemisphere and on he 21st-22nd of june in south hemisphere,is all about new beginnings et rebirth, as spring is nearer. If you are a wiccan, it also means that the Goddess is giving birth to the sun god.
What to do on Yule when you're broke
1- Make a witch ball
Making a witch ball is one the simplest thing ever. The easiest way is to take a empty ball ornament and fill it with a lot of good things. I like putting:
cinammon sticks
twigs
dry orange peels
cloves
eucalyptus
The only limits are your imagination as you can put anything in it (as long as it's not too fresh as it will rot). If you don't have an empty ornament, just take a simple christmas ball and draw/paint on it. You can write sygils, symbols, scenary... anything that inspires you!
2- Bake or decorate a Yule log
There's two ways of doing a Yule log. The first one is cooking a Yule log cake and decorating it with frosting and everyting you like. The other one, less sweet but just as much fun, is looking for a log in the wood and decorating it with things of the nature or items you have at home. So you can put pine cones, ornaments and pretty much everything. Personally, I prefer to bake my wood log to be sure I won't bring little parasites with me (I also have a dog, so not a good idea), but it's only optional. Always be careful if you put wood in the oven, fire hazard!
3- Dehydrate oranges (or apple, or anything really)
I really love this activity as I put orange slices on my gifts and everywhere in my home. Also, it's really easy. I myself have a dehydrator which make it even easier, but it can also be done in an oven by putting the orange on low temperature for a long time. You just have to slice the orange with a knife to make cute little round slices and then dehydrate them. I also like dehydrating wintergreen to make tea.
4- Decorate a Yule Tree
I need to come clean, I have a synthetic tree. I would really like a real tree as the environmental impact is better than for a synthetic one, but I already have it so... But it's not the point. It doesn't matter which kind of tree you have, just decorate it (but the best choice is a tree you can replant after the celebrations or decorating a tree outside). Decorate it with decorations that reminds you all the new beginnings you had, witchy ornaments, nature treasures, ... It's also the best place for your witch balls!
5-Make your own tea
You can make it simple and just add a cinnamon stick in hot water but be fancy with cloves and orange peels, the choice is yours. The only important thing (except the taste which is kinda obvious) is intent! If you choose an ingredient, know why.You can make your decision with the properties of the ingredients and just go with the vibes. I often make my choice by considering the color the water will be after the infusion and the smell of it. For yule I like warm colors and spicy ingredients like cinammon to reming me of the sun who is coming back to life.
6- Make sygils in the snow
There's no easy way to explain sygils as there are a lot of different ways to create them. My favorite way is to choose a word with a lot of meaning like ''beginnings''. First, I remove all the vowels, so you have something like ''bgnnngs''. Then, you remove the letters repeating themselves ''bgns''. After, I create a drawing, a sygil, with the letters I still have. The final step is to forget it for it to work. It's why I like doing it in the snow as it's easier to forget. Also, I like how it melts, how my intentions are now in the universe and in the earth. I also often use erasable pencils and write my sygils in my windows. My advice is to read on sygils as it's the easiest way of celerating.
7- Make treats for birds
This one is a fun activity to do with kids (or by yourself, you're never too old). Prepare ingredients and just put them together. I like to put peanut butter on half an apple and add bird seeds on them. Honey is also a perfect ingredient for your creations. When my ornament is finished, I put it in a tree outside, so the birds have a lovely feast.
8- Write your resolutions
I know, it's cliché, but Yule is a celebration of new beginnings, so what's a better way to celebrate than writing down how you want to live this new year. In the next months, the sun will be brighter day by day, so can you! You can decide to change your alimentation, to learn a language, to make more rituals... The point is becoming a better you. Be careful, I'm not saying to become someone else and change too much, but to change just enough to be the version of you you want to be.
9- Take a ceremonial bath
I take ceremonial baths all the time. My life is going so fast and it's such an easy way to recenter yourself. This time of the year, I like ginger bath bombs or eucalyptus epsom salt. If you want to put herbs in your bath, be careful to not clug the drain. That's why I often use bath bombs as it's less messy and it's so easy to make your own at home. When your bath is ready, light some candles and put a witchy playlist and you're on for a perfect meditation time.
10- Celebrate with family and friends
Maybe you have a really big family or maybe it's just you and your cat, but the important thing is to have a great time with your loved ones. For me a perfect moment would be with my boyfriend and our dog, because family is where the heart is. If you're all alone for Yule, don't hesitate to write to me.
I hope you will use my advices to have a perfect Yule!
Blessed be!
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