Winter Solstice

Also Known as: Yule, Jul, Saturnalia, Christmas, solar/secular New Year, Sol Invictus, Alban Arthan.

Sun Pagan: Rising Sun Festival.
Dates: around 21 December (Northern Hemisphere) or 21 June (Southern Hemisphere)

Colours: red, green, and white
Pagan tools: mistletoe, evergreen wreath, lights, gifts, holly, Yule log, Yule tree, pine, juniper and cedar, red candle
Purpose: regeneration & renewal. Rebirth of the Sun.                                                                     
Goddesses: Great Mother, Isis, Mary, Tonazin, Lucina, Bona Dea, Amaterasu, Cessair
Gods: Horus, Jesus, Mithras, Santa, Odin, Saturn, Holly King, Harlequin, Sol

Practices and customs: personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends. It celebrates the rebirth of the Sun God. Wreaths, lights, present giving, singing, feasting, resolutions, fire batons. Putting up an evergreen tree with hanging quartz crystals, decorations of dried rosebuds and cinnamon sticks and bags of fragrant spices.

Foods: Nuts, fruits – apples, pears, and cakes of caraway soaked in cider, pork, and ginger tea

Herbs: Holly, mistletoe, ivy, cedar, bay, juniper, pine, apples, oranges, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks.