We've all heard the song, the 12 days of Christmas, but did you know that is connected to the 12 days of Yule? Many of the traditions we have in our modern Christmas celebration, comes from a celebration that happened long before Christianity.
Most nations of the Northern hemisphere (it's the shortest night on the Southern hemisphere) celebrated the last 12 days of the year in reverie. The ancient peoples worked hard to survive, but on these last days of the year, no work was allowed. Everyone celebrated life.
Today is the winter solstice. Tonight, in the Northern Hemisphere, it is the longest night of the year. Tonight it is Mother Night.
The first night of Yule is Mother night. The winter solstice celebrates the birth of the coming Spring. The evening is spent honoring the mother ancestors that protect us. It honors the return of the sun and seasons of life.
