Tag Archives: Yule log

December 9, 2021 · 2:45 pm

Crafting for the Yule Holiday

 

Merry meet all,

This post is a little different from the paranormal posts. I have been busy preparing for Yule. I thought I would share how you can create beautiful wreaths and decorations for Yule. I want to do a Scandinavian theme this year. I crafted gnomes, a wreath and herbal recipes for Yule. So grab a mug of warm cider, sit down and read all about it!!

Before we get started, I want to share the most awesome news!! I successfully graduated from the Introductory Herbal course today. I am happy. The course was quite detailed and I still feel a need to review all the notes, handouts, and what not. I shall continue on to the Intermediate course, which is more in depth than the Introductory. 

GNOMES

I am beginning with the easiest craft first then I shall delve into the complicated projects. I bought faux fur and blue and red felt at the fabric store, wooden pieces and I gathered scissors a razor to cut the fur- never with scissors, a hot glue gun, and beads. To make the gnome, get the fur and turn it over so the underside shows up. You cut the fur with a razor because if you use scissors, then the fur will make a real mess. Cut the fur – which will represent a beard, so that it tapers to a point. You can add a moustache too if you want. Glue the fur to the wood piece, preferably round, and smooth it all out. Cut a square piece of felt and cut a triangle from that square. Form a cone from the triangle and with the back side of the gnome fur and wood showing, glue it down. Then fold the edges of the cone in and glue that down. Turn the gnome right side up and depending on what bead for a nose you prefer, glue the bead to the gnome between the felt hat and the fur. See the photo. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can make a knot with string, glue the string to the top of the felt hat on the underside, and then you can hang your charming ornament to your tree. I made gnomes with red and blue felt. The gnome in the photo was a gift for my Mother. She adores the gnome I gifted her. 

WREATHS

Wreaths are beautiful and festive decorations to enhance the warmth of your home. I hung my wreath indoors so I can appreciate its beauty. The wreath in the photo is the one I crafted this Yule. Here is how you can make yours. Dress warm and venture outdoors. This is a herbal wreath. It is best made from natural local greenery in your neighbourhood. If you can cut branches in your area, then feel free to do so. Obtain cedar, pine, spruce, juniper, holly, ivy and rosemary. Don’t forget citrus slices, pinecones, berries and acorns. 

I bought a straw wreath when I should have bought a grapevine wreath.  I had to rethink how I would attach everything. I came up with an idea. I listened to Blackmore’s Night, lit a candle and sipped hot cider. I laid everything out. I used scissors, a hot glue gun, ribbons, and rubber elastic bands,. I put down paper towel and a large clear plastic bag on my table then laid out the rosemary, cedar, pine and spruce, and juniper. I arranged the herbs into bundles – the spruce and pine, juniper, cedar and rosemary. Then I secured it all together with a rubber band, tied the bundle with silver ribbon to hide the rubber band, and then rested it on the wreath. Once I had it all the way I wanted it, I tied the bundles all interconnecting with each other to the wreath with wide brown paper ribbon. The brown ribbon almost concealed the silver ribbon. I hot glued an acorn and pinecones to the brown ribbon. I am dehydrating citrus slices now and I plan to add them to the wreath. tied the big bow on to the wreath and hung the wreath up!!! The bundles can be removed and released later on when I am done with the wreath. I foraged for the greenery on the trail! I am very pleased with the wreath! The wreath smells as beautiful as it appears.

Citrus Slices

To dry the orange slices, cut them very fine and be careful. Arrange them on a cookie sheet and sprinkle with very fine sugar. Dry them in the oven at 200 %F for 4 hours. Check on the slices periodically. Once they are done, let them cool. Fasten the fragrant slices to the wreath. 

HERBAL REMEDIES AS GFITS

I have studied the herbal course for the last 4 months. I was stressed deciding what to gift my Mother this year for Yule. I searched lots of options until it hit me. I should put my herbal education to good use. I crafted herbal chapstick, one for her, and one for me, and herbal tea for her. 

I hope she likes her gifts. I am putting together a care basket foe her. I plan to sew her a sleep eye mask soon too. Rather than explain here how the herbal chapstick is done, I am going to include the link so you can check it out on your own. 

https://theherbalacademy.com/chapstick-recipe/

https://theherbalacademy.com/herbal-skincare-gifts/

https://thepracticalherbalist.com/advanced-herbalism/making-a-heat-infused-herbal-oil-a-general-procedure/

I hope this post inspires you to try your hand at crafting for Yule. ‘Tis the season of giving and festivities, so have fun. I wish you all a merry Yule. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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December 7, 2020 · 11:45 pm

Salt Dough Ornaments DIY

Merry meet all,

I conjured up salt dough decorations. I am here to tell you how I did it so you will know how to create your own. A little about me: I own a tall black goth tree. The goth tree is tall and gnarly- perfect for a gothic Yule tree. I use that all year round but this year, I decided to go Nightmare Before Christmas. 

I took my tree out from its usual corner. I cleaned it up and set it in my kitchen. I hung the usual decorations but I wasn’t happy with it totally. I wanted more and I found out what that more was. My tastes have changed. I have changed. 

So I tossed out all my old or broken decorations. I donated what old decorations- an angel, colorful balls, tinsel etc. I was left with what I loved and cherished. I set that out, especially the gifts from a friend of mine. I then created the salt dough ornaments. 

You can google the recipe but basically you blend salt, dough and water in a bowl. You then knead and roll out the dough on a floured surface. I cut out pumpkins, bats, cauldrons and a big jack Skellington disc. When they had dried, I painted them. I painted the bats and cauldrons black using black tempera paint. I painted the pumpkins orange and then ran out of the orange paint. I mixed yellow and red paint together to make the color orange. It was a deeper warmer orange shade. I let them all air dry again then I painted a sealant on them. They looked blue then the sealant dried. That prevents them from molding. They will last longer. I also set down wax paper before painting the ornaments. I can’t tell you how cool they looked. I shall include a photo. Painting the ornaments can get very messy. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I was done, I rinsed my paintbrushes and washed the glass bowls. I prefer bowls over painting on a palette. It gives me more freedom than what a palette offers. I love using acrylic paints on everything. Be sure to poke a hole in the ornament to run a string through. If the hole fills in, then string a needle and run it through the ornament. 

Knot each loop through the cookie. Than hang up ’em up on your tree! You can google all this. For the Skellington disc, I downloaded a template. I painted the Jack Skellington white. I etched the design of his face onto the disc using a knife. Then I used a black sharpie to draw and fill in the details. I poked a hole through and ran a string into a loop. 

I wish I thought of attaching the bat. Ah well I love how it turned out! I still have salt dough remaining. I am not sure yet what to do with the rest of it. I hope this post inspires you to create your own decorations and traditions for Yule. It’s almost here!

I painted five popsicle sticks blue. I glued them together to form a pentacle. I ran string through plastic white bones to make a garland of bones. I knotted the string several times and ran a bead through at the beginning and ends of the string. That was to prevent the thread from slipping out. I hung it on the tree with care. 

The tree is adorned with a book of spells ornament, stars, pumpkins, cauldrons, an owl, a fiddle, a ghost, black leaf Garland, a Garland of bones, a blue pentacle, a doll, a green xmas tree salt dough ornament from a past Yule, crescent moon, black bats, a black ghost a gold bell, blue crescent moon, silver stag, witch ornament- fright this way, and a brown cat.

Let me know what your own traditions are at Yule! P.S. I do want to try making a fragrant cinnamon stick star! Also, pinecones can be dried in the oven, painted and sprinkled in glitter for that touch of Winter Solstice magic! I hope you enjoy making your own decorations as a way of getting into the spirit of Yule! Be creative. 

Blessings, 

Spiderwitch

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November 17, 2020 · 12:06 pm

Yule traditions and Symbols

Merry meet all,

The next turn in the Wheel of the Year is Yule! I can’t believe that time of year is almost here. Wow has time flown by that fast? Also, November 16 is Hekate’s night. So tonight consider cooking something special in her honor and maybe leaving it at the crossroads.

Yule is as magickal as the other Sabbats. Yule brings to mind pinecones, glittering tinsel, and keeping warm doing festive celebrations with friends and family. The sun makes its way back to the earth. 

Evergreens are a symbol of Yule. Their evergreen color represented life, death and rebirth. These lovely pine scented trees fought back the winter demons and restrained death and destruction. 

Holly leaves correspond to the masculine element. Their prickliness warded off negative spirits, protecting the home. The leaves represented hope, and the red berries symbolized potency. 

Mistletoe represented the feminine element. The leaves were the embodiment of the female spirit and the white berries and seeds were the masculine element. Druids used this plant and viewed it as sacred. 

The Yule tree is also an important pagan symbol. To some, it represented the Tree of Life or the World Tree. The Yule log was burned to protect the home. Ash wood was preferred. This tradition is Scandinavian in origin. It was believed that the faster the Yule log burned, the faster the sun would return to the earth. 

Other significant symbols that represent Yule are candles which encourage the light to burn, wreaths which symbolized the Wheel of the Year,  and bells that drove away demons. Elves became associated with Yule. The ancients believed that the spirits that assisted in the Sun’s return lived where the Elves lived. Gingerbread is also associated with Yule. It is a specialty bread. 

Nature Symbols of Yule: Holly, Oak, Mistletoe, Ivy, Evergreens, Laurel, Bayberry, Blessed Thistle, Frankincense, Pine, Sage, Yellow Cedar.
Food and Drink of Yule: Yule Log Cake, Gingerbread, Fruits, Berries, Nuts, Pork dishes, Turkey, Eggnog, Ginger Tea, Spiced Cider, Wassail

Colors of Yule: Red, Green, White, Silver, Gold
Red represents the waning Holly King. Green represents the waxing Oak King. White represents the purity and hope of new Light. Silver represents the Moon. Gold represents the Sun/Son.

Stones of Yule: Rubies, Bloodstones, Garnets, Emeralds, Diamonds

Activities of Yule: Caroling ~ Wassailing the Trees ~ Burning the Yule Log ~ Decorating the Yule Tree ~ Exchanging Gifts ~ Kissing under the Mistletoe

Deities of Yule:
Goddesses: The Great Mother and Earth Goddess, Freyja, Gaia, Diana, Bona-Dea, Isis, Demeter
Gods: Mabon, The Sun God, The Star (Divine) Child, The Oak King, The Holly King, The Green Man, The Red Man, The Horned One, Odin, Lugh, Apollo, Ra

 

 

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December 16, 2019 · 3:42 pm

Winter Solstice – Yule Lore

 

Merry meet all,

Winter Solstice is almost here! Today I am going to write about Yule lore. So grab that mocha and get yourself all cozy. Here we go.

The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year. It occurs around December 20 to December 23. The Winter Solstice is celebrated now in the Northern Hemisphere. 

The dark half of the year relinquishes the light half of the year. But also now the sun rises a little higher in the sky each passing day. The sun’s rebirth is celebrated. Our ancestors celebrated the longest night of the year, the rebirth of the Oak King, the giver of life that warms the frozen earth. From this time on, the sky stays brighter a little longer. 

Bonfires were lit in the fields and crops and trees were “wassailed” with toasts of spiced cider. People decorated their homes with evergreen boughs and lit candles on the trees (don’t try that at home!). Gifts of clove spiked apples and oranges were offered to loved ones. The apples and oranges symbolized the sun. The evergreen boughs were loved for their symbolism of immortality, never dying. They represented the eternal aspect of the Divine. Our ancestors loved holly, ivy and mistletoe for good fortune. 

Yule logs were decorated, coated in cider or ale and flour, and brought into the home. The Yule logs were burned on the night of the Winter Solstice then smolder for twelve days. The Yule log was a part of a previous log that was saved for this ceremonial purpose. It must never have been bought. The most popular wood was Ash. Ash is the wood of the Teutons, a bringer of light. I can see why Ash was favored. 

The deities of Yule are the newly born gods, Triple Goddesses, the Oak King, and Mother Goddesses. Dagda and Brighid are honored at this time. 

The symbols of Yule are Yule log, or small Yule log with 3 candles, evergreen boughs or wreaths, holly, mistletoe hung in doorways, gold pillar candles, baskets of clove studded fruit, a simmering pot of wassail, poinsettias, and  Christmas cactus. 

The Herbs of Yule are bayberry, blessed thistle, evergreen, frankincense holly, laurel, mistletoe, oak, pine, sage, yellow cedar.

Foods of Yule:
Cookies and caraway cakes soaked in cider, fruits, nuts, pork dishes, turkey, eggnog, ginger tea, spiced cider, wassail, or lamb’s wool (ale, sugar, nutmeg, roasted apples).

Incense of Yule:
Pine, cedar, bayberry, cinnamon.

Colors of Yule:
Red, green, gold, white, silver, yellow, orange.

Stones of Yule:
Rubies, bloodstones, garnets, emeralds, diamonds.

Activities of Yule:
Caroling, wassailing the trees, burning the Yule log, decorating the Yule tree, exchanging of presents, kissing under the mistletoe, honoring Kriss Kringle the Germanic Pagan God of Yule

Spellworkings of Yule:
Peace, harmony, love, and increased happiness.

Happy Winter Solstice!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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