H O U L

The Pagan ce lebrat ion of Winter So l s t ice (a l so known as Houl , or Yule ) i s one of the o ldes t win ter ce lebrat ions in the wor ld .

Ancient people were hunters and spent mos t of the ir t ime outdo ors . The seasons and weather p layed a very impor tant par t in the ir li ves . Because of thi s many ancient people had a great reverence for , and even worshipped the sun . At mid-win ter the Norsemen li t bonfires , to ld s tor ies and drank swe et a le . Fe eding animals of the fores t has long s ince be en a pas t t ime pract i sed by those who ce lebrate the win ter so l s t ice . Ventur ing in to the fors t s to fe ed wild animals and birds i s thought to connect humans wi th nature , and The Sp ir i t .

The Cel t ic Pr ies t s would cu t the mis t letoe that grew on the oak t re e and g ive i t as a bless ing . Oaks were se en as sacred and the win ter f rui t of the rosehip was a symbol of li fe in the dark win ter months .

I t was a l so the Druids who began the t rad i t ion of the yule log . The Cel t s thought that the sun s to od s t ill for twelve days in the middle of win ter and dur ing thi s t ime a log was li t to conquer the darkness , bani sh ev il sp ir i t s and br ing luck for the coming year .