Twelfth Day of Yule, 2011

An so we have reached the last day of Yule, day twelve. As with all things, this too must end. And with its end, we have the beginning of the new year, as we Heathens consider it. This last night of feasts, or a few cookies on a plate shared with the home gods, or anything in between, marking days of kinship.

Let toasts be raised, songs be sung, and love ones held dear. And if you sit alone, know that you are not truly alone, for there are more like you out there, and we are bound by spirit, if not in person. Let us put aside our differences one last night. There will be time to fight in the new year, let kinship reign this day.


Here's last nights pic. Yes, I will have one of the fully lit Yule log posted up tomorrow.

And finally, the gifts:
Twelve Toasts to Kin, Mortal and Divine!
Eleven Horns a Sounding,
Ten Vikings Pillaging,
Nine Worlds of Lore,
Eight Maidens dancing,
Seven Alfs a leaping,
Six Horns of Mead,
Five Golden Rings! (Hey, look, that priest has some, get 'em!)
Four Runes Inscribing,
Three Days of Kinship,
Two Goats of Thor,
And a Raven in a Yew Tree

First Day of Yule, 2011

So today is the first day of Yule, and in fact I believe the first one I shall celebrate, if alas without all the pomp and circumstance. There are so many little traditions, I probably won't get to them this year, but I will hopefully manage a few.

One thing I am doing is trying to rig up a Yule Log. Sadly, I can't really burn anything, so I will be trying to find a log of some sort, and be placing candles upon it, one for each night. Hopefully I can get it set up before my idols of Hel (which I need to finish modifying, but more on that later), Thor, and Freyja. Also, hopefully with my limited budget I will be able to at least make some offerings to them as well, probably with the mead I have, or some wine.

One tradition I would love to have is the Yule Goat. Sadly, I don't have any, nor do I have access to a Scandinavian shop (there used to be one not far, but alas it has been closed since my early teens. I regret it's loss not more than ever). But perhaps I can get one or two next year.

So, in closing for this first day of yule, I give you all this: A raven in a Yule tree.