Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth (Holiday Series, 2) - Softcover

Morrison, Dorothy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1567184960 ISBN 13: 9781567184969

Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, 2000

Synopsis

There's just something magical about the Yuletide season, no matter where you live or who you are. As bright candlelight mingles with the smells of pine and warm cookies and we perform our yearly rituals of song and family gatherings, the spirit of peace and goodwill seems to reach the heart of even the most cynical Scrooge.

In the pages of Yule, Dorothy Morrison presents a wonderful potpourri of holiday lore from around the world and throughout history, along with fun crafts, delicious recipe seven a calendar of celebrations for every day in December.

Learn where the traditions of the season originated―for instance, did you know that the ringing of bells was meant to drive away the demons who inhabited the darkest days of the year? That leaving cookies for Santa mirrors the old tradition of leaving a loaf of bread on the table overnight to bring prosperity in the new year? That the Yule log can be traced back to the ancient Greeks?

Need a recipe for wassail or plum pudding? Tips for your holiday party? Want to make the season special by making your own decorative crafts and gifts? That's just a sampling of what's inside.

Best of all, Yule shows that the spirit of the season is universal and, however we chose to celebrate and worship, we can all join together in the spirit of peace, love, and harmony at this special time of year.

About this title

Review:

Those who yearn for spiritual meaning but aren't strongly affiliated with a specific religion sometimes feel left out of winter holidays. Yule is like a hot toddy for these chilled and isolated souls. From mistletoe to gift exchanging, Yule explores and exalts the pagan and regional roots to many of our contemporary rituals and celebrations. For example, lights were historically used to decorate winter homes in order to "frighten negative entities and urge the sun to shine," according to author Dorothy Morrison. Many people believe that Santa's reindeer "represent the stags that drew the chariot of the Norse gift-giving goddess, Freya." Beyond all the fascinating trivia, this is also a book that offers fresh approaches to old traditions, such as having a cleaning ritual that ceremoniously sweeps out the old and makes room for the new season or conducting a reverent "tree blessing" ceremony. Morrison also suggests numerous homemade crafts and gift ideas (many are suitable for children), inviting seasonal recipes (such as Yuletide Ambrosia and Dragon's Layer Cake), and a December calendar that lists traditions and rituals for every day of the month. --Gail Hudson

From the Publisher:

Ah, the winter holidays. It's crisp and cold and the nights are long. In the middle of these "dark" times people all over the world celebrate. Some call the festivities Christmas or Hanukkah. Others know them as Las Posadas or Ta Chiu. Still others simply celebrate Winter Solstice or Yule. You can find out the lore of the past and present of these celebrations in Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth by Dorothy Morrison.

Jam-packed with holiday lore, recipes, crafts, rituals, and more, Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth guides you through the magic of the season. Whatever your beliefs, the holidays provide you with rituals to celebrate the balance of light and dark, and for welcoming the healing powers of warmth back into our world. Learn about them here.

As you read Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth, you'll bring back some of the joy and delight you felt as a child during this season, the spirit of warmth and goodwill that illuminated the long winter nights. Discover the origin of the eight tiny reindeer, brew up some Yuletide coffee, and learn ways to create your own holiday traditions and crafts based on celebrations from a variety of countries and beliefs.

Begin the fun and pleasure when you get Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth.

About this edition

• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
• Publication date: 2000
• ISBN 10: 1567184960
• ISBN 13: 9781567184969
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 216