Happy Yuletide! I can’t say that I am the most knowledgeable regarding the background and traditions of winter solstice celebrations and rituals, but I am learning more as I go and loving what I learn. I wanted to pop in today to share a few of my favorite cozy Yule traditions with you.
Whether you celebrate Christmas, Yule, a combination, or simply mark the winter solstice, the astronomical beginning of winter and the shortest day and longest night are at the center of this occasion. It is a time of merriment as a way to bring light and cheer into the darkness, and to remind ourselves that the sun and its life-giving warmth will return. This is very much based in the agrarian lifestyle of our ancestors and the greater danger winter posed to their survival. Today we feel the hold-over of these traditions in more metaphorical ways but they’re still deeply ingrained. Other pagan and Christian elements and traditions of this holiday came in later, but all still revolve around the natural occurrence of the winter solstice.
Despite the jolly festivities, as I get older I feel the need more and more to snuggle in at home, slow down, eat cozy treats, and enjoy quiet times with my family just playing games and reading books. I think my connection to the natural world slowing down and going to its winter rest deepens the older I get! So I don’t feel the need for more gifts and parties, but rather candles, tea, and good books.
Candles
I absolutely love making my own candles this time of year. With a few simple, natural ingredients, candles that are healthier and more special than the store bought variety can easily be whipped up in your kitchen. Candles add a warming glow to Yuletide evenings and events, can be given as very special gifts, and you can add your own intention both when you’re stirring the wax to make them and when you take the time to light them each night.
Check out the recipe for these Yule Forest Candles I shared last year, these cozy Pumpkin Spice Coffee Candles from when I was just beginning to learn candlemaking, or purchase the Winter Candlemaking Guide from my Etsy shop to learn how to make candles at home.
Tea
Hot tea is a wonderful way to spend a winter evening during the Yuletide season! There is nothing better than brewing a big pot of tea tailored to the energies of the season, your health, or simply your mood.
During this season of eating sweets and overindulging, a digestive-boosting tea like the Vanilla Digestion Tea I shared last year can be both helpful and tasty. An Immune Boosting Tea Blend can’t go amiss this time of year, either. Mushroom Coffee makes for a hearty and energizing, yet grounding, brew. Or check out the many other winter tea recipes in my Winter Tea Booklet in my Etsy shop.
Books
I am never at a loss for good books to read! Here I will keep the explanation short and simply share some links to books that are perfect for this season.
Children’s books about Yule / the Winter Solstice / Wintertime (that are wonderful for adults, too):
The Shortest Day (Susan Cooper)
The Shortest Day (Wendy Pfeffer)
Adult fiction and nonfiction – my recent cozy or cozy-adjacent favorites
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries
The Tale of Hilltop Farm (the Cottage Tales of Beatrix Potter)
A Morbid Taste for Bones (the Brother Cadfael mysteries)
What cozy ways are you enjoying the Yuletide season?
For educational purposes only. Not intended for medical advice. Always consult your physician.
*This post contains affiliate links, which means if you choose to buy something from a link that I share, I will make a small percentage of the sale *at no extra cost to you*.
The Herbology Faerie 