Pagan Mums: What do you do at Christmas/Yule?

[Mercy]

I posted this in Chat but Hallgerda suggested this would be a better place.

Anyway, it was really interesting reading about the Halloween traditions and I wondered what you do at Christmas time - and the reasons behind them.

I can't really find any info (apart from bringing some ivy into the house on Christmas Eve)

Oh dear, sorry Mercy . It appears I was mistaken there, but at least I bumped your other thread. I started this thread last month, trying to be positive about not feeling too enthusiastic about Christmas, which may be of interest (check out squidette's link in particular).

Sorry Mercy, missed this.

I celebrate the Solstice by greeting the sun when it rises (thankfully late, I hate getting up too early ) and then when it sets again I light my Yulefire. I keep a piece of wood from the previous year to light the new fire with. Luckily I have a good outside hearth, with a lid on my fire pit, as it is traditional to leave the embers burning until the holiday is over.

I usually also perform a ritual of thanks but I don't want to give details as that is between me and my faith.

I decorate the house with evergreen leaves and I like to use reds and golds in my decorations to celebrate the sun.

Go to a party on December 21st and burn a huge yuletide log on the fire too

Thought i'd join this one as well

I don't do a great deal - mainly because Christmas is soooo apparent, it sort of takes over (DH is non-pagan). The tree has a spider in it (I can't remember if that is a pagan thing though or just from an old story... been doing it too long to remember ). I do something to do with nature on Yule (walk in the woods etc) - this year I'm finally getting to Stonehenge for sunrise

DD gets Yule stories read to her instead of her normal ones - its one of the few chances I get to add in my faith to her life (school do Christmas, baby jesus etc).

Thank you all (will look at squidette's link)

and bump for fillyjonk