As The Wheel Turns: Winter Solstice or Yule

Merry Yule to everyone!  The word Yule comes from the Norse "Jul" or wheel.  As the saying goes, "What goes around, comes around."  It is a celebration of the sun's rebirth, heralded by the longest night of the year.  So begins the solar calendar.  For many, it is a time of gift giving, lighting a Yule log, parties and get-togethers.  There are also many different customs and traditions around the world for this season.
 

This seasonal celebration has definite and traceable pagan roots.  It was the Roman Emperor Aurelian in the 3rd century who designated December 25th as the birthday of Dies Natalis Invicti Solis, "The Invincible Sun".  This became known as 'Saturnalia'.  It was a huge, 7-day festival where homes were decorated with laurel and evergreens.  Lamps were burned throughout the celebration to ward of darkness.  Institutions closed, the army rested, no criminals were executed, slaves feasted with their masters and enjoyed freedoms of action and speech during this time.  It is believed the medieval custom of servants and lords feasting together on Christmas came from this tradition. Roman friends and family visited one another toting good-luck wishes with gifts of food, candles, jewelry and incense.  There were also processions where participants with blackened faces and outlandish hats would dance through the streets.  This tradition is carried on today by the mummers of Newfoundland.
 

In pagan Scandinavia, the winter festival was marked with the burning of huge Yule logs.  People listened to the retelling of ancient legends and deeds.  They believed the magickal Yule log inspired the sun to return and make the days grow longer.  Mistletoe, gathered from the sacred oak, was ceremoniously cut and a spray given to families to be hung for good luck.  In Celtic tradition, this plant offers goodwill and kissing under it is a pledge of friendship.  Mistletoe, while forbidden inside most Christian churches because of its pagan roots, still has an honored place in many home celebrations.
 

This was/is a time of sacrifice for many pagans.  Animals were a preferred gift at Winter Solstice.  However, in Germany, those families who could not afford to do so, would make effigies of animals from cookie dough.  These became known as 'springerle'.  In modern times, springerle are square or rectangle cookies with pressed-in designs, made either by rolling dough on a springerle board or with a springerle rolling pin.  Both have various shapes represented on them.  (The recipe is included in this edition).
 

Around 273AD, the Christian church adopted December 25th to represent the birth of Jesus.  This date was formally Christianized by 336.  This act forever linked Christmas with Winter Solstice, Yule and Saturnalia.  By the 1100's, this date became the peak time of year for celebrations and gift giving throughout Europe.  Under the influence of 'The Reformation' of the 16th century, many of the old customs were suppressed.  Churches forbade processions, ceremonies, plays and merriment in general.  In 1647, the  English Parliament abolished Christmas altogether.  Charles II revived the much loved and missed customs though they were considered more worldly in nature than religious.
 

Around the world during the time of Solstice, there are celebrations of mothers giving birth to sacred children: Demeter to Persephone, Rhiannon to Pryderi, Isis to Horus (around December 23rd) and the birth of the Persian Mithras (December 25th).   January 6th was the original date celebrated by the Egyptians as a solstice festival.  This date was later attributed to the Christian Epiphany or visit of the three Magi.  This is also the date of the Greek Orthodox Christmas celebration.
 

The common themes and similarities are found throughout the world and all religions.  So while we celebrate, in whatever manner of choice, remember that this is a time sacred to every people and culture.  Burn the log, lift a glass, squeal at a gift, kiss under the mistletoe and give thanks that in truth, we are not so far apart from our other brothers and sisters.  Blessed Be.

Springerle

The original 3-D cookies. Recipe from 'The Double-Day Cookbook: Complete Contemporary Cooking ' by Jean Anderson and Elaine Hanna, published by Doubleday & Company Inc, 1975.  This recipe makes approximately 5 dozen cookies.
 
 

Examples of Springerel Molds. Individual wooden cookie blocks are called Spekulatius. Ingredients: 4 cups of sifted flour 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 4 eggs 2 cups of sugar 2 teaspoons finely grated lemon rind (optional)

Anise seeds
 

Preparation:

Sift flour with baking powder and salt.  Beat eggs until lemon colored, slowly add sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, beating well after each addition; continue beating until very thick and pale, about 10 minutes with a mixer.  Slowly mix in lemon rind and dry ingredients, beating just to blend.  Wrap and chill dough 3-4 hours.  Roll, 1/3 at a time, slightly less than 1/2" thick, keeping shape as nearly rectangular as possible and about the width of the rolling pin.  Roll a lightly floured springerle rolling pin over dough 1 time, pressing firmly so dough is about 1/4" thick and evenly so imprint is clear.  If using springerle board, roll dough 1/4" think on lightly floured board, using regular rolling pin, then invert on lightly foured surface.  If using spekulatius block, roll dough 1/4" think, then pressing firmly and evenly, using block like a stamp. (Note: in warm weather, chill springerle pin or board along with dough to make rolling easier).  Cut on imprint lines to separate individual cookies, transfer to a lightly floured surface, and let stand uncovered overnight.
 

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.  Sprinkle greased baking sheets generously with anise seeds, lift cookies to sheets, and bake 15 minutes until golden but not brown.  Cool 1 minute on sheets before transferring to racks to cool.  (Note: Some people like to mellow springerle about a week in an airtight canister before serving.)  About 110 calories per cookie.' -- (But hey, its Yule! Enjoy!!)