The Winter Solstice, usually referred to as Yule, occurs during December 21st - 23rd. At this Sabbat, we celebrate the birth of the Sun King. In some traditions, the celebration actually begins on ‘Mother Night’ and ends twelve days later on ‘Yule Night’ (which helps explain the origin of the twelve days of Christmas). Many of the traditions from our pagan ancestors have been brought into modern day observance of this holiday, including the Christmas tree and Santa Claus.
The tree was originally lit with candles to show the Sun King that his light was welcomed in the household and it was decorated with objects which represented either gifts for the Sun King or blessings the person wished to receive from Him. Many of the ornaments were shaped as fruits, vegetables, nuts, berries, candy or cookies (to ensure a bountiful harvest), musical instruments (to represent the joyous celebration of the return of the Sun King) and frogs (as protection and to bring an early Spring).
What is now Santa Claus was once Father Christmas. He is often depicted wearing or carrying a sprig of holly (a representation of the Holly King - the king of the dying year) It is interesting to note that his sleigh is drawn by antlered creatures (a representation of the Horned God?) and that there are eight of them (perhaps representing the Sabbats themselves). He is said to enter homes through the chimney, the traditional entrance of a witch on a broom and the traditional exit of a shaman flying in spirit (in that case the smoke hole of a teepee). It is also intriguing that in Italy, Santa Claus has been replaced by a beautiful lady witch who flies around on her broom on ‘twelfth-night’ distributing gifts to children by coming down their chimneys.
