Merry Yule!

26°f, -3°C, snow flurries and icy after yesterday's rain. A proper start to winter and to welcome Solstice.

Found on Facebook

The wheel turns, and round we go again to welcome the Oak King! (In this folkloric tradition, the Holly King represents the gradual fading away of green and light, while the Oak King represents the slow stirring of life beginning again, and the return of green.)

A song to welcome the season: Welcome Yule

This is, I think, another example of a very old song "Christianized" to blend the old traditions with the new religion. These lyrics are from the best carols website on the internet, in my opinion, The Hymns and Carols of Christmas.

Welcome be thou, heaven-king,
Welcome born in one morning,
Welcome for whom we shall sing,
Welcome for whom we shall sing,
Welcome Yule.¹

2. Welcome be ye, Stephan and John,
Welcome Innocents every one
Welcome Thomas Martyr one,
Welcome Thomas Marty one,
Welcome Yule.

3. Welcome be ye, good New Year,
Welcome Twelfth Day, both in fere,²
Welcome saints lef and dear,
Welcome saints lef and dear,
Welcome Yule.

4. Welcome be ye Candlemas,
Welcome be ye, Queen of Bliss,
Welcome both to more and less,³
Welcome both to more and less,
Welcome Yule.

I learned the song from an old video found online, in which the verses were arranged differently, and it did not double the third line. The melody was also quite different, much simpler than the very pretty one above.

So, welcome Winter! And welcome light!