Celebrating Old Jól in Modern Midwinter Tradition
I find Yule to be such an interesting holytide for Heathenry because of the diversity of modern traditions. Some choose to celebrate it at Christmas, some at the solstice, some at the midwinter moon. Some choose to celebrate it as one day/night, some as 3, some as twelve, or even as a season.
For me the Yule season encompasses 2 lunar months. The Yule moon in December, and the Midwinter moon in January. But when I say Old Jól, I mean specifically the 3 days surrounding the full moon in the Midwinter month. For me this is the most focused time of festivity in the Yule season, although other traditions are interspersed throughout the 2 lunar months.
Thinking about Jól, we are coming out of the Dark Time, looking forward to a new cycle. The sun is returning. We think back on all that has happened in the past year, we take stock of our luck, we remember those who have passed, and then we look forward to the next cycle. We gather together with kin and feast, and reminisce, and make oaths. The Jól festivities are a material representation of the summation of that cycle’s luck.
For me, I feel that Jól is our most important holytide, although I have heard the argument for Winter Nights as well.
Because of how we are thinking about the changing of the cycle, Jól is heavily tied to the Norns. We think of Urðr as we look back over the past year, and remember any loved ones who have passed. Verðandi ties us to the present, taking stock of where we are and the summation of our luck. Skuld forges the path forward as we begin to make our plans for the return of the light and all that we will strive to do as we turn outwards again.
We have been doing a Jólwait tradition which is similar to Sunwait, if you are familiar with that. (If not, I will link some information below.) It is also similar to other candle traditions in other faiths such as advent, or lighting the menorah at Hanukkah. Candle traditions are very common for winter traditions across faiths. The Jólwait tradition is distinct in that we follow the lunisolar calendar in reckoning our holytides. This means we are celebrating Jól, Sigrblot, Midsummer, and Winter Nights each on the full moon, following the first new moon after the solstice/equinox. As an extension of this the Jólwait tradition precedes Jól, following largely the lunar cycle to determine which day we observe a candle lighting rite.
There are 9 candles, with the last usually being lit on Jól. We often also light one on the solstice day. What each candle represents in each year changes, as we write new rites. For me, in my hearth this year I chose to further deviate from the lunar calendar by lighting candles on both Mother’s Night and the solstice day. We also often tie each rite into the lunar phases with the new moons being focused on the chthonic, and the full moons on the celestial. I find that observing the lunar cycles in this way alters my perception of time during the Yule season.
This year, I wanted to focus on the feminine forces, with ties to the Yule/winter season. I further wanted to connect it by practicing these rites outside. I made candle holders of coloured ice, and arranged them into a circle with one candle in the middle, so it looked like a sunwheel. The middle candle was lit on the solstice day to represent Sol.
I had written my rites in advance before Jólwait started and when it came to each day it was really powerful to see how well each rite just fit with what was going on for myself and my loved ones during that time. Despite the harshness of winters here, it was really amazing to do the rites outside and feel that connection to the natural forces at play during the Dark Time.
There is no wrong way to design your Jólwait really. It is just a great way to connect to the season, and also to connect with your kin, and to stave off those long dark nights. And despite all the jokes from outsiders about celebrating Heathen Hanukkah, it is a very meaningful practice.
Further Reading:
"Årsväntan" https://fornkunskap.wordpress.com/2014/11/23/arsvantan/
"Crafting Yule Traditions with Väntljusstaken (Light-Anticipation-Candlesticks)" http://www.heathenhof.com/continuing-vantljusstaken-light-anticipation-candlesticks/
"Lighting the Sunwait Candles 2020" https://giftsofthewyrd.wordpress.com/2020/11/07/sunwait-2020/comment-page-1/
The Sunwait Page on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vantljusstaken/
"Väntljusstaken – Sunwait Candles" https://vivianehinds.wordpress.com/2018/11/22/vantljusstaken-sunwait-candles/
Image Sources:
Images are my own.
