Yule: the Sermon
This is the final part of the section on Yule in The New Pagans’ Handbook:
The Sermon
At the Time of the Promise a candle was lit as an earnest that the dark days would not reign for ever and that our part of the world would turn to increasing light. Also in that promise was implicit new life and peace. Our themes are therefore the old ones of Life, Light, Peace. This is symbolised by the three colours, Red, White, Blue, and the thumb and two first fingers raised in the so-called ‘Phrygian Blessing’, whose pagan origin has led to it not being used in some churches.
At Yuletide we celebrate the redemption of the Promise in the Birth of the Star Child. And that birth is symbol of a greater birth; the coming into being of the Universe itself. Yule is the festival of Creation, and our year begins here with its memories of a ‘Golden Age’ that maybe never was, but is a state to be striven for.
It is a festival of good cheer. This is not only true of good things to eat and drink but of good thoughts and joyful ones. There should be generosity both of pocket and more importantly soul; and our warm and cheerful considerations should extend beyond what is ours and kin to us to take in the bodily, spiritual and mental comfort of others.
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