Set-up: People
Quarter Callers
Spirit
Goddess / God (if not done by HPS / HP)
HPS / HP
Santa

Set-up: Equipment
Yule tree (and stand)
Basket
Strings of Christmas lights
Yule log
Candles that will burn for about 2 hours (yellow, red, blue, green, white, silver, gold)
Candle holders and matches

Preparing the Space

Use the lights to outline to circle.  If you desire, the lights can be indicative of the element or randomized.   At each point, set up an altar using the appropriate candle.  The Yule log (with silver, white, and gold candles) goes on the center altar.  Slightly off center of the circle, place the Yule tree making certain there is enough room for the basket underneath.  Nearby or on the main altar, have strands of popcorn, cranberry, and paper ring garlands as well as other paper ornaments.  The listing below are additional correspondences associated with Yule:

Altar decorations: candles, chalice or cup, cinnamon sticks, evergreen boughs, gifts, hearth fire symbol, holly, lights, mistletoe, nuts, pine cones, poinsettias, robins and cardinals, sparkling crystals, sun symbol, wreath.

Foods: brandy, bread pudding, caraway rolls, cider, dried fruit, eggnog, fruitcake, gingerbread, mincemeat pie, mulled wine, nuts, roasted meats, rum, and wassail.

Herbs / Incense / Oils : apple, bay, bayberry, blessed thistle, cedar, cinnamon, evergreen, ginger, holly, juniper, laurel, mistletoe, myrrh, oak, pine, poinsettia, rosemary, saffron, sage, valerian, and wintergreen

Stones : bloodstone, cat’s eye, diamond, emerald, garnet, ruby.
 

Arrival

As each participant arrives, collect their gift and food shelf donation.  The gifts go into a sack and the donations into a basket.  Prior to the start of the ritual, bring the basket to the circle and place it under the tree.

Starting

Cast and raise the circle in the manner that is normal for your group.  Once the circle is up, have participants join hands, and walk deosil around the circle:
 

We circle around this hallowed place
creating a time beyond time, space beyond space
Joining together in solemn rite
Casting our boundary of pure sacred light
Bound now together by word and by deed
Let the forces be formed as we have decreed
Gathered together in perfect trust and love
As it is below, so it is above.

Invocation
 

East:  (Lights the yellow candle.)
 
Gift givers of the East, I bid you welcome: Babouschka, Black Peter, Bozic Bata, Bozicek, Bozincnjak, Deda Mraz, Dedushka Moroz, Del Moroz (Grandfather Frost), Diado Coleda, Gaghant Baba, Ganesha, Jouluvana, Kaledu Senis, Kaledu Senu, Karacsony Apo, Svaty Mikalas, Sveti Nicola, Ziemmassve’tku Veci’tis.  Bring to us this night joy and good cheer.

South:  (Lights the red candle.)
 
Gift givers of the South, I bid you welcome: El Nino Jesus, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Old Man Christmas, Papai Noel, San Nicolas, Three Kings (Los Reyes Magos: Melchor, Gaspar, Baltasar).  Bring to us this night joy and good cheer.

West:  (Lights the blue candle.)

Gift givers of the West, I bid you welcome: Ameraterasu, Dun Che Lao Ren (dwyn-chuh-lau-oh-run), Hoteiosho, Kanakaloka, Santa Kurousu, Santa No Ojison, Shendgan Laoren, Sing Dan Lo Ian.  Bring to us this night joy and good cheer.
 

North:  (Lights the green candle.)

Gift givers of the North, I bid you welcome: Christkind, Feliz Navidad, Gwiazdor (Star Man), Hagios Nikolaos, Jolasvrinn, Joulupukki, Julebukk, Julemanden, Julenissen, Julgubben, Jultomten, Kerstman, Knecht Ruprecht, Krampus, La Petit, Mari Llwyd, Noel, Pa Norsk, Papa Noel, Pere Noel, Santa Lucia, Sinter Klaas, Swiety Mikolaj, Tomte, Weihnachtsmann (Christmas Man), Wise Men.  Bring to us this night joy and good cheer.

Spirit:  (Lights the white candle in the Yule log.)

Tonight we gather together to celebrate the gift giver, one who is known to many as Santa Claus or St. Nicholas, patron saint to children and sailors, and gift giver to the less fortunate.  Temples to the God Poseidon and shrines to the Goddess Befana were transformed into places of worship to him.  Tonight we honor his pagan roots, and joyously welcome the gift giver.  May the gods and our hearts open to the spirit of joy and celebration.  So mote it be.

Call to the Goddess:   (Lights the silver candle in the Yule log.)

I call upon thee, Befana, gift giver of old.  Join with us this night in joyous celebration.

La Befana comes at night
in tattered shoes with laces tied tight
Dressed in Roman style
Her search extends for miles

To those who fail to achieve their goals
She brings only cinders and coals
But for those who live steadfast and true
Her gifts restore, replenish, and renew.

Long live la Befana!  So mote it be.

[Note: this an adaptation from the original Italian chant.  I wanted to keep it in rhyme.  Here is the original with it’s translation:

La Befana vien di notte        La Befana comes at night
con el scarpe tutte rotte        in tattered shoes
col vestito alla "romana"        dressed in the Roman style
viva viva la Befana!                Long live la Befana!

Porta cencere e carboni        She brings cinders and coals
ai bambini  cattivoni                to the naughty children
ai bambini belli e buoni            to the good children
porta chicchi e tanti doni!        she brings sweets and lots of gifts.]

Call to the God:  (Lights the gold candle in the Yule log.)

I call upon thee, Poseidon, Lord of the Earth and Sea
Protector of children and sailors
As we individuals sail forth on the seas of life,
We pray you guide us safely through ‘til journey’s end.
Tonight we honor you and bid you welcome.
Join with us in celebration of abundance, of innocence, of youth.
Hail Poseidon.  So mote it be.

Working
 

HPS:
Tonight we celebrate Yule.  It is a season of celebration - for the God has been reborn and returned to us.  It is a time of celebration for the abundance of the past year, and to renew old friendships.  It is a time to set aside differences and to welcome in the light.
HP:
This is a time of new beginnings, and a time to give of ourselves.  We have gathered gifts for one another, and we have gathered things for those less fortunate.  Now we gather to ask that the gods themselves bestow upon each of us a gift for the upcoming year.
HPS:
As the sun moves around the earth, so the gods move in and out of our lives, always returning to us and we to them.  Thusly, we move now around this tree, decorating it with our wishes and dreams.
HP:
Come and move around this tree.  Let these ornaments and decorations remind us to dedicate ourselves to improving not only our lives but the lives of others.

The HPS / HP each take their ornament and place it upon the tree, encouraging others to do likewise.  Once all the ornaments have been hung, pick up the strands of garland and other decorations and allow everyone to decorate the tree until all is done.  When it is done, have everyone join hands at the edge of the circle and sing an appropriate carol.

[Insert carol here.]

Cakes and Ale

How this is done is determined by the group itself.  Depending upon the size of the group, you may wish to have others assist the HPS / HP in passing the cakes and ale.  As each participant is presented with the cake / ale, the following appropriate phrase is said:
 

"By this bread, may you never know hunger."
"By this cup, may you never know thirst."

Gift Giving
 

HP:
I have heard much of this person called Santa.  But what is the truth?
HPS:
I too, have heard much.  But who knows for certain who is he?
North:
Oh, that is easy.  Santa is a jolly fat man who lives at the North Pole with his elves, making toys all year long to deliver them on Christmas Eve to good children everywhere.  He thrives in the deep cold, much like an evergreen tree.  That is why he is associated with the green of the pines.
West:
No, Santa is the power of winter, he brings the snows and ice which, in the spring, turn to water to replenish and nourish the earth.  That is why his eyes shine of the deepest blue.
East:
You are both wrong.  Santa is in our imaginations.  He is of the world of dreams; a vision found in fairy tales.  That is why his hair and beard are of the purest white.
South:
None of you have it right.  Santa is the passions found in each of us, our fondest desires.  That is why his suit is red.
Spirit:
Foolish children.  All of you are right.  But Santa is so much more than this.  Santa belongs to all elements.  To the earth, Santa is all physical life that sustains us and nourishes us.  To the air, Santa is the thoughts of the mind which bring us joy and happiness, that inspire us to creativity and wonder.  To fire, Santa is the purest passions found in the beating hearts of mankind; of love and compassion.  And to water, Santa is the healer found when we reach outside of ourselves to help another.  Santa is as elusive as a dragon, and yet as near as the tenderest touch from a friend’s hand.  But, hush now and still your hearts.  Listen …

In the distance, "sleigh" bells are heard.  From outside the circle, Santa appears (preferably from the North).  HPS and HP go to the edge of the circle to assist Santa in coming in.
 

Santa:
Have the children here been naughty or nice?
HPS:
They are filled with goodness, sugar plums, and spice.
Santa:
Are their hearts opened and filled with my light?
HP:
They are filled with wondrous joy and delight.
Santa:
And am I to be kept here standing all day?
HPS & HP:
Welcome in Santa, we beg you to stay.  Join in our festivities.  Come - be merry, be gay!

HP cuts away circle; Santa steps in and is greeted with a kiss by the HPS while HP closes circle again.
 

Santa:
My task this night is an easy one.  For each gathered here has assisted me in bringing gifts of their own hand, much as I have done in days of old.  Each crafted in love and joy to be given to another.  Rejoice in all the gifts that each of you brings to this community.  Remember to share freely with one another for only in that manner will you truly know me.

Santa randomly pulls a gift out to give to each participant, setting the first gift on the altar (which will be his).  He then starts passing presents out to the participants beginning with the HPS / HP.  Once all the gifts have been passed out, it is time to close the circle.  Gifts are not opened until after the circle is closed.  (Can you say - ANTICIPATION?  I knew you could.)  Santa stays with the participants, joining in the circle.

Closing

[Note: if the candles are in a safe spot in the location where the feast will be, they can be left lit.  Or if in safe containers, they can be brought to where ever the feast is being held and set appropriately.  As a last resort, they should be extinguished.]
 

HPS:
Throughout our lives, wheels turn; things die and things are reborn.  An old year is passing, yet a new year comes.  And so the wheel continues.
HP:
Each here tonight has received a gift from another.  Each has shared of themselves in this rite.  May the energies raised this evening be stored in our hearts to replenish us and renew us in the upcoming year.
Goddess:
La Befana, we thank you for your presence here this night.  May your spirit of gift giving follow us throughout the new year, encouraging us to reach out to help one another.  Hail La Befana!
God:
Poseidon, we thank you for your presence here this night.  May you watch over your children as we continue our journey through another year.  Hail Poseidon!
North:
Thank you gift givers of the north for your presence here this night.  May your essence shine within our hearts in the upcoming year to remind each of us whenever possible to share with one another the fruits of our labors.  So mote it be!
West:
Thank you gift givers of the west for your presence here this night.  May your essence shine within our hearts in the upcoming year to remind each of us that compassion and kindness are, perhaps, the greatest gifts that can be given to another.  So mote it be!
South:
Thank you gift givers of the south for your presence here this night.  May your essence shine within our hearts in the upcoming year to remind each of us that gifts given in love and trust, no matter how small, are always welcomed, and always blessed.  So mote it be!
East:
Thank you gift givers of the east for your presence here this night.  May your essence shine within our hearts in the upcoming year to remind each of us that what we think is as important as what we do.  So mote it be!
Spirit:
Remember this night and carry its light within you for the coming year.  Though the circle is now open, it is never broken.
All:
Merry meet, and merry part, and merry meet again.
 

© September 4th, 2001 Mother
 
 

© 2001 Mother