Wiccan Yule Celebration The Wiccan Yule Celebration is an important festival that is observed by Wiccans and other followers of pagan religions. Yule is a festival that is celebrated during the winter solstice, which usually falls on December 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. During the Yule celebration, Wiccans focus on the rebirth of the Sun God, as well as on the return of light and life. It is a time to honor the cycle of the seasons and to welcome the longer days ahead. The festival is also known as the Winter Solstice or the Festival of Lights. Many Wiccans celebrate Yule by lighting candles or bonfires to symbolize the return of the sun and to bring warmth and light into the darkness.
Even though Halloween was a new experience for me, the concept itself was not completely foreign. It anchored itself easily with two Finnish traditions: the Easter-witch (or trullit ‘trolls’) tradition from Ostrobothnia and the Karelian virpomis-tradition, also at Easter—children ‘switching’ neighbors with decorated pussy-willow branches, reciting incantations for health and happiness, hoping to receive eggs (nowadays candy) as a “salary”: Siulle vitsa, miulle palkka—The switch for you, the pay for me. This is not too far from Karkki tai kepponen—Trick or Treat!
In 2020, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the celebrations were held online with a variety of live streams, and virtual reality experiences as the Finnish government extended the ban on festivals past the end of July. In Finland, as of the end of the 19th century, the previously traditional feast for only the upper-class became one of the four most significant and highly anticipated events for all.
Many Wiccans celebrate Yule by lighting candles or bonfires to symbolize the return of the sun and to bring warmth and light into the darkness. Yule decorations often include evergreens, such as holly and mistletoe, which are symbols of eternal life and fertility. These decorations are used to adorn altars and homes during the festival.
Halloween, Kekri, All Saints’ Day, Pyhäinpäivä
Written by: Helena Halmari
The first time I encountered Halloween was in 1972. I was spending my exchange semester in Winchendon, Massachusetts, and I had not even heard the word before. The following day would be All Saints’ Day. Now, that was a familiar thing, pyhäinpäivä.
Halloween in Massachusetts in 1972. Photo: Mr. Lemire.
In Finland, Halloween was not celebrated, despite the fact that the first Halloween party had been thrown at the hotel Kalastajatorppa in Helsinki in 1950, “with the help of Americans.”
An advertisement for the 1950 Halloween party at Kalastajatorppa.
Photo: Yle Uutisgrafiikka.
Even though Halloween was a new experience for me, the concept itself was not completely foreign. It anchored itself easily with two Finnish traditions: the Easter-witch (or trullit ‘trolls’) tradition from Ostrobothnia and the Karelian virpomis-tradition, also at Easter—children ‘switching’ neighbors with decorated pussy-willow branches, reciting incantations for health and happiness, hoping to receive eggs (nowadays candy) as a “salary”: Siulle vitsa, miulle palkka—The switch for you, the pay for me. This is not too far from Karkki tai kepponen—Trick or Treat!
Witches materializing on an Easter Saturday at Lempäälä, Finland, in 1986. Photo: Pauli Lindholm.
Halloween, originally an ancient pagan Celtic feast, spread from the British Isles to today’s English-speaking world, and from the United States, it has made some headway recently to Finland. Like Valentine’s Day and Mothers’ and Fathers’ Days, Halloween was embraced with enthusiasm by merchants willing to make a Finnish mark by launching these foreign holidays.
However, there would already have been a native Finnish festival to match Halloween: Kekri. At the time when Halloween, in its American form, started to be introduced to Finland in the twentieth century, Kekri was dormant. Growing up in Finland, I had heard this word but associated it with dead ancient customs.
Kekri was a harvest-festival in Finland, a joyous celebration of the end of summer and the end of the agricultural labor of collecting the harvest. Kekri was typically celebrated between Michaelmas Day and All Saints’ Day. It marked the end of sowing, growing, and harvesting—the end of the agricultural year. Kekri was a feast of joy. The servants’ holidays began at Kekri. Food was plentiful, and sometimes even dead relatives were “invited” to eat with the living. Dressing up in scary costumes was also part of the tradition.
As an agricultural feast, the Kekri tradition vanished because of industrialization, but it is being revived. Kekri’s connections to the Celtic Samhain, from which the Anglo-Saxon Halloween developed, Mexican Día de los Muertos, and Brazilian Noche de Brujas are obvious. The proximity between the joyful pagan harvest celebrations (where the dead also play a part) and All Saints’ Day, the solemn and contemplative Christian commemoration of martyrs, saints, and all the dead (known and unknown to us), blurs the boundaries between paganism and Christianity, between the living and the dead, between joy and sorrow.
In the English-speaking world, Halloween is always on October 31, followed on November 1 by what it is the “eve” for: All Saints’ (or All Hallows’) Day. In Finland, All Saints’ Day used to be also on November 1, but since 1955 pyhäinpäivä falls on the Saturday between October 31 and November 6. While Halloween is not officially in the Finnish calendar, it is typically celebrated on October 31, just like in the English-speaking world. This year, thus, Halloween and All Saints’ Day in Finland fall on the same day. On All Saints’ Day, pyhäinpäivä, people in Finland visit the graves of relatives and light candles on the graves. This tradition is strong, and churchyards on All Saints’ Day are as brightly lit as on Christmas.
Celebrating Halloween, sometimes called kurpitsajuhla (‘pumpkin feast’) the American way by carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes, and knocking on neighbors’ doors with the exclamation “Karkki tai kepponen!” is making its way to Finland as well, often with the help of Finnish American organizations in Finland. With the revitalization of Kekri, an interesting mix of native and new may be emerging.
Pumpkin-carving event at SAM (Porin Suomi-Amerikka yhdistys) in Pori, Finland, in 2020. Photo: Keijo Koskinen.
For children, these fun celebrations at the cusp of summer and winter, during the darkest time of the year, also provide a kind and playful introduction to the frightening sides of life. All Saints’ Day gives us all a chance to sit down and think of those gone before us.
Today, on All Saints’ Day, I called my 83-year-old friend in Finland. She had taken a taxi, gone to the graveyard, and placed a candle on her husband’s grave. In the churchyard she had met lots of other people who had also left the confines of their homes for an excursion to the grave. All were lighting candles on their loved ones’ graves. The sea of candles in the slowly darkening churchyard had made my friend happy.
Feasting is an important part of the Yule celebration, and it is common for Wiccans to share a meal with family and friends during this time. Traditional foods such as roasted meats, root vegetables, and spiced cider are often enjoyed. The feast is a time of joy and gratitude for the abundance of the earth. Rituals and ceremonies are also performed during the Yule celebration. Wiccans may participate in group rituals, where they come together to honor the deities and to connect with the natural world. These rituals often involve chanting, drumming, and dancing. Many Wiccans also exchange gifts during Yule, as a symbol of love and appreciation for one another. The giving of gifts represents the spirit of generosity and helps to foster a sense of community among believers. Overall, the Wiccan Yule Celebration is a time of reflection, renewal, and hope. It is a time to honor the cycles of nature and to celebrate the return of light and life. This festival holds great significance for Wiccans, as it represents the rebirth of the Sun God and the promise of a new beginning..
Reviews for "Incorporating Herbal Magick into Your Wiccan Yule Celebration"
1. Simon - ★☆☆☆☆
I attended the Wiccan yhle celebration as I was curious about different spiritual practices, but I was extremely disappointed. The event felt disorganized and lacked structure. There were no clear explanations or instructions given, leaving attendees confused and lost. Additionally, the rituals performed seemed more like a poorly rehearsed play rather than a sacred ceremony. Overall, it was a frustrating experience, and I left feeling unsatisfied and unenlightened.
2. Jenna - ★★☆☆☆
I had heard so much hype about the Wiccan yhle celebration, but unfortunately, it fell short of my expectations. The event felt too focused on commercialization and appealing to a broader audience rather than truly embracing and preserving the Wiccan traditions. The atmosphere lacked genuine spiritual energy, with many attendees treating it as more of a social gathering rather than a sacred event. The lack of respect for the rituals and traditions was noticeable and made it difficult to connect with the spirituality I was hoping to experience.
3. Mike - ★★☆☆☆
As someone who has attended other Wiccan celebrations, I found the Wiccan yhle celebration to be underwhelming. The rituals felt rushed and lacked depth, with minimal explanations offered to those who may be new to Wiccan practices. The event itself was overcrowded, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the energy of the ceremony. Overall, it felt like more of a spectacle than a genuine spiritual experience. I left feeling unfulfilled and wishing for a more authentic representation of Wiccan traditions.
4. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
The Wiccan yhle celebration was a complete disappointment. The entire event felt like a tourist trap, with more focus on selling merchandise than honoring the spiritual significance of the occasion. The lack of organization was evident in the chaotic flow of the rituals, leaving me feeling disconnected and disengaged. It's unfortunate that such an important and sacred celebration was not given the reverence it deserved. I would not recommend attending this event to those seeking a genuine and meaningful Wiccan experience.