Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth (Holiday Series, 2)

Product Description There's just something magical about the Yuletide season, no matter where you live or who you are. As bright candlelight mingles with the smells of pine and warm cookies and we perform our yearly rituals of song and family gatherings, the spirit of peace and goodwill seems to reach the heart of even the most cynical Scrooge. In the pages of Yule, Dorothy Morrison presents a wonderful potpourri of holiday lore from around the world and throughout history, along with fun crafts, delicious recipe seven a calendar of celebrations for every day in December. Learn where the traditions of the season originated―for instance, did you know that the ringing of bells was meant to drive away the demons who inhabited the darkest days of the year? That leaving cookies for Santa mirrors the old tradition of leaving a loaf of bread on the table overnight to bring prosperity in the new year? That the Yule log can be traced back to the ancient Greeks? Need a recipe for wassail or plum pudding? Tips for your holiday party? Want to make the season special by making your own decorative crafts and gifts? That's just a sampling of what's inside. Best of all, Yule shows that the spirit of the season is universal and, however we chose to celebrate and worship, we can all join together in the spirit of peace, love, and harmony at this special time of year. Amazon.com Review Those who yearn for spiritual meaning but aren't strongly affiliated with a specific religion sometimes feel left out of winter holidays. Yule is like a hot toddy for these chilled and isolated souls. From mistletoe to gift exchanging, Yule explores and exalts the pagan and regional roots to many of our contemporary rituals and celebrations. For example, lights were historically used to decorate winter homes in order to "frighten negative entities and urge the sun to shine," according to author Dorothy Morrison. Many people believe that Santa's reindeer "represent the stags that drew the chariot of the Norse gift-giving goddess, Freya." Beyond all the fascinating trivia, this is also a book that offers fresh approaches to old traditions, such as having a cleaning ritual that ceremoniously sweeps out the old and makes room for the new season or conducting a reverent "tree blessing" ceremony. Morrison also suggests numerous homemade crafts and gift ideas (many are suitable for children), inviting seasonal recipes (such as Yuletide Ambrosia and Dragon's Layer Cake), and a December calendar that lists traditions and rituals for every day of the month. --Gail Hudson From Booklist Dorothy Morrison's Yule takes a lighthearted approach to preparing for the holidays. Her prescriptions for making light work of the necessary preseason housecleaning include little rhyming chants that imbue objects with mystical blessings. Most of these verses are based on pre-Christian, pagan North European traditions where trees are divine and celebrations focus on nature's solstice. Morrison's simple recipes cover the usual hearty winter comfort foods. Morrison also offers a daily calendar for the month of December for pagans to substitute for the traditional Advent wreath. Mark Knoblauch Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Review "...stuffed with truths, fictions, superstitions, and history. There's also practical info, from holiday-oriented recipes to ways to remove Grinchiness from parties."―L.A. Times "...[A] lighthearted approach to preparing for the holidays."―Booklist "Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth isn't a book for people who want to sit in their armchair and passively read and absorb knowledge. It's for people who want to do."―The Cauldron, a Pagan Forum "...this guide to Yule is a treasured gift of celebrations."―Heather Froeschl, www.BookReview.com "...[A]n interesting compendium of folklore, traditions, recipes, and gift and decoration ideas to brighten up the winter holidays."―NAPRA ReView "Yule is a book for those who love the