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The Spirits of Christmas Past

© M. Williams.

For most of us the holidays are a welcome relief from the stresses of life, occurring as they do in the middle of the long, dreary winter. We enthusiastically throw ourselves into the celebrations, decking the halls and kissing under the mistletoe. But though we embrace these traditions in the spirit of the season, many are unaware of their ancient and magickal roots. Few of us realize that these same quaint customs that so reinforce our holiday feelings of warmth and togetherness, are rooted in age-old pagan beliefs and have as much to do with otherworldly spirits as with high holiday ones.

The Yule log is one tradition that dates from the pre-Christian era and is steeped in magickal lore. Our ancestors not only found the winter months long, but cold and dark as well. Their midwinter festivities were a celebration of the impending return of spring, and the Yule log figured prominently both as a symbol of the life that would soon return to the earth and as the source of light and life-sustaining warmth during the harsh winter season. The sacred flame provided protection from evil spirits during the longest night of the year, and the remains of the fire were prized for their magickal properties in the curing of certain illnesses.

Because of its importance, the tradition of the Yule log has survived through the centuries, with a few modifications along the way. Later traditions might include making a wish on the Yule log-for the wish to come true the log must light on the first try-or telling ghost stories around the fire while watching for the headless shadow on the wall that would foretell a death in the new year. Those hoping for good luck in the coming year would celebrate throughout the night in order to keep the Yule fire burning for twelve consecutive hours.

Unlike our ancestors, however, we have no need to rely on fire for our heat and light, and so the tradition of the Yule log has lost much of its importance for us. Today, our Yule log is just as likely to be of the edible variety-a cake roll covered in chocolate and decorated with holly leaves and other seasonal symbols. A far cry from its origins, but a pleasing custom nonetheless.

Decking the halls with greenery, another highly popular custom in many cultures, also has its roots in early antiquity. Evergreens have always been a symbol of everlasting life; in the midst of the cold, lifeless winter they remain green and vibrant. In early times evergreens were brought into homes to ward off the demons that roamed the land during the dead of winter. Holly was hung over doors and windows to keep these harmful spirits at bay and to keep the house safe from fire and stormy weather.

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