So, what's with the Yule?

[KDLarsen]

I saw a bit of text in someones sig, and I was wondering what it meant. I suppose it's replacing Christmas (ie. a non-christian name for the holidays), but where does it come from? Because Yule is quite close to the Danish word for Christmas, Jul.

[havocmom]

1. Yule isn't replacing Christmas

They tried to replace Yule WITH Christmas

[CornField]

2. Another name used for Winter Solstice

Yule is one of the eight primary holidays for (most) pagans. The sun is considered to represent the male divinity in many pagan traditions. This time is celebrated as the return of the Sun (rebirth of the Sun).

The others are Imbolc (Feb. 2); Ostara (late March); Beltaine (early May); Summer Solstice/Midsummer (late June); Lughnasadh (Aug. 1); Autumn Equinox/Mabon (late September); and Samhain (Oct. 31).

[KDLarsen]

4. Very interesting..

.. I think I just learned where the Danish word comes from :)

[LiberalEsto]

3. The word Yule/Jul means wheel

because this time represents a turning of the Year-Wheel.

Estonians call the holiday Jõulu, also derived from the word Jul or Yule, even though our language isn't related to any of the Germanic or Scandinavian languages. I think the concept may have been spread around by the vikings, or perhaps by earlier travelers.