My dear friend Patricia Asunja sent me this German and Scandinavian traditional way of celebrating the Yule holiday 5 years ago and I wanted to share it with you. I updated the days to match 2023 and a few other things, but this is by and large how it was described to me. I’ve practiced it myself and I can tell you I found it to be a wonderful working. The original was based on a 6-week time period and here I’ve shortened it to 6 days, but the feel is the same.
Väntljusstaken (Light-Anticipation-Candlesticks)
You prepare for this by creating or buying a candleholder that holds 6 candles. It doesn’t matter what size or shape of candle you use (although I’d suggest not going too massive). This is ideally a wooden candleholder of a linear shape (see pictures below). It can either be a natural log or branch, but a 2” x 4” will do. Size it to whatever works for where you’re going to put it and the candles you’re going to use.
You can decorate the log in any way you like using pine twigs, glitter, paint or anything you’d like. Just be aware that there will be burning candles on this log and avoid fire hazards. You can also decorate the candles as you like with paint, or whatever, bearing in mind the avoidance of fire hazards. The candles need to have the following runes put on them. If you’re not familiar with the Runes, there’s a good primer on them (IMHO) on my blog.
You can cut the runes out from a sheet of candles wax, paint them on or however you like. Use your imagination! These are the first six runes of the Elder Futhark and represent the beginning, from the formation of the worlds to the conscious, thinking and creating humans. Their names, in order from left to right, are Fehu, Uruz, Thurisaz, Ansuz, Raidho and Kenaz.
6 days prior to Yule, on December 16, gather those who will celebrate this with you together, or alone if you’re celebrating by yourself, and cast your circle. Call the gods, Freyr and Freyja, thusly.
INVOCATION TO FREYJA
"Freyja, Of the many names, Join us.
Freyja, Of the golden tears, Join us.
Freyja, Daughter of Njord, Join us.
Freyja, Wife of Od, Join us.
Freyja, Sister of Freyr, Join us.
Freyja, Mother of Hnoss, Join us.
Freyja, Claimed by Thrym, Join us.
Freyja, Driver of cats, Join us.
Freyja, Goddess of Fertility, Join us.
Freyja, Who shares the slain with Odin, Join us.
Freyja, Who taught the Aesir Magick, Join us.
Freyja, Lender of Falcons' Flight, Join us.
Freyja, Mistress of Brisingamen, Join us.
Freyja, Mistress of Folkvang, Join us.
Freyja, Mistress of nature, Join us.
Freyja, Your servant _(your name)_ calls you! Come to me (us)."
INVOCATION TO FREYR
"Freyr, Son of Njrd, Join us.
Freyr, Husband of Gerdr, Join us.
Freyr, Brother of Freyja, Join us.
Freyr, Father of kings, Join us.
Freyr, Whose sword would fight for itself, Join us.
Freyr, Who gave his sword for Gerdr, Join us.
Freyr, Patron of married couples, Join us.
Freyr, Most beautiful of Gods, Join us.
Freyr, Whose tooth-gift was Alfheimr, Join us.
Freyr, Master of Gullinbursti, Join us.
Freyr, Owner of Skidbladnir, Join us.
Freyr, Slayer of Beli, Join us.
Freyr, Master of Frodi's Peace, Join us.
Freyr, Who directs Man's good fortune, Join us.
Freyr, Who brings fruitful seasons, Join us.
Freyr, Your servant _(your name)_ calls you! Come to me (us)."
Then light the first candle, Fehu, and have everyone recite the following verse.
Fehu – We are lighting the first candle in expectation,
and let it burn in the sign of the Fehu-rune.
Until the sun queen turns again,
may it remind us of her splendor.
Spend some time in meditation/contemplation of the upcoming Yule and the New Year, the changes that will come and the things that will be left behind as you grow and change. Then share a toast to the Gods and the Yule holiday. Say farewell to the Gods, put out the rune-candle and open your circle.
On the next evening, gather as before and cast the circle as before. Call the Gods as before. Then light the Fehu candle and recite the verse as before, then light the second candle, Uruz, and recite together the verse:
Uruz – We are lighting the second candle in anticipation,
and let it burn in the sign of the Uruz-rune.
With all that may come, with all that has been,
may it remind us of the passing of time.
Then, as before, spend some time in meditation/contemplation of the upcoming Yule and all that will come with it. Toast the Gods and holiday, the say farewell to the Gods, extinguish the candles and release your circle.
On the third night gather as before and do all things as before adding the third rune, Thurisaz, and reciting the verse:
Thurisaz – We are lighting the third candle in anticipation,
and let it burn in the sign of the Thurisaz-rune.
When we have felt winter’s harsh power,
may it remind us of the return of spring.
Do your meditation/contemplation, toast the Gods, say farewell, extinguish the candles and release your circle.
On the fourth night do all as before, adding the fourth rune, Ansuz, and the verse:
Ansuz – We are lighting the fourth candle in anticipation,
and let it burn in the sign of the Ansuz-rune.
In awe of the god who ignited the sun,
may it remind us of Regin’s might.
Finish the ritual as before.
On the fifth night, do all as before, adding the fifth rune, Raidho, and the verse:
Raidho – We are lighting the fifth candle in anticipation,
and let it burn in the sign of the Raidho-rune.
In the longing of that which will return one day,
may it remind us of the road to our destination.
Finish the ritual as before.
On the sixth night, start the ritual as before, adding the sixth rune, Kenaz, and the verse:
Kenaz – We are lighting the sixth candle in anticipation,
and let it burn in the sign of the Kenaz-rune.
A light which as well is lit in the dark,
may it remind us of the hope that Yule brings.
Finish the ritual as before with the addition of not extinguishing the candles and letting them burn down after opening the circle (remember I told you not to go way big on the candles!).
The ritual is completed and the New Year well begun! Hugs and small gift giving are a good thing at this point, as is a shared feast! You can put the candleholder on the feasting table if you’d like, so all can watch them burn down.
HAPPY YULE TO YOU AND YOURS!!!
I hope you liked this post and found it interesting, maybe you'll even try it out! If you'd like, share your ideas on and the ways that you observe the holiday so we all can learn. Subscrice down below to receive our monthly newsletter with extra articles and fun things like incense recipes and spells. Have a fun and safe holiday!
Blessed Be
Sterling Knight
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