Yule: A Celebration of Light and Warmth

If you're newer to paganism and trying to learn, don't get this book. In fact, I don't recommend this book to anyone. The author seems enamored of Christmas and tries to use Christian customs interchangeably with pagan practices and beliefs in a way that's downright offensive. Many of the origin stories are wrong, especially concerning Norse deities and customs. As a practicing witch and pagan I cannot with any honesty recommend this book to anybody, period.

As Winter approaches every year, so too does the magic of Yuletide days. Children are filled with anticipation and wonder. All over the world people are celebrating and embracing their beliefs. More often than not, these celebrations involve candlelight in some way, and family gatherings. What else do the traditions of the world have in common? Where do these traditions come from? Dorothy Morrison explains it all so clearly and with great warmth and respect for diversity, in "Yule - A Celebration..." Here, you will find answers to questions heard in households every December: "Why does Santa use reindeer to pull his sleigh?" or "Where do candy canes come from?" Do you know the origins of the Yule Log? Do you know why the Chanukah Menorah and the Kwanza Kinara hold eight candles? The Winter Solstice - Yule - has been celebrated for four thousand years! It is a time of renewal and rejoicing, and it is a time to celebrate light overcoming the darkness. There are many historical lessons to be learned here and Ms. Morrison has created a well researched, thorough guide to the significance of the "holidays". Included, is a most wonderful calendar for the month of December in which every day is a festival or celebration around the world, and how you can incorporate these traditions in your life. Enjoyable are the chapters on trivia, omens and superstitions. Inspiring are the chapters on preparing for the season, gifting, feasting and festing, with recipes and craft ideas. Most inviting are the chapters on creating personal traditions. The world is truly a wonderful mixture of beliefs and customs and no matter where of who you are, this guide to Yule is a treasured gift of celebrations. [...]

This book was well laid out with easy to follow informational guides. I not only learned more about Yule...but of Winter celebrations from around the globe. This is a must-have for every parent eager to educate your family in the diversities waiting on the other side of your front door. From Kwanzaa to Christmas this book will tell you how they began and the traditions enjoyed by each. I simply was not expecting such a wonderful read. I flew through the first half of the book in one sitting! This book is not just for the Pagan parent...it would be a valuable educational asset to any parent.

While perhaps not as tightly focused as some would like, this book manages to cover a great deal about the seasonal, and specifically solstice related, celebrations. This book is full of practical ideas to enhance your Yule celebration, and give you a basic understanding of the worldwide customs of celebrating the Winter Solstice . If you are looking for ideas to add to and enhance your celebration of Yule, or any other holiday with a similar theme, then you will find some use for this book. If you are looking for an overview guide to pagan beliefs about Yule, then you will also appreciate this book. If you are looking for an indepth analysis of the transition from Pagan to Christian holiday celebrations, with full documentation on terms, names, and custom in the early church.. then you need a different book, because this one isnt it.No one book can be all things to all people about a specific subject. For the subject she covers, Dorothy Morrison does an excellent job, and I can happily recommend this book as an addition to anyone's library.

Dorothy Morrison writes a wonderfully warm book of the yule season. Its like sitting at the table and having a cup of hot choclate with her while remenising of years gone by and of the new to come. I love how she starts it out in years past with all the lore and old time traditions (some which are still used today),right up to today and offers some of her crafts, a taste of some magickal workings, recipes and cheery poems. I cant wait to get started crafting my own hand made gifts, and starting up some of my own traditions and some of the old. I was sorry to see the book coming to the end. Thank you Dorothy for sharing with us your knowledge and of your self.

I found this to be a wonderful book jam packed with interesting and useful knowledge of the holiday we call Yule/Christmas. The details of this holiday celebrated around the world by every religious group and every ethnic tradition. Being a pagan, I learned many new facts. Being a mother, crafter, and avid reader;I found this book more than adequately displaying a terrific flow of ideas and things to keep me entertained as well as busy throughout the upcoming cold months here in New England.Dorothy Morrison has been an inspiration in all of her books that I have had the opportunity to read. I would recommend this book very highly for anyone that is interested in Christmas Lore and crafting. This book is also full of recipes for the season and not to leave out the pagan tradition of Yule, many wonderful rituals. Pick up a copy, read for yourself.