Yule 2008
By Jo Dunster

Props
Cauldron
Ladle
Tripod
Gas Stove
Basket of gifts
Cups for brew
Brew
Cakes (something substantial, Mince Pies?)
Bells
Censer
Salt water
Lantern x2
Broom
Decorations
Decorations with calls on them
Taper

Roles
Goddess and child
HPS
HP

Setup
Goddess and child are seated comfortably on a chair behind a curtain in the south.
There is a lit lantern with the Goddess.
The bower is set up in the south west.
The cauldron is set up over the gas stove next to the bower. The brew is already heating at the start of the ritual.
The cups and cakes and ale near the bower and the gifts are all under the tree.
A pile of candles in jars is placed near the tree
Everyone has decorations for the tree they have made and has selected a call decoration as well.
A fire is set in the centre ready to light.
The HP has a taper and a lighter with him

Ritual
The HP gets the children to walk around and cleanse the circle with bells, water, censer, lantern and a broom. Whilst everyone else waits outside.

The children stand at the gateway and cleanse everyone as they enter.

HP places the broom across the entrance and children place their items down on the altar

Cast circle

Quarter calls

HPS:    Once upon a time when the winters were much colder and darker and the people lived much harder. Yule was a time of hope and celebration. For when the longest night of the year came around they knew that the next night would be shorter and the night after that, and the night after that, until the night was equal with the day and the wheel would turn from Winter to Spring and then to Summer.

HP: To those people of long ago, something special would happen on the Solstice night, something that would give them courage and hope. The longest night meant that the Goddess of the earth would give birth to the child of promise who would grow to be the God of the Sun. 

HPS: So even though they did not have much, they hunted and scrounged and shared with one another all they had. They decorated their homes and made a great feast. 

HP: And they saw their own children and they dreamt of the wonderful people they might grow up to become, and so they shared gifts with their children and played games. They could offer no better thanks to their beloved Goddess than the laughter and joy of children. 

HPS: And when the Goddess saw them celebrating and praising her and her Son she was moved to share with them gifts of her own.

HP: So on the longest night, even though we live in easer times, we still gather together to call to the child of promise and to celebrate the birth of the sun.

The HP steps forward, hangs his decoration on the tree and reads his call before hanging it also and taking a candle from the basket at its base. Everyone follows in turn.

We call to the child of promise, who brings with him the Sun
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him the Light
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Love
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Laughter
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Joy
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Life
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Hope
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Warmth
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Courage
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Longer Days
We call to the child of promise, who brings with him Shorter Nights

The HPS steps forward and raises her arms before the curtain and invokes:

Glorious Child of the Sun and Moon Awaken!
Open your golden eyes and let your gaze flow across the land
You are the promise kept and the King to come

O Child Of Promise, Come!

All repeat: O Child Of Promise, Come! 

Your Mother, ever-changing and eternal, bore you this night
Your Father Lord of life and death sacrificed himself for you

O Child Of Promise, Come!

All repeat: O Child Of Promise, Come! 

Come forth and hear the children play 
Come forth and share our feast 
Come forth and bless our lives 

O Child Of Promise, Come!

All repeat: O Child Of Promise, Come! 

Cross the veil between the worlds, 
Held safe in the Goddess' embrace
As we embrace your warmth and light 

O Child Of Promise, Come!

All repeat: O Child Of Promise, Come! x 3

Io Evo He Blessed Be!

All: Io Evo He Blessed Be! x 3

The Goddess emerges from behind the curtain with the child.

Goddess: We have heard you call this night and have come to share our blessing with you. My child is small but as the year grows so will he. He is a spark in the darkness, a spark shared becomes a flame and a flame shared becomes a fire to warm us all. Let his light be a blessing to you all!

The HP picks up the Goddesses lantern and helps people light their candle from it as The Goddess and Child visits each person in turn.

The Goddess then is seated comfortably in the bower.

The HP holds a plate of food for the Goddess to bless, it is then placed next to the cauldron

The HPS holds a cup of brew for the Goddess to bless, it is then poured  back into the cauldron

The HP takes the lantern and lights the fire in the centre

Goddess: Eat drink and be merry for this is Solstice night! (or some such)

The Goddess then proceeds to get the children to help her hand out gifts to people. Each person takes their gift and are given food and drink by the HP and HPS.

Once all have feasted circle is closed.

Farewell Goddess and God
Farewell Quarters
Close circle