Yule Ritual (2010)
By Sara
Roles: Holly King; Oak King; Goddess (Life-in-Death aspect); 4 quarter callers.
Pre-Ritual Prep: 
Ritual to be held inside the temple.
Children to decorate candle tree (tall candleabrum with pine boughs, holly and ivy)  with ribbons and stars. There is a large candle on top of the “tree”. Adults to decorate ‘Kissing Bunch’ with ribbons, ivy, holly, fir branches, apples and mistletoe. 
Thrones for Oak King & the Goddess set up by the candle tree; rope tied in rafters ready to attach the ‘Kissing Bunch’ to be hoisted up by Oak King at end of ritual; cauldron with hand-made gifts within placed by Oak King’s throne near the fir tree. Fire cauldron in centre of ritual space with meths (but not lit). Basket of tea lights by the altar. 
Ritual:
HPS: (Tolling a bell) The Sun is dying, the Sun is dying – the sky is red with blood! The darkness is coming and soon the cold cloak of night shall enfold us.
Gather near kith and kin – for tonight the darkness hems us in!
Our only hope, on this the shortest day, is to bind together in the darkness so that our love may light the way to a new day.
Come, gather together and let the sacred space be formed. 
HPS leads everyone to the ritual space; everyone to form circle. All candles to remain unlit so that the Circle is in the fading light of dusk – except one candle on the altar.
HP & HPS cast Circle. Quarter Callers to invite the Elements.
HPS: It is Midwinter and as the cold wind blows it cuts us to our core. We shrink away from the distraction of activity. When the world is quiet, we are forced to face who we really are. It is then that our soul speaks to us.
What does your Soul say to you in the depths of darkness, where everything is stripped away and we see how close death is to each of us? 
Pause for people to reflect on this
HPS:  I fear the darkness is closing in!
Where is our Beloved Goddess – does she not weep with us as the Sun dies? Where is the Mother of Us All – why does she abandon her children to fear and darkness? 
Goddess approaches the Circle with a lit candle. 
Goddess: I am here my children! 
Goddess enters the Circle and stands by the fire cauldron.
Goddess: Why do you fear the darkness? I have felt much sorrow as the land lies cold, yet have no fear for the Wheel spins eternally and darkness turns to light, as light turns to darkness. Within me the seed has been sown and now I bring you hope, for I come to tell you the light is returning - the Child of Promise is born! 
Goddess lights the altar candle with candle.
HPS walks around the Circle passing out tea lights from the basket. 
HPS: We have survived our darkest hour – the Goddess has blessed our tribe for keeping strong and holding onto the hope which springs from the love between family and friends. Take this token of the Sun/Son to illuminate the hopes and dreams of our tribe. 
Goddess holds up the altar candle.
Goddess:  See hear the spark of life! 
Goddess uses her candle to light the HPS’s from and then HPS lights tea light of person closest to the altar and they light the tea of the person next to them and so on around the circle. 
Goddess: I give you the light to guide your tribe through darkness – that you will pass the light of hope onto each other as this is how love spreads light! We all struggle with the darkness yet if you will face the mystery – that death brings life and life brings death – then you will know that the Wheel spins eternally. As the Child of Promise is given life we know that as each child is born comes a new generation that moves us all closer to death – for we are born to die. Yet, with each new life – whether the birth of a child or the birth of an emotion or the birth of a new idea – we are given hope. So, on this night of darkness light a flame of inspiration to lead you on your way – to take the wisdom you have found in the face of darkness and blaze a trail to a new day! 
Once circle of tea lights it lit...
Goddess: My children I will keep vigil amongst you through this long, cold night. 
Goddess sits down upon her throne by the fir tree – chair on the left.
Holly King  enters the Circle with holly decorated staff.
Holly King: How stand you all here bathed in light in this my Kingdom of Darkness?
Oak King charges into the Circle with oak decorated staff. 
Oak King: Holly King, they have no more need of darkness! You may be at the height of your power but now is your time to fall!
Holly King: Darkness brings wisdom – I will not abandon wondrous night!
Oak King: Light brings the energy to put wisdom into action - light will triumph – prepare to fight! 
Oak King and Holly King fight – they make a few spins of their staffs separately then knock their sticks together a few times then the Oak King knocks the Holly King’s staff from his hands. 
Holly King falls to the floor. 
Holly King: I will return! Darkness must reign again!
Oak King goes to the altar and takes up the God candle. He breaks a twig of oak from his staff and dips it in the meths and lights the twig from the candle. He then puts the twig into the meths to light the cauldron.
Oak King: Light is returning to the Land. It is I the Oak King who shall rule as the light is returning. 
Oak King  takes the Holly King’s crown.  HPS to cover Holly King with black cloth and Oak King to place the Holly crown upon the cloth.
Oak King: With the lighting of the Sabbat fire the old year fades away. Let fire cleanse old hurts – let go of all that needs to die – let it burn to ashe – so you may go forth to face the light with the wisdom you gained in darkness! 
Oak King stands by the Goddess – gives her his hand, she takes it to rise from her throne and stands up his side.
HPS  brings ‘Kissing Bunch’ over to Oak King and Goddess.
Oak King: See here the ‘Kissing Bunch’ – symbol of love, light and hope! Let joy and revelry return as the light grows strong! 
Oak King hoists the ‘Kissing Bunch’ up into the rafters.
Goddess: See here the sacred Wheel with evergreens intertwined with mistletoe and apples – together the tribe has wrought this symbol of hope – so together make merry and celebrate!
Oak King: Yes! Let us feast and give gifts to celebrate the family and friendship that helps us survive our darkest days.
Oak King and Goddess sit down together upon their thrones and as they do so they light the candle on top of the candle tree.
Oak King: Come gather round, for I have gifts for all! 
Oak King to hand out gifts to each person in turn.
HPS: Now let us farewell the Elements who have guarded us this night.
Quarter Callers to farewell elements.
HPS & HP close Circle.
HP: Now let us continue to feast and make merry!
HPS: Let us gather as friends and family around the Yuletide blaze! Sing and feast and celebrate the coming Sun!
Everyone to feast, open gifts, make merry underneath the ‘Kissing Bunch,’ sing round the fire and have fun!