Yule (Jól) was the midwinter feast of the Norse and Germanic peoples. It's older than Christmas, and Christmas took over its name in Scandinavia, where people still say jul. The two aren't the same thing, though, and the old sources tell us less than many websites claim.
This guide sticks to what the sources support, marks what is later folk custom or modern Heathen practice, and then gives you some easy ways to keep midwinter yourself.
What the old sources say about Yule
The written evidence is thin, and most of it was set down after the Viking Age. Here's what we have.
Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga saga describes sacrifices at three points in the year: at the start of winter for a good year, at midwinter for a good harvest, and at the start of summer for victory. The midwinter one is Yule. Snorri wrote in the 13th century, looking back from a Christian age.
His Hákonar saga góða says King Hákon moved the Yule feast to match the Christian festival. Every farmer was to brew ale for it, and the feast was to last as long as the ale did. So at its core, Yule was a big shared drinking feast.
Two more clues are worth knowing. Jólnir, "the Yule one", is one of Odin's many names in Grímnismál, which ties him to the season. And in the prose of Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, a boar is led in at Yule and the men swear vows with their hands on it.
What is later folk custom
A lot of the famous Yule customs come from later folk tradition and not from Viking Age sources.
The Wild Hunt. Norwegian folklore has the Åsgårdsreia, a ghostly host that rides through the winter sky around Christmas. Many scholars see a link to older ideas about Odin and the dead, but it can't be proven. The name "Wild Hunt" comes from 19th-century folklore studies.
The Yule log, the tree and the straw goat. These are all documented in later centuries. The Christmas tree is a German custom from around the 16th century. The straw Yule goat is Scandinavian folk tradition, and we cover it in The Yule Goat.
Leaving grain for Odin's horse. Germanic folklore records the last sheaf of the harvest being left for Odin's horse. Norway has a related custom, the julenek, a sheaf of grain put out for the birds at Christmas.
Julebukk and julenek at home. In our family we kept both julebukk and julenek, and Yule was a very special holiday for us. Julebukk is the Norwegian custom of dressing up and going from house to house over the Christmas season.
Thirteen nights. You'll often read that Yule lasted thirteen nights. We can't find that in the old sources. It's a modern Heathen convention, probably shaped by the twelve days of Christmas and by Iceland's thirteen Yule Lads, whom you can meet in The Yule Lads.
Keeping Yule today
Nobody can give you the one correct way to do this. These are ideas, and they scale up or down as much as you like.
Mark the longest night
The winter solstice falls around 21 December. Light a candle that evening, sit in the quiet for a few minutes, and think about the year behind you.
Cook, share and give
The feast is the best-documented part of Yule, so start there. Cook something good, invite people over, and give gifts you've put thought into. Our Viking Christmas gift guide has ideas if you're stuck.
Raise a glass to the people you've lost
The Norse had a strong sense of ancestors, and midwinter is a natural time to remember family and friends who have died. Pour a drink, say their names, and leave it at that.
Remember Odin if you work with him
If Odin matters to you, midwinter is his season. You can leave a small offering of food or drink outside, or put out a handful of grain for the birds. Read more in Odin: The Allfather of Norse Mythology.
Take some nights to reflect
If you'd like to stretch it out, pick a few nights between the solstice and New Year to write something down, draw a rune or sit quietly. The Rune Study Journal is made for this kind of thing.
Bring in some green and some light
Evergreens and candles make the room feel like midwinter. If you keep an altar, our Norse altar pieces fit the season. Our Yggdrasil sweatshirt and knotwork hoodie are good for the cold nights too.
We've also designed a few pieces for the season: the Yule Goat sweatshirt, the Raiding Through the Snow longship sweatshirt, the Huginn and Muninn Yule sweatshirt and the Sleigh Bells Shield Walls sweatshirt. We ship worldwide, with free shipping on every US order.
Yule in the rest of the Norse year
Yule is one of several festivals in the Norse calendar. For the others, see Pagan Holidays: A Guide to the Norse Wheel of the Year. For the opposite end of the year, there's Norse Midsummer.
FAQ
Is Yule the same as Christmas?
No, but they overlap. Yule was a pre-Christian midwinter feast. Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Christ, and in Scandinavia it took over the old name and the timing. Some customs, like the feast and the evergreens, carry over from older traditions, while others came later.
When does Yule start?
Most modern Heathens begin at the winter solstice, around 21 December. The medieval sources tie Yule to midwinter more loosely, so the solstice is a sensible modern choice and nothing more.
Do I need to celebrate for thirteen nights?
No. The thirteen-night form is a modern convention. One evening with a candle, a meal and a toast is a perfectly good Yule.
What should I offer at Yule?
Food and drink are the best fit, because the old Yule was a feast. Ale, mead, bread and meat are the usual choices. Grain for the birds is a gentle option that echoes the Norwegian julenek.
Can I celebrate Yule if I'm not Heathen?
Yes. Plenty of people mark midwinter as a way of connecting with Northern European heritage, or simply to make the dark season feel warmer.