The winter solstice, that day which marks the shortest amount of daylight in the year, has been a center of spiritual fascination since humans first gazed into the sky. Numerous traditions, which have been detailed by Britannica, such as the Soyal festival of the Hopi, the Roman Saturnalia, and the Dong Zhi of China, all celebrate the end of growing dark and the return of light.
Yule is the same as these holidays. It is a festival that marks the return of light. The holiday, as described in "Christmas Traditions Through the Prism of Paganism and Christianity" was first celebrated by the Scandinavians who then introduced it to the Celts and other peoples of northern Europe. These festivals were such a vital part of the culture of these people that many traditions of Yule (as well the Roman Saturnalia) were adopted as part of the way Christmas was celebrated.
Meanwhile, in recent years some have taken up the celebration of the old polytheistic Yule as neopagans. Yet not everybody's Yule is quite the same. Learn Religions notes that neopagans celebrate Yule in different ways, depending specifically on what kind of paganism you follow. For example, traditional Druid sites like Stonehenge have become important as part of the marking of solstice festivities.
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