firstly I want to apologise on the terrible spelling, its never been my strong point and my spell check is messed up :(
The year has gone by so fast and Yule is just around the corner! Yule the winter solstice is an old solar ritual that has been preserved int he Christian observance of Christmas. However its origins lie deep in the Mediterranean lands of the Sun. The birth of Mithras a solar deity is celebrated by some traditions on the Winter Solstice. During the passing years it was brought to Europe where a collection of folk rituals became associated with it. The Yule Sabbat is celebrated on or around the 21st December (depending on Traditions) during the winters peak. Some lucky people who live in area's which do not get effected by the harshness of snow, ice and zero temps; this is still a time in which the earth stops, pauses to regenerate herself preparing for the coming of spring. This sacred day marks the waning of winter, where after the winter solstice the hours of light become longer each day. Therefore Yule is associated with the Sun God and the returning of the warmth of the sun. Way back in the day before food was easily bought from the shops, most foods where preserved dried in the sun, salted and herbed and put in crocks covered in honey and then buried in the the earth; this was kept covered in baskets or laid out in the snow, becuase it was so scarce food was given a high degree of sacralness. Over the course of many years various countries have a wide variety of foods which correspond to Yule such as; apples..apples are associated with some ancient deities such as; Hapy the Egyptian God of the Nile or Norse Goddess Iduna. Apples are still offered to Chango amongst the Yoruba. People would hang apples on Yule tree's which would symbolise the fertility of the earth. Much Apple formed drinks and foods are eaten around the time of Yule such as wassail,mulled wines or ciders whilst sat in front of a open fire. The moderen version of ancient cakes for example Gingerbread or other cakes consisiting of grains and honey, which are given as offerings to the Goddess and Gods of Yule. The cakes would then be burried with their dead to ensure the safe passage of their souls to the other world. When ginger was brought into Europe from eastern countries such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Mongolia, North Korea, South Korea, and Taiwan in East Asia for example it was soon incorporaretd into the recipes of ritual Yule cakes. This was the origin of gingerbread. Although way back Ginger was more expensive than the most prescious of jewels this is a spice more easily obtained now a days. Lots of people make a gingerbread house at Yuletide, if this is something you wish to do also try making it look like your own home, if once made looks nothing like your home try to visualise it as such, see your home filled with warmth ,love happieness and protection all the gifts of ginger and the Sun. Then, eat it with your friends, family and loved ones who live under the same roof bringing in loving positive energeries into your life.. You can even bake cookies which are more aless traditional at Yuletide, shapes of circles representing the Sun,bells and /or stars to ward of negative energies, and of course the much loved and symbolic Yuletide tree representing fertility during the winter months. Baking and eating specially formed shaped foods on Yule isn't new, prehistoric graves in northern Europe would hold cakes moulded into shapes of deities, animals suns stars and moons and would have been eaten at winter solstice in those frigid regions. [excerpts taken from Scott Cunninghams Wicca in the kitchen, lots of my own wording to make it more personal -𝒜ℊ𝑟𝛼𝒸𝑖𝛼 𝒮𝓃ℴ𝓌𝒲ℴℓ𝔉]