by Catherine Perry

Created on: September 27, 2009

The Yule Alter is one of the most festive and fun to create. For most pagans it ranks right up there with our Samhain alter. The difficult part is to avoid making it a Christmas Alter. While there is nothing wrong with Christmas and truly you can have fat Santa's, Angels and even manger scenes everywhere in your home, your alter should be the one place that you reserve purely for Pagan symbols.

The part that amazes so many is just how many typical Christmas decorations actually have their foundations in the Pagan celebrations of long ago. Yule is usually observed on the first day of winter (generally around the twenty-first or twenty-second of December). It is the longest night of the year, called the Winter Solstice. It is the celebration of the birth of sun, the renewal of light returning to the world and the beginning of the next growing season. It is represented in the battle of the young Oak King, who symbolizes the new year, and the aged Holly King, who symbolizes the dark of the old year. These things should be kept in mind as you decorate your alter.

Red, green, yellow, orange and gold are the colors of the season so start off with an alter cloth of some traditional holiday color. As flame and light are central symbols to welcoming the birth of the sun, candles and/or strings of lights should also be a part of your alter decorations. A simple set up would be to place a green cloth across your alter area, add several red candles in simple holders and perhaps a decorative chalice or cup to symbolize the sacred Goddess.

There are many Goddesses associated with Yule; a few are Brighid, Mary, Eve, Isis, Demeter, Gaia, Diana and The Great Mother. Any statue you may have or create of them is a very fitting Yule alter decoration.

You may have a few favorite decorations that you try to include in the yearly alter while incorporating new items as well. Wrapped gifts, holly, mistletoe, a small log, decorative seasonal cards, or a small Yule Log all work wonders to add to the festive feeling of the Yule Alter.

My favorite alter decorations for the season are to set a scene on my alter, using the symbols of the season. A small fake pine tree about one and a half foot tall, is usually central, decorated with tiny ornaments I have found over the years at various hobby and craft stores. I place a few small wrapped presents, (usually party favor type toys purchased and wrapped up for my children to open on Yule) The cloth I use changes from year to year, last year

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