Collection: Yule Shop

What Is Yule?

Yule is the winter solstice, the longest night of the year and the turning point when the days start growing longer again. Bede, writing in the 700s, recorded that the Anglo-Saxons called the months around midwinter Giuli, and in Old Norse the midwinter feast was jól. Our guide to what Yule is covers its history, and Yule correspondences lists its colors, herbs and stones.

Candles for the Long Nights

Candles sit at the heart of Yule: lighting a flame on the longest nights keeps the light going until the sun returns. Many witches dress a green or gold candle with bayberry oil for luck in the new year. See candle color meanings and how to dress a candle.

Frankincense, Myrrh and Winter Resins

Frankincense and myrrh are tree resins from the Arabian Peninsula and the Horn of Africa, traded along the incense routes for thousands of years. They burn on charcoal, along with benzoin and copal. Read more about benzoin.

Evergreens, Mistletoe and the Yule Log

Bringing evergreens indoors is one of the oldest midwinter customs, and a Yule log decorated with greenery and candles often sits at the center of the altar. Here is how to decorate a winter solstice altar and how to choose Yule log wood. Mistletoe is not for eating, so keep it away from children and pets.

Yule Questions

When is Yule?
Yule falls on the winter solstice, which is December 21 in 2026 in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice falls around June 20 to 21.

What are the Yule colors?
Red, green, gold and white are the traditional Yule colors. Red and green come from holly and evergreens, gold stands for the returning sun, and white for snow and a fresh start.

How do you burn frankincense and myrrh?
Resins burn on a charcoal tablet. Light the tablet on a screen burner or in a heat-safe dish of sand, wait until it glows and turns gray, then add a small pinch of resin. Never leave burning charcoal unattended.