The Wiccan holday that is celebrated at mid-winter is called "Yule" Yule marks the Winter Solstice, that date of which varies each year from December 21 to December 23. This year Yule falls on Thursday, December 21.
Yule marks the return of the Lady from the Underworld and the re-birth of the Sun King/Horned Lord. It is the promise of light and life growing from the darkness.
Christmas is a Christian holiday, not a Wiccan one so most Wiccans do not celebrate Christmas at all. Our religious holiday is Yule, as I described above.
For Wiccans the only reason that we celebrate a holiday on Christmas as it is a time for family. It would not be a religious holiday for us, just a secular holiday to be with family.
Thanks for clarifying this lark, just was trying to understand it and it makes sense as yule is religious holiday and Christmas is a holiday for all to be together
I am most excited for Yule. I do not have work on Yule and look forward to celebrating the Winter Solstice. I am not wicca but I do follow the Solstice in my practice. I plan to have a small fire and burn in it some herbs(Cinnamon, Star Anise, Myrrh, Clove, Coriander) and offer a Pomegranate to the ones I work with.
Also have a relative who's birthday is on that day and I look forward making a phone call to wish them the best winter and birthday.
Though I still Celebrate christmas due to famaily members do this and I bring gifts to them and such that.. But it is not my holiday it is theirs.
please note you can still celebrate christmas if you want [many do both since they have christian family members] the actual date varies depending on the solstice however, but most Wiccans celebrate December 21 [i think this year it's on the 23 though]
the two holidays are quite similar specifically because the majority of the holiday was inspired by [*cough*stolen*cough*] ancient pagan traditions from this time of year. so you can grab a lot of christmas stuff and to the untrained eye people will go 'oh look at that person celebrating christmas' when in reality it's all Yule based. if you're interested Llewellyn Publishings has a book series on each Wiccan Sabbat, i'm currently reading Yule and it's quite good. it's 3 parts, the first talks about the history [including Saturnalia and Norse celebrations as well] the second is more modern, and the third is spells, rituals and activities you can do. worth checking out if you're interested in a deep analysis of the holiday, especially since there comes a point where every pagan [myself included] rolls their eyes and cries 'christmas was stolen from Yule' [which the reality is a fun push-me-pull-you of elements]
