Comments | scrying_bowl: 6th Century Yule Traditions

wiccanslyr in scrying_bowl

6th Century Yule Traditions

Dec 04, 2008 14:30

Since that time of the year is upon us, and more than a few of us (myself included) are writing Yuletide Merlin fics I thought this would be a great time and place to ask this question ( Read more... )

questions, discussion

Comments 2

doyle_sb4 December 5 2008, 11:23:10 UTC

I'm trying to research it on Wikipedia but getting a bit snarled up in dates. (I take it the Geoffrey of Monmouth in the series is either an immortal or the ancestor of the Geoffrey of Monmouth who wrote Vita Merlini, since he wasn't born till the 12th century...)

fadagaski December 5 2008, 11:46:36 UTC

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yule - essentially, Yule was a Germanic pagan mid-winter ritual from the 9th century or so that was assimilated by Christian missionaries, though I imagine some of the details would have been found in England beforehand too.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice#Me.C3.A1n_Geimhridh.2C_Celtic_Midwinter_.28Celtic.2C_Ancient_Welsh.2C_Neodruidic.29 - some interesting details about ancient Celtic/Welsh traditions, especially guise dancing.

Mostly though? I'll be happy not to see stories with Christmas trees in them. *flail*