Yule is a winter festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples that is claimed to have been merged with Christmas during the Christianisation of the Germanic peoples. [1]
Yule celebrates the winter solstice—the shortest day and longest night of the year. It’s an ancient festival marking the rebirth of the Sun and the return of longer days, symbolizing hope, light, and renewal during the darkest time of winter.
The Yule or Yuletide celebration commemorated the events of the waning year and honored the gods with a festival of song, food, drink, and sacrifice. But with the steady spread of Christianity throughout Europe, many pagan beliefs and celebrations, including Yule, were stamped out.