I take an interest in many native cultures mainly to (remotely) examine their skills and customs, but not intrusively so.

This is an extract from a flyer produced in the’90’s for the American people and succinctly sums up my thoughts.
“It is good to respect the Native American, for reasons you understand well. One way of honoring him is to leave his religion, his spirituality, his ancestors, to him! But there’s another obligation, too. Don’t you owe it to your own ancestors - whose blood and bone and soul you are - to seek them first? The thousands of generations of forefathers and foremothers, warriors, hunters, and explorers, heroes and rogues alike, call to you. They are your kin. They beckon you - to heal our people, to heal our world, and to walk again the way of the warrior and the wise one. They call you home. Will you answer?”
Today being the Winter Solstice (Yule) is one of the most important days in the British prehistoric calendar. In fact it’s celebrated in many other cultures as well.
Here’s a few things I’ve collated about Yule:
Our ancestors considered the sun as a wheel that changed the seasons. It was from the word for this wheel, houl, that the word Yule is thought to have come.
The Druids (priests) would cut the mistletoe that grew on the oak tree and give it as a blessing. Oaks were seen as sacred and the winter fruit of the mistletoe was a symbol of life in the dark winter months.
Mistletoe has a most compelling and influential history. According to ancient Druid tradition, Mistletoe was the most sacred of all plants. Mistletoe was used by the Druid priesthood in a very special ceremony; held five days after the New Moon following winter solstice. The Druid priests would cut Mistletoe from a holy Oak tree with a golden sickle. The branches had to be caught before they touched the ground. The priest then divided the branches into sprigs and dispersed them to the people, who hung them over doorways as protection.
The tradition of bringing sprigs of Holly and Ivy into the home pays homage to the masculine and feminine elements. Both of these powerfully magickal plants are evergreen, a reminder in itself that the earth never dies, but merely sleeps during the winter months, (a tradition which was the precursor to our modern tradition of the evergreen Christmas tree). The male element is represented by the prickly holly; with its sexually potent red berries. The ivy is the female; entwining, gentle yet powerful.
It was also the Druids who began the tradition of the Yule log. They thought that the sun stood still for twelve days in the middle of winter and during this time a log was lit to conquer the darkness, banish evil spirits and bring luck for the coming year. Never choose Elder for your Yule log.
Yule celebrates the birth of the Sun God - child of the Goddess in the Pagan belief system.
Whatever you ancestry, belief or culture, have a great holiday and may your God(s) be with you.
Pablo.