Yule Goat

The Yule Goat or Julbock is a Swedish tradition with pre-Christian origins. Each year in Sweden, a large figure of a goat made of straw is put up to mark the beginning of Yule season. There are those who might make bets to find out if the Yule Goat made of straw survives until Christmas day without being destroyed. Even if there isn't any hungry animals that would eat it going near the Yule Goat, or if there isn't any storms, someone mean chooses to burn the statue down. People like to make little Yule Goats made of straw tied with red ribbons as festive decorations. The idea of a straw goat is connected to the old customs of making use of the last sheaf from harvest, which was regarded as magical.  

It was always believed that the Yule Goat has a spiritual place in the hearts of people at the season. Centuries ago, it was believed that elves visit children riding on the backs of goats. They go and check door to door, bringing gifts. The images of Yule Goats may be from the Norse legend of the goats named Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjostr who belong to Thor, the god of thunder and rain. 

The Yule Goat was thought of as a spirit figure who watched over the preparations of the festivities and making sure it was done properly. Centuries ago, people used to dress up as goats, then sing songs, perform plays and make pranks. One of the pranks was to put a toy Yule Goat inside a neighbour's house without them noticing it. By the 19th Century, the Yule Goat became a bringer of gifts and soon replaced by Santa. There is also the colourful display of the huge Gavle Goat ornament, put up in many cities and town squares over the Yule holidays until New Year.    

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Mistletoe

Well the mistletoe is a favourite plant at Yule time, as everyone knows the story about the special kisses happening under the display of mistletoe. But most people are not fully aware that mistletoe is poisonous, but it's also a parasitic plant that grows on different types of trees, such as hawthorn, apple trees, limes, poplar, maple, and conifers. What mistletoe does is drain their host trees of nutrients and moisture, weakening them. Birds like Mistle thrush and Blackcaps eat the berries of mistletoe, then afterwards they throw away the seeds. This would help other birds make nests. Mistletoe is also called viscum album, which means "white goo"! 

Kissing under the mistletoe is a very old tradition, and many believed it represented fertility. Mistletoe berries look like pearls, and also could be mistaken for snow flakes. Many women in Italy kept mistletoe as they believed it protected them from evil and would also help them become fertile. The ancient druids thought that the white berries of mistletoe was the semen droplets of the Oak King. Pliny the Elder made note in his Natural History book, that the druids foraged mistletoe "on the sixth day of the moon" using golden sickles and white cloaks so the plants would not fall to the ground and lose their magical powers. White bulls would be sacrificed during the ceremony called Ritual of Oak and Mistletoe. This would result in the mistletoe berries used to enhance fertility in livestock.

In Norse mythology, mistletoe was the only plant that could kill the god Baldur the Beautiful. The trickster god Loki discovered this very plant was the weapon so he persuaded the blind god Hother to shoot it at Baldur, killing him instantly. The gods cried for the death of Baldur, and goddess Frigga wanted his life restored. She cried so much that her tears changed the colour of mistletoe berries from red to white, then Baldur was returned. So it was decided that the mistletoe would symbolise love and resurrection from the dead.    

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Holly King and Oak King

The legend of the Holly King and the Oak King is an ancient story. It's from mostly Celtic mythology and is a favourite tale of a seasonal battle. The Holly King represents Winter, and is often associated with Yule and darkness, The Oak King represents Summer and is often associated with Midsummer solstice and sunlight. They are both different and yet they're rivals, because they're both in love with the Earth Goddess. Their fight is a cycle, and when one side wins, the other will vanish. When the Holly King wins, the Oak King has gone into the shadows. Later they duel again and when the Oak King wins, the Holly King fades. 

Some identity the two kings as being one god, who has two different opposing sides, Summer and Winter. This is like a single deity with two personalities and characteristics. The times that they rule happen during the periods of important events, when the Earth is a certain distance away from the sun, planetary alignment and astronomical, but the ancients knew all this. During Winter, the Holly King rules until Spring, when his brother the Oak King takes his crown and brings Summer. Then it happens all over again. This is one magical story to explain the seasons. 

While we're under the Holly King's time of rule, Winter is the most dreaded time, but it can be the most exciting because of Yule. Many aspects of the Holly King and Oak King have appeared in literature and share similar traits with other deities. The Holly King wears a crown of holly leaves and berries. He's like Santa Claus (Father Christmas), Father Frost and the god Odin. In fiction he's like the Ghost of Christmas Present. There are the birds associated with them too, the wren and the robin. Oak King has got the robin, a bird associated with Winter but is with the king of summer. The Holly King has captured the wren, a bird associated with summer and stays with the king of Winter. 

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