In Olean Ridh, their traditions are formed from the spirituality of the ancient elven cultures. Unlike Istara, most of their twelve days are spent honouring those traditions. That does not mean they do not drink and indulge.
Twelve Days of Yule
Every day, they are enjoying themselves with song, dance, alcohol and food.
Day One: 21st
► Druids harvest mistletoe and bless the people with it.
► Everyone decorates their homes with the mistletoe gifted to them by Druids.
► In the evening, everyone brings a large log to the community fire. At the end of the evening, everyone takes a large log back home to burn in their hearth throughout Yule.
Day Two: 22nd
► ‘Margadh Mor’ or the Big Market or Live Market is where everyone buys or trades for the food for Yule. This is where you buy your living poultry.
Day Four: 24th
► In the evening, children and adults alike put out food for wild animals and alcohol and sweets for fae creatures. This can either be done in the nearest stone circle, on the doorstep of their home or on a hill.
Day Five: 25th
► This is the first day people might find gifts in return from the fae creatures or spirits of nature. Gifts are often new shoes or money.
► Early in the morning, everyone goes to a stone circle to participate in the rituals that grant them luck and the spirits of nature’s favour.
► The entire community bring food to the central fire and everyone contributes food and drink to celebrate Yule. There is lots of dancing and singing.
Day Six: 26th
► Families spend their entire day together to play games amongst themselves.
Day Nine: 29th
► Everyone goes to their ancestral burial mounds and gifts offerings to their ancestor’s spirits.
Day Eleven: 31st:
► The Dead Market is held. People trade their non-living goods. It’s seen as part of the cleansing process to offload the things you no longer need.
Day Twelve: 1st
► This is the last day people can find gifts in return from the fae creatures of spirits of nature. If you haven’t got a gift, you are not favoured.
► The Yule log is snuffed out and favoured ashes are gifted to Druids, healers or struggling farmers to be used in medicine or on the land.
History
Yule is led by Druids and is an altered version of ancient elven cultures. However with the persecution of elves, Druids have had to be replaced by priests.
Food, Decor and Family
Food
► Food is often shared amongst family but for one day the entire community shares.
► The main meats of the festivities are clove-Studded baked ham, roasted goose and spiced beef.
► As Druids and many elves cannot stomach much meat, fish or foraged nuts and mushrooms are often the alternatives cooked in the same seasonings as the meat.
► For sweet treats, scones, plum puddings, gingerbread and cream are often the choice.
► Mead and whiskey are often the drinks of choice.
Decor
► Everyone decorates their home with blessed mistletoe.
► Holly, pinecones and ivy are used to make wreaths and other forms of decoration to fill the house with nature.
► The Yule log is anointed with spiced wines and dressed with holly, pinecones and ivy to cleanse the air. It also happens to make everyone’s home smell good.
Family
► Gifts are seen as an indulgence and are often frowned upon by more traditionalist families. A part of the reason is that only spirits are meant to give gifts. Unlike Istara, the belief is genuine and no one pretends a gift from a human is from a spirit.
► However, if a non-spirit does give a gift, it is usually handmade or in the form of money or food.
In the Community
► Early during Yule, Druids climb the tallest oak trees and cut mistletoe from them. Other Druids stand below with a large white cloth and catch the mistletoe to prevent it from touching the floor and losing all its magic. They then give everyone a share of the mistletoe as blessing.
► At the beginning of Yule, everyone brings a large log to their community’s central fire so everyone can share in the occasion.
► When the Yule logs are staunched on the last day of Yule, the ashes are donated for medicine or to help infertile land. However, if the log had to be re-lit at all during the twelve days, the ashes must be buried in the nearest burial grounds.
Mummering
► Families or friends don costumes and knock on neighbor’s doors throughout the twelve days of Yule. If they are let in, they will perform for their hosts and share drinks. After a while, they head on to the next home.
But no two families are the same. So everyone’s Yule will be different, too. The people of the Forgotten Kingdoms are free to celebrate however they like.