Happy Yule! Happy Winter Solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy Holiday’s 2023!!

Happy Holidays!! Happy Yule! Merry Christmas! As we celebrate and have fun today we potatoes believe that, it's important to be aware of and to delve into the roots of this celebratory time and understand the deep and direct connections between Christmas and the ancient festival of Yule. Just as we discussed the complex history of Thanksgiving, Christmas, too, carries layers of significance beyond the twinkling lights and festive decorations.

Yule, with its origins deeply embedded in ancient Germanic and Norse traditions, commemorates the winter solstice, typically extending over a period of approximately 12 days, marking the transition from December 21st to January 1st. This jubilant festival signifies the rebirth of the sun, heralding longer days after the longest night. Throughout the 12 days, communities partake in various forms of revelry, fostering a collective sense of hope, renewal, and community!

As Yule concludes around the beginning of January, it aligns with the modern New Year, marking a transition into the New Year with the promise of increasing daylight and the renewal of life. The Yule celebration was marked by feasting, tree adornment, wreaths, gift-giving, and the ceremonial kindling of the Yule log which was a symbolic act representing the return of light and warmth. Overall, Yule embodies a rich tapestry of traditions, encompassing reflection, celebration, and communal unity around the winter solstice.

Fast forward into the era of the Christianization of Europe, and you'll find early Christians casting a skeptical and disapproving eye on Yule. Despite this condemnation, a strategic move was made by the early Christians to place Christmas around the same time as Yule. The objective was clear: to make the transition to Christianity more palatable for pagan populations by incorporating familiar customs into Christian holidays.

However, this assimilation deserves a critical examination of the appropriation of pagan traditions into Christian festivities. The deliberate co-opting of these customs to ease the acceptance of Christianity underscores the intricate, highly questionable and problematic history of religious syncretism, where cultural practices are absorbed and repurposed to fit a religious narrative.

Despite the religious rebranding, many Yule traditions persisted! The Yule tree, adorned with lights and ornaments! The ancient custom of decorating homes with evergreen branches during Yule, which symbolizes life amidst winter's stark landscape. The exchanging of gifts mirrors the generosity of spirit during the Yule season and more!

We potatoes feel that acknowledging these historical layers doesn't diminish the joy of Yule/Christmas celebrations, but we feel it is important to be aware of the history behind this wonderful holiday. We can enjoy the continuity of human traditions over time while acknowledging the roots of Yule/Christmas. It's a testament to the resilience of cultural practices, and the very human need to maintain a spark of fun and joy even in the darkest of times.

We can infuse our Yule/Christmas celebrations with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Yule. Whether it's a grand feast or a small gathering, our modern Yule/Christmas festivities pay homage to the ancient Yule feasts that celebrated togetherness, love, and the return of light and the promise of warmer days.

We potatoes adore this time of year! We love to decorate, exchange gifts with our loved ones, and indulge in our favorite Christmas/Yule films! We also like to choose a different theme for our own Yule feast every year to keep things fun and interesting! This year, we have made some of our favorite Italian foods and we are looking forward to digging in while we watch our favorite holiday films!

Homemade sausage and pepperoni pizza, homemade chicken Alfredo, homemade cheesy bread, and salad! We had a blast cooking this year, and everything was delicious!!

This year’s movie itinerary!

Christmas Day Movies 2023!

1.     Muppet Christmas Carol

2.     Nightmare Before Christmas

3.     The Santa Clause

4.     Hey Arnold Christmas

5.     A Christmas Story

6.     Home Alone 1 + 2

7.     Klaus

8.     Elf

We want to add, that even amidst this merry season, it's vital to also acknowledge the many complexities it may bring. If you are grappling with grief or navigating challenging, toxic family situations, please know that we understand, and we urge you to prioritize your well-being. Be kind to yourself, set realistic expectations, and do what you can to reclaim your holiday season with your own unique traditions, and liberating self-care practices. You are not alone in this, and we are proud of you for doing what is best for you.

So, as we gather around the table to feast on delicious food, let our hearts and minds brim with appreciation for the tapestry of traditions that connect us. Whatever Holiday you celebrate during this time of year, may your holiday be filled with warmth, light, introspection, love and thoughtfulness for the shared heritage of these festive celebrations!

Here's to a joyous Yuletide and Holiday season filled with the warmth of traditions old and new, the glow of shared moments, and the timeless spirit of celebration! Cheers to embracing the rich history that makes our festivities truly special and cheers to you! Happy Yule, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!

 The Yule/Christmas Drinking Game!

Take a sip anytime:

1.     You see Santa or Santa is mentioned

2.     Santa is in "disguise"

3.     There's an airport scene

4.     You hear music from "The Nutcracker" or instrumental Christmas Music

5.     Snow starts to fall

6.     Anyone mentions the "True meaning of Christmas"

7.     You hear Christmas music (Classic or Remixed)

8.     Anyone has to "Save Christmas"

9.     “We don't have enough money for Christmas"

10.  Love interest is a "Saint"

11.  Snow globe on screen

12.  Dead or deathly ill parent or spouse

13.  Cooking or Shopping montage

14.  Family drama/estrangement

15.  Going home for Christmas

16.  Advent calendar on screen

17.  Nativity scene

18.  Christmas "miracle"

19.  Anyone mentions the "importance of family"

20.  Anyone mentions "Christmas Spirit" or the "Spirit of Christmas"

Have you seen any of these movies? Did you love them? Did you hate them!? Do you like this drinking game? Are there rules missing? Is the game too intense? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know down in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly! (Drinks can be water, soda, anything nonalcoholic, etc. Please be safe, have fun and take care of you!)