Happy Yule! Happy Winter Solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays 2024!!
Happy Holidays!! Happy Winter Solstice! Happy Yule! Merry Christmas! This year has had a lot of ups and downs…more downs than ups recently for obvious reasons. But! As we gather to celebrate this beautiful season, we potatoes believe it’s important to take a moment to reflect, to recharge, and to honor the history and deep roots of this festive time. Just as we explored Thanksgiving’s complex origins back in 2023 (we did not celebrate traditionally this year), the holiday season of Yule and Christmas holds its own rich tapestry of traditions, blending ancient rituals and modern merriment!
The Ancient Festival of Yule
Yule, rooted in ancient Germanic and Norse traditions, marks the winter solstice (the longest night of the year) and celebrates the sun’s rebirth. Spanning roughly 12 days, from December 21st to January 1st, Yule brings with it a promise: the light will return, and the days will grow longer. Communities would come together to feast, share gifts, decorate their homes, and kindle the Yule log, a symbolic act of welcoming back the warmth and hope of the sun. It was a time of renewal, reflection, and deep connection with nature and community.
As Yule concluded around January 1st, it naturally aligned with the modern New Year, bringing a sense of transition and fresh beginnings—a promise of brighter days ahead. From wreaths to evergreen trees, from the Yule feast to the exchanging of gifts, so many of these cherished traditions still echo through our modern celebrations.
From Yule to Christmas
With the Christianization of Europe, the early church cast a critical eye on Yule but recognized that its deep cultural significance wouldn’t simply disappear. Instead, they renamed it to Christmas and shortened the holiday, strategically blending Yule’s familiar customs with Christian narratives to ease the transition for pagan communities.
This blending, known as religious syncretism, deserves critical reflection. While it may have unintentionally helped preserve certain Yule traditions, its original purpose was far from preservation—it was to absorb and replace the holiday entirely. Yet, despite the Christian churches attempts to rebrand and reshape these celebrations (they still do this today), the spirit of Yule has persisted—bright, resilient, and joyous! The Yule tree, evergreen garlands, feasting, and gift-giving all endured, a testament to the power of ancient customs and their ability to withstand time and transformation.
Celebrating Traditions Old and New
Acknowledging these historical layers doesn’t diminish the magic of the season—it enhances it! By embracing the roots of Yule, Winter Solstice and Christmas, we celebrate the continuity of human traditions and the universal need to find light and joy in the darkest of times. Whether you’re gathered for a grand feast, sharing quiet moments with loved ones, or creating your own unique traditions, this season offers a chance to honor the past while crafting meaningful new memories!
We potatoes absolutely adore this time of year! From decorating our Yule tree to exchanging gifts, we find joy in the simple and the festive. And, of course, no Yule/Christmas celebration is complete without a feast! Every year, we choose a different theme/vibe for our Yule feast to keep things fresh and fun. This year, we’re treating ourselves to Roasted Rabbit, crispy roasted potatoes, salad, roasted asparagus, creamy bacon and herb gravy, and homemade Rosemary Bread!! We can’t wait to dig in while we cozy up with some of our favorite holiday movies!
None of our pictures came out great this year lol! But trust us when we say, it was all incredibly good and a really fun!
Christmas Day Movie Itinerary 2024!
Here’s our official lineup:
The Muppet Christmas Carol
The Nightmare Before Christmas
A Christmas Story
Home Alone 1 & 2
Klaus
Happiest Season
The Ref
The Family Man
Die Hard
For Those Facing a Complex Holiday Season
While this time of year can be joyful, we potatoes also want to acknowledge that sometimes, it isn’t. If you’re navigating grief, loneliness, or challenging family dynamics, (especially in the darkness of the recent U.S. election…) please remember that you are not alone. Set boundaries, prioritize your well-being, and allow yourself the space to reclaim this season in a way that feels safe and meaningful for you. Whether that’s creating your own traditions, practicing self-care, or simply opting for rest, we see you, and we’re proud of you for putting yourself first. You matter, your holiday season matters, and your peace matters.
Protecting your peace and well-being is far more important than enduring environments that don’t serve you. You can reject the capitalist chaos, too—Black Friday and corporate greed are designed to strip us of our humanity. Finally, we potatoes know how hard this one is, but try to hold onto hope. The world feels heavy, and bleak and cynicism is an easy trap, but even the smallest flicker of hope keeps the darkness at bay. Don’t lose sight of it and do what you can to hold on to it.
Cheers to the Season!
As we gather to celebrate, let’s fill our hearts with gratitude for the traditions that unite us—those passed down through generations and those we create anew. May your holidays be filled with warmth, light, introspection, and self-love. Whether you celebrate Yule, Christmas, Solstice or another holiday during this season, may your days be joyful, your nights be peaceful, and your cups full!
Here’s to a joyous Yuletide and holiday season filled with laughter, delicious food, and moments that feel timeless. Cheers to embracing the history, the magic, and most importantly, cheers to you!
Happy Yule, Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays 2024!
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!? What films do we need to watch? 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!)