The meaning of Yule

Before Christmas became the holiday we know today, Nordic peoples celebrated  Yule , the winter solstice . This sacred time marked the return of the sun, light, and life. Celebrating Yule today means  slowing down, observing nature in its dormant state , and  teaching our children that the light always returns .

Yule is a  festival of renewed light . 
The days grow longer, the earth rests, and people gather around the fire to give thanks for the past year. It’s a time to  teach children the beauty of cycles  : nothing lasts forever, neither the night nor the cold.

We learn to trust nature, ourselves, and time.

5 simple activities to celebrate Yule with children

1. Light the solstice candle (from age 2)

Light a gold or white candle, explaining that it symbolizes  the reborn sun . 
Let your child gently blow out the flame to make a wish for light. 
Duration: 5 minutes. 
Variation: Draw a small circle of stones or pine cones around the candle.

2. Making a natural crown (from 2 and a half years old)

Gather branches, fir, dried leaves, and red ribbons. 
Form a circle—a symbol of life continuing—and decorate it together. 
Materials: branches, string, ribbons, natural elements. 
Tip: Hang the wreath on the door or use it as a centerpiece.

Click here for the step-by-step guide

3. Decorate the Christmas tree with treasures from outside (all ages)

Replace commercial decorations with  natural elements  : dried orange slices, pinecones, cinnamon sticks. 
Invite children to create their own decorations. 
Age: 18 months and up with supervision. 
Idea: add a popcorn or cranberry garland to string.

4. Create a winter poster (ages 4 and up)

On a large sheet of paper, invite the child to depict winter: bare trees, animal tracks, stars, snowflakes. 
Use white paint on a dark background to evoke light in the night. 
Discuss: what do we feel during winter? What do we want to give thanks for?

5. The gratitude ritual (all ages)

Turn off the lights and light the solstice candle. 
Each person takes a turn saying  one thing they are grateful for  this year. 
Tip: Write these words on slips of paper and place them in a light-jar to keep until next year.

All these activities are explained step by step in the  Yule Workbook , accompanied by gentle rituals, a winter yoga session and printable posters.

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To go further: a touch of culture and meaning

The word  Yule  comes from the Old Norse  Jól , celebrated long before Christianity. 
The Nordic peoples saw it as  the return of the sun  and  the promise of spring . 
Yule fires, wreaths of evergreen branches, and shared meals find echoes in many winter traditions around the world. 
It’s therefore a wonderful opportunity to start a conversation with children about  the different ways we celebrate light .

Adapt Yule to your daily life

No need for a large space or a fir tree!

• In an apartment: create a small winter altar on a table with a candle, a branch and an orange.
• With toddlers: prioritize  sensory manipulation  (light, natural textures, spice smells).
• In daycare or in a group: make a circle of collective light with several LED candles.

After Yule: prolonging the light

Yule doesn’t end on December 21st. 
During the days that follow, you can:

• Light the solstice candle every night until Christmas.
• Read stories about light and winter animals.
• Observe the signs of the sun’s return (longer days, more active birds). 
  This is a gentle way to  cultivate gratitude and patience  in children.

Celebrating Yule is about teaching our children to respect the seasons, to observe nature, to embrace calm, and to find joy in simplicity. 
It’s also an invitation to  slow down  before the holiday frenzy, to reconnect with what truly matters: warmth, light, and love.

Discover the Yule Notebook To extend this magic at home: 
gentle rituals, nature activities, winter yoga and printable posters await you.

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Celebrating Yule as a family is like lighting a light within yourself and in your home. 
A light that speaks of love, warmth, and renewal.

Download the Yule notebook to experience this period differently: rituals, nature activities, yoga and winter posters await you.
Link to the Yule notebook

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