Sacred Plants of Winter Solstice

by Selena Fox
This was first published for a workshop at the 1994 Circle Sanctuary Community Yule Festival

Evergreens:

  • symbolizing: Continuity of Life, Protection, Prosperity
  • types: Pine, Fir, Cedar, Juniper, other evergreens
  • forms: boughs, wreaths, garlands, trees
  • divinities: Green Goddesses & Gods; Hertha; Cybele, Attis, Dionysius (Pine); Woodland Spirits
  • traditions: Roman, Celtic, Teutonic, Christian
Holly:
  • symbolizing: Old Solar Year; Waning Sun; Protection; Good Luck
  • forms: boughs over portals, wreaths
  • divinities: Holly King; Old Nick; Saturn; Bacchus; Wood Spirits; Holly Boys
  • traditions: Roman, Celtic, English, Christian
Oak:
  • symbolizing: New Solar Year; Waxing Sun; Endurance, Strength, Triumph, Protection, Good Luck
  • forms: Yule log, acorns, wood for sacred fires
  • divinities: Oak King; Oak Spirit; Sky Gods including Thor, Jupiter, Zeus
  • traditions: Teutonic, Celtic, Christian
Mistletoe:
  • symbolizing: Peace, Prosperity, Healing, Wellness, Fertility, Rest, Protection
  • forms: boughs, amulet sprigs above doorways, kissing balls
  • divinities: Oak Spirit; Frigga and Balder
  • traditions: Celtic, Teutonic
Ivy:
  • symbolizing: Fidelity, Protection, Healing, Marriage, Victory, Honor, Good Luck
  • forms: crowns, wreaths, garlands
  • divinities: Dionysius; Bacchus; Great Goddess; Ivy Girls
  • traditions: Greek, Roman, English, Christian
Frankincense:
  • symbolizing: Sun, Purification, Consecration, Protection, Spiritual Illumination
  • forms: incense, oils
  • divinities: Sun Gods, Ra at Dawn, Bel
  • traditions: Babalyonian, Assyrian, Egyptian, Jewish, Greek, Roman, Christian
Myrrh:
  • symbolizing: Healing, Death and Afterlife, Purification, Inner Peace
  • forms: incense, oils
  • divinities: Isis, Ra at Midday
  • traditions: Egyptian, Jewish, Christian
Wheat:
  • symbolizing: Sustenance, Abundance, Fertility, Good Luck
  • forms: grain, straw figures and symbols, cookies, cakes, breads
  • divinities: Earth Goddesses; Saturn & Ops; Goat Spirit; Fairy Folk
  • traditions: Roman, Celtic, Scots, Teutonic, Sweedish, Christian
Celtic Tree Calendar's Sacred Trees of Winter Solstice:
  • Yew: Last Day of Solar Year; Death.
  • Silver Fir: Winter Solstice Day; Birth.
  • Birch: Month following Winter Solstice; Beginnings.
All information from CandleGrove



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Webset made by Lynn exclusively for the Soul Sisters Webring.