Go a Wassailing
The ancient tradition of wassailing has pagan origins intended to bless the coming year’s orchards’ crops and protect them from evil spirits. Later, wassailers went from door to door, singing and drinking to the health of their neighbors. Wassail was the alcoholic beverage of choice.
There are many traditional carols that are clearly for Christians, but there are a growing number of songs appropriate for pagans celebrating Yule. Some are original songs by pagan and wiccan musicians honoring the winter solstice; others are new lyrics set to old standards.
Here is a sampling that you might enjoy this winter.
“Santa Claus is Pagan Too” by Emerald Rose
“Wiccan Wonderland” by Karina Skye
“Jingle Bells, Cast Your Spells” by Karina Skye
“Cast that Spell” by Kyrja
“On Midwinter’s Day” by Damh The Bard
“Hail the Holly King” by Inkubus Sukkubus
“Silent Night, Solstice Night” by Karina Skye
“Whisper in the Darkness” by Adala
“Solstice Evergreen” by Spiral Dance
“The Longest Night of the Year” by Mary Chapin Carpenter
“Solstice Carole” by Wyrd Sisters
“Solstice Song” by Backwater
“We Three Witches” by Karina Skye
And, of course, “Here We Go a’wassaling.” This is one of many versions. Some change the lyrics to be more pagan, such as changing god to gods,
I hope you’ll share your favorite solstice songs.
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About the Author:
Lynn Woike was 50 – divorced and living on her own for the first time – before she consciously began practicing as a self taught solitary witch. She draws on an eclectic mix of old ways she has studied – from her Sicilian and Germanic heritage to Zen and astrology, the fae, Buddhism, Celtic, the Kabbalah, Norse and Native American – pulling from each as she is guided. She practices yoga, reads Tarot and uses Reiki. From the time she was little, she has loved stories, making her job as the editor of two monthly newspapers seem less than the work it is because of the stories she gets to tell. She lives with her large white cat, Pyewacket, in central Connecticut. You can follow her boards on Pinterest, and write to her at woikelynn at gmail dot com.