Yule

[ yool ]

noun

1. Christmas, or the Christmas season.
2. an ancient Germanic pagan holiday centering around the winter solstice, now sometimes celebrated by neopagans.

yule

/ juːl /

noun

1. literary.
   sometimes capital
   1. Christmas, the Christmas season, or Christmas festivities
   2. ( in combination )

      yuletide

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yule¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English yole, Old English geōl, geol(a) “Christmas day, Christmastide”; cognate with Old Norse jōl, the name of the pagan winter feast lasting 12 days, later applied to Christmas; akin to Gothic jiuleis

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yule¹

Old English geōla, originally a name of a pagan feast lasting 12 days; related to Old Norse jōl, Swedish jul, Gothic jiuleis

Example Sentences

Rooney, nee Joe Yule, Jr., always understood his role in life.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, his mother had enough, left his father, Joe Yule, Sr. and took off to California on an adventure with her son.

From The Daily Beast

"I suppose he has even made the best of things in the letter, but if he can bear arms again by Yule it will be a wonder," he said.

From Project Gutenberg

This was at Yule, and the same practice held in the parish school of Thrums.

From Project Gutenberg

My dear brothers both, thrice welcome be, Will ye drink Yule with our Majesty?

From Project Gutenberg

Three great festivals were held every year, the first of which was celebrated at the new year, in the Yule-month.

From Project Gutenberg

Then just after the midnight bells had rung he turned and lit the Yule log, and the players began the enjoyment of their new home.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Yule

What does yule mean?

The word yule can be used as another name for Christmas, the Christian holiday to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

However, yule can also refer to the celebration of the Winter Solstice that’s observed in some Pagan traditions.

Like the word Christmas, yule can also be used to refer to the Christmas season—Christmastime. Another word for this is yuletide.

When they’re used in reference to Christmas, the terms yule and yuletide are often intended to sound a bit old-timey—yuletide carols being sung by a choir, and all that.

Example: I like to spend Yule sitting by the hearth, listening to tales of winters gone by.

Where does yule come from?

The first records of the word yule come from before 900. It comes from Old English geōl, meaning “Christmas day” or “Christmastide” (a word for the period from Christmas Eve to related feast days in early January). This term is related to the Old Norse jōl, the name of the Pagan winter feast lasting 12 days whose name was later applied to Christmas. (Though yuletide has the same ending as Christmastide, yuletide is typically used to refer to the general season of Christmastime, as opposed to a specific period starting on Christmas Eve.)

Many of the customs of the Pagan feast of yule influenced the ways that Christmas is celebrated, such as the tradition of burning a yule log at Christmastime.

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for yule?

• Christmas
• yuletide (when yule refers to the Christmas season)
• Christmas season
• Christmastime

What are some words that share a root or word element with yule? 

• yule log

What are some words that often get used in discussing yule?

 

• season
• holiday
• Winter Solstice
• merry
• happy
• December
• winter

How is yule used in real life?

Yule is often used as an old-fashioned word for Christmas, but it can also refer to the celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Midwinter Celebrations: #Yule, Saturnalia, and #Christmas Folklore
By @RuthBinney https://t.co/XYf0pUZCa9 pic.twitter.com/x5CjLddDKi

— Folklore Thursday (@FolkloreThurs) November 27, 2020

Last night's yule crafting in daylight pic.twitter.com/c4l2OPqo2C

— T (@Mind_Mouth_Soul) December 3, 2020

Nice lil live Yule tree. Wood runes for ornaments and a cool lil gnome found at the dollar store. pic.twitter.com/UJxT5Q7RG5

— guttie 🏳️‍⚧️ (@gutrrot) December 3, 2020

 

Try using yule!

Is yule used correctly in the following sentence? 

I love all of our yule traditions, but decorating the house with greens is my favorite.