the oak king wins the proverbial battle during the midwinter solstice, in the season of the rising sun, the tree is the symbol of fertility.
Now we cheer to the sun in order to encourage its climb to its highest trone in heaven.
Old Germanic gothic, Jiuleis (December), the dutch word joel-joelen is derived from it and it means to cheer.
A magical time that begins around Samhain, the beginning of winter (dark period of the year) Fruma Jiuleis (before December).
The gates from the underworld and above world open up to the garden of the living (midworld) hence it becomes magical because mythical creatures from heaven and earth come together.
Time for the wild hunt, Wodan (one eyed god) and his army of the death (creatures from the underworld) hunt at Fenrir, the wolve who wants to devour the sun.
Holda, goddes of death rides with Wodan, she reigns the underworld, during this time, according to the myths of Holda, she goes from door to door in order to see if the spinning wheels are stopped and no flax is left behind on the wand.
The 12 holy days are dedicated to Holda, the white lady or the dark grandmother, the water well is the gate to the underworld, hence in the Germanic folklore, the young girl sit's besides a well when she spins her flax into a fine thread.
Merry yuletide everybody
Couldn't resist to add a little folklore.
The eye of Wodan is said to be at the bottom of Mimirs well.
He said to Mimir that he would sacrifice one eye in order to be able to drink from the from the well of wisdom, "than that shall be the price" Mimir replied.
Ever since, he is known as the one eyed god.
