Hail my friends! An update, finally! >.<
I must ask you to forgive me, those who follow this posting, but life and many other projects have recently gotten in the way and I have had little time to pay attention to this site. I know I missed two updates for celebrations, and I will make sure there is plenty of updates (as in the entire site updated) as soon as I get back on track.

But today I will be speaking of our Twelfth Night Celebration! Also known as the Wild Hunt. This is a festival of twelve nights that traditionally began on the full moon in Ylir (the month of Yule). This year is particularly special since we will be having a blue moon before the month is out. But I digress...
This holiday is a very serious holiday at which ends with the sun beginning its rise to power once more. Yule itself signifies the height of the darkest time (shortest hour of daylight) during the year and the brightest hope re-entering the world.
At this time, Wodhannaz (or Odin or Woden if you prefer) is the leader of this Wild Hunt, charging across the sky on his eight-legged horse Sleipnir; a very awe inspiring vision. Adding to that awe is the the one who rides along side him is the wild-eyed maiden dressed in pure black that is said to follow him, the ravens banner held high in her hand as a host of dead follow the wake of their charge. This woman is the goddess Helja and takes on the name of the ancient earth mother Holda Bertha.
Finally, on the twelfth night of this celebration, the god Engnus (or Freyr if you prefer) rides down into Erudinor on the back of his shinning boar, baring Balder the beautiful, god of Light, back into the world once more from his stay within the lands of the dead since Vitrablot.

Now many have wondered at this, considering in the ancient story Balder stays within the lands of the dead until Ragnarok. To explain that, I will draw your attention to another such story of Loki (representing fire and heat) when he cuts off Sif's hair (representing plowing the soil) and then having to go to the dwarves (the earth spirits) and makes hair of gold (planting wheat). This is a yearly cycle, a representation of the need to till the land and plant crops, something that is on-going.

The story of Balder dying and being reborn is another such story. It is the death of light, having it slip past us in the dark half of the year, and then having him return to us at the end of the Wild Hunt, ever so slowly with the help of Egnus (the earth father), to renew the world.

Tradition: Yule
In ancient times, Germanic and Norse children would leave their boots out by the hearth on Solstice Eve, filled with hay and sugar, for Sleipnir’s journey. In return, Woden would leave them a gift for their kindness. In modern times, Sleipnir was changed to a reindeer and the grey-bearded Woden became the kindly Santa Claus (Father Christmas).

As of today I acknowledge the celebration of a mixture of traditions. I place my boots out by the door in case any wight wishes to leave me a gift; I leave out cookies and milk for both friends and spirits who may find their way to my doorstep; I knit a wreath together and place it upon my door to represent the cycle of the world coming to a whole; I gather with my friends and my family and give gifts upon Solstice as a reminder that in this time of cold we have little, and yet give to each other all that we may in hopes to be more “open handed” in the years to come; and most importantly I give thanks and gifts to the gods and ghosts in the coldest of times – for if we do not remember them, then who will?

Whatever you do for the holidays, remember to tell each and everyone close to you that you love them and wish them well, and if you are able, be as “open handed” as you may. In these dark months, sometimes its what makes the difference.