Yule: A Celebration of Light & Warmth

Author: Dorothy Morrison
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications, P.O. Box 64383, Dept K496-0, St. Paul, MN 55164-0383
ISBN: 1-56718-496-0
Subject: Winter Solstice
Subject: Christmas
Price: $14.95

reviewed by Neal Levin

Let us say, that I was overjoyed when I picked up this book. Here I had something on the topic of the wheel of the year. Something on a specific holiday. It downright put the holiday spirit into me.

I wanted more, much more information on the history of the winter solstice holiday. Sure it was great that I got a history of the sun gods, and something about Christmas around the world. But I could have gotten this in a good book about Christmas. I was very disappointed by the coverage. The writer could have gotten much more detailed then she did, but perhaps it just because I was unsatisfied with the rest of the book.

The book is a wonderful collection of craft ideas and cooking recipes. Unfortunately neither of these subjects are really my forte. I could burn a pot of water. So I definitely wasn’t going to try any of these recipes. I did however drool over these recipes, so if you have the talent, pick this book up. I’d be happy to do a cooking review on the results.

There is also a wonderful daily event calendar near the end of the book that covers a day by day activity and other holidays that occur during the Winter Solstice season. This is great for understanding some of the other cultures.

The writer wrote a wonderful Charge to the Sun God that appears at the end of the book. It put a smile on my face. All in all, this book is definitely a celebration of light and warmth, but it is not truly a book about traditions of Yule.