Winter Magick: Using the Winter Season to Create Change

We might have just had Imbolc, but winter is still going strong here! That’s ok, we’ll just have to continue with the winter magick.

• Stamp/scrape out a word, phrase concept or idea in grass on hard frost and watch it disappear as the day warms up. Great for banishing magick.

• Burn discarded Yule/Christmas cards in the fire, bestowing love and best wishes upon the sender for the year ahead.

• Build a snowman. Use him as a large magickal poppet. Good for healing spells or banishing, or as a magickal guardian for your home ~ BUT ~ bear in mind he WILL melt!

• Stay inside and create a warming incense blend. As you crush and mix the ingredients concentrate on your intentions for the incense.

• Create snow moon water.

• Get organised and use the time indoors to write rituals for any forthcoming sabbats.

• Add a cup of clean snow to a ritual bath for purification.

• Create a warming tea - add warming herbs and spices, many of them (such as star anise and cinnamon) are associated with psychic ability, so why not do some divination while you’re at it.

• Use snow in spells. Consider the energy of the snow as it fell. Did it fall heavily, which you could associate with high energy, or do you correspond snow with tranquility, calm and peace? Maybe you could use snow in spells to slow things down?

• Freeze snow for later.

• Update your Grimoire.

• Write something good you’d like on a piece of paper, roll into a snowball, and then keep rolling until your intention gets bigger and bigger.

What magickal activities do you look forward to each winter? 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Winter Solstice Celebrations 

NEXT - Imbolc Magick: 40 Correspondences

Winter - A Time for Rest & Regeneration

I hope you’re all finding moments of peace and relaxation during the holidays.

The winter is a time to rest, regenerate and recuperate; there’ll be plenty of time for rushing about when the hours of daylight are longer, and we have more energy.

In the meantime, put on your favourite film, grab a blanket and your favourite cuppa, put your feet up and enjoy the downtime.

What are you doing to rest and relax over the festive period?

Merry Christmas Everyone!

After Solstice there is a period of standstill where the days remain the same length. Sometime around the 25th and 26th December the days start lengthening. Quite literally, the “Son” (sun) is “born.”

This year it was the 23rd December, where we gained an extra 7 seconds of daylight. The days will lengthen to an average of two minutes a day until we see a full extra hour of sunlight by January 18, 2023.

Interestingly, the days actually begin to feel a bit longer two weeks before the Winter Solstice. The earliest sunset of the year happens on Wednesday, December 7 2022.

This is because of the Earth’s elliptical orbit around the Sun. The planet moves faster in its orbit during January when we’re closest to the Sun, and slower in July, when we’re further away. The Sun’s path through the sky, when charted on a day to day basis, appears as an “analemma” - a figure-8 pattern.
Because of this pattern, the meridian is rarely at exactly noon, and can be 15 minutes out. This is discrepancy is known as the “Equation of Time” and sundial owners will know it well.

This looping path explains why the earliest and latest sunrises fail to coincide with the solstices. 

Anyway, I hope you all enjoy your day and your Turkey/Nut Roast dinners later! Sending lots of love from the cemetery.

Pagan Holidays: The Winter Solstice

Our Northern European ancestors believed their mystic Wheel stopped turning briefly at the time of the Winter Solstice.

Indeed, at the time the shortest day happens there is a pause; there is a “standstill” for a few days before the days start to grow in length again, usually around the 25th December.

This year, the difference in the length of day between 18th December and 25th December was approximately 56 seconds. 

The solstices occur twice a year, and mark the moment when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun.

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice heralds the shortest day and the longest night, and in the Southern Hemisphere, our pagan brothers and sisters will be celebrating the warmth of Midsummer.

As the solstices are astronomical events they change in date, although many witches and pagans choose to celebrate on the 21st regardless.

This year, in my location in the Northern Hemisphere, the Winter Solstice fell on the 21st December, at 15:58hrs.

In many parts of the world the Winter Solstice is seen as the middle of winter, but for many people it is just the start. Certainly in the U.K. we still have the colder months of January and February to navigate. In Meteorology, winter starts about three weeks before the Solstice.

Energetically speaking, the balance of power has been tipped at the Winter Solstice. The days will be getting longer and brighter as we emerge from the darkness. This is a huge moment of celebration for many, and many pagans choose to mark the rebirth of the Sun by observing the sunrise.

For many people, pagan or otherwise, it is a relief to know that the dark days and depths of winter are behind, and lighter days will follow. (Light and dark are not euphemisms for good and bad here, by the way.) With the returning sunlight comes increased energy, and renewed feelings of joy and hope. 

NEXT - The Return of the Sun 
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Tomte
NEXT - Imbolc Blessings!

Fabulous Folklore: The Evergreens of Yule

Evergreens symbolise eternal life, and for hundreds of years we have practised the art of bringing the outside, inside; hanging them in our windows and doorways.

But what are the Evergreens of Yule, the sacred plants of the Winter Solstice? Please note that some of these plants are very poisonous.

Holly 

A protective plant due to its spiky, barbed nature; holly is seen to guard against evil spirits, and is used to bring good luck to the home at Yule. Water infused with holly was once sprinkled on newborn infants for luck and protection (“holly water”), such is its magickal and protective qualities. Holly is sacred to Holle, a figure also known as Old Mother Frost, and represents everlasting light and life force energy. It is seen as a good luck charm for men.

Ivy 

A symbol of immortality, ivy is magickally paired to holly, as seen in the festive song “The Holly and the Ivy”. It is seen as a good luck charm for women, and with its spiral pattern of growth, ivy symbolises the concept of eternity. It is often fashioned into wreaths and garlands. Magickal correspondences for ivy include healing and protection.

Mistletoe 

Another decorative (albeit poisonous) herb for the home, magickal correspondences for mistletoe often include protection, love, fertility and health. Because it grows betweeen earth and sky, it is useful for all sorts of liminal workings, and is considered to hold deep magick. Hung from a doorway it is a useful tool for gathering kisses! It has long believed to be protective against fires, which is helpful during the winter season.

Pine 

Making their way into our homes as Christmas Trees, the branches of pines bring comfort and joy. Cones from pines have historically been gathered to be used as charms to increase fertility. Pine needles can be used in incense for purification and protection, and other common magickal associations related to pine include healing, fertility and abundance.

Yew 

A tree of regeneration and rebirth, the yew is associated with eternal life. It is also deeply connected to raising the dead, the ancestors and their spiritual realms (perhaps due to its extremely toxic nature). 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: The Winter Solstice
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Wren's Day (26th December)
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Yule Tree 

Fabulous Folklore: The Yule Tree

Evergreen plants and trees have always had a special meaning for people in winter. They represent eternal life. Ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows, and many folk believed they would keep away the things that people most often worried about - things like ghosts, evil spirits, witches and illness.

Gradually, sacred tree imagery was absorbed by the Christian church, and Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition. It was in the 16th century that Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.

In Britain, the tradition of decorating churches and homes with evergreens at Christmas was long established, but the custom of decorating an entire small tree came much later. As a child Queen Victoria had been familiar with the Christmas tree tradition; and Prince Albert, the cousin she married, was German. In 1846, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were sketched in the Illustrated London News with their children, standing around a Christmas tree. This had a huge impact on the way Christmas was celebrated in Britain: being very popular royals what was done at court immediately became fashionable, and wealthy British middle-class families immediately followed suit. By the 1890s the fashion had spread overseas to the United States, and large trees were en vogue. 

For me, the tree represents a few things. A symbol of the season, it also reminds me that the days will start to get a minute longer a few days after Solstice, around the 25th/26th - hence “the son (Sun) is born”. It is also a symbol of unity - many different belief systems from all across the world hold a festival of light at this time of year.

Growing up, the tree always went up after my mum’s birthday, which is the 14th December. Once the tree was up, the festive season had begun. 

Do you have a Yule or Christmas tree? What colour are your decorations? Are your decorations up yet? Do you have any special family traditions?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Yule Evergreens

Fabulous Folklore: Wren’s Day (26th December)

Image taken from a photograph by @mrperil 

Trigger warning: historical animal cruelty.

Wren’s Day, also known as St. Stephen’s Day, is an Irish celebration which falls on the 26th December, and is celebrated in a number of countries across Europe.

Like the hunting of foxes on Boxing Day, which also lands on the 26th December, Wren’s Day is concerned with the hunting of a wren, which is placed on the top of a pole.

The captured wren was fixed to the pole/staff of a type of mummer called a “Wren Boy” and this pole was decorated with coloured ribbons and garlands. The mummers dressed in straw suits and colourful motley clothing, and would celebrate the wren by marching through the streets; through pubs and hospitals, while singing and dancing and playing musical instruments.

Money would be collected by the Wren Boys and donated to a charitable cause, or used to host a Wren Ball in January; a party for the town’s folk.

Thankfully, this is now a fake wren, usually a wooden one, and the Wren Boys are now generally made up of boys and girls.

This tradition was revived in the 1990s in Middleton, Suffolk by the Old Glory Molly dancers. On Boxing Day evening they carry a wooden wren on a garlanded staff in a torchlit procession from the town hall to the Bell Inn; where they dance and sing wren related songs, and listen to stories about the Wren becoming King of the Birds.

What do you do on Boxing Day? Do you have any special family traditions?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Winter Solstice Celebrations

Greeting the Sun After the Longest Night

I hope you all had a beautiful Solstice! 

The morning after the Winter Solstice we went to Stonehenge to welcome the return of the Sun.

This ancient monument is located on Salisbury Plain, and historians are not entirely sure what its intended purpose was. It is aligned with the Sun and may have been used for working out the farming calendar. Other considerations are that it was a healing centre, or dedicated to the world of our ancestors.

Whatever its intended use, it was incredible to walk in the footsteps of our Neolithic ancestors today, and it was good to be back, as I’ve not celebrated Winter Solstice at Stonehenge for ten years.

It was extremely cold, we are still defrosting!

What did you do to celebrate the Solstice? 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Yule Evergreens 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Battle of the Holly & Oak Kings 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Imbolc

Fabulous Folklore: Winter Solstice Celebrations

The Winter Solstice - which I shall talk about more tomorrow - is a great pivotal moment. It is the line between the two great cycles of the year; the darker half and the lighter. It can be used as a moment for great reflection; an opportunity to review what you would like to achieve moving forwards, as the energy gathers and grows.

Key themes for the solstice are feasting, merry making and community, in whatever form you wish those to take. Spending time with others lifts the mood, and helps pass time during the darker, colder months, a time that many people struggle with. A festive meal, or time spent with friends, is the perfect way to celebrate the shortest day and the longest night, taking a moment together to express gratitude for the Earth, her cycles, and the passing of time.

Observing sunrise after the longest night is a common activity. There is nothing nicer than bracing the cold of the dawn to watch the Sun - raising your hopes and dreams for the future, and tracking them with the movement of the Sun. Alternatively, enjoy snuggling in the warmth of a warm bed, luxuriating in the moment, and enjoying that as your celebration. This is as much a time for rest, as it is anything else.

Decorating the house with evergreens, and the Yule tree with decorations, is another lovely way to observe this midwinter point if you haven’t done so already. The contrasting green and red of winter plants and berries are a reminder that no matter bleak things get there is life. A walk in the cold to gather them blows the cobwebs away.

Use this time for spell work relating to preparation for growth, development and abundance. As the light increases so will the potential for putting that energy into something valuable. This is a good time to help divine what you want.

If you want to mark the occasion with gifts, give one small, if possible handmade or meaningful gift to each member of your household. Gifts that have emotion attached to them, or are useful and practical that will help in the year ahead are best. A move away from consumerism and towards the themes of giving and sustainability are best.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Battle of the Holly & Oak Kings

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter 

NEXT - Media Appearance: Witchology Magazine - Sun Biscuits for Yule

Mistletoe Magick: Herbal Lore

Mistletoe is an evergreen plant synonymous with midwinter. It has distinctive forked leaves and produces white berries in the winter, which are popular with birds. Alternate names for it are Golden Bough, Holy Wood and Birdlime. It is an interesting plant because it does not follow the same sequence as other plants - you can find immature leaves, mature leaves, green berries, mature berries and flowers on it concurrently, which adds to its mystique.

It is considered sacred because it grows between earth and sky, touching neither, and a symbol of vivacity, as it bears fruit at the darkest time. At this time of year, my friend Terry the Arch Druid of Avebury would collect mistletoe on the sixth day after the New Moon, which would be cut with a golden sickle, and caught in a white cloth. To let it fall to the ground is to rob it of its magic. It is said that during the time of the Celts, all warfare was ceased during the time of cutting, making the Winter Solstice a time of peace.

It is also said that mistletoe is one of the Druid’s three sacred plants, but that they can never agree on which three, which is funny because Terry always said that the collective noun for a group of druids was called an “argument”. Mistletoe and vervain always seem to be named as two; with the third contender hotly debated.

There is an abundance of folklore surrounding mistletoe. Most people know about  kissing under the mistletoe; for each kiss a berry is removed, and the smooching stops once they’re all gone.

Because it is considered a liminal plant it is considered to have deep magick, its magickal associations primarily connected to protection and fertility.

Please note that mistletoe berries are extremely poisonous. 

NEXT - Cyclamen Magick: Herbal Lore
NEXT - Pagan Holidays: The Winter Solstice
NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Tomte

Fabulous Folklore: The Tomte

On our Yule tree ~ alongside the baubles, lametta, and animal ornaments (including lambs representing the coming spring, and the silvers and whites of the frosty winter) ~ hang the tomten.

The tomte is a mythological creature from Scandinavian folklore. Often associated with the Winter Solstice and Christmas, he is like a little gnome. He has a long shaggy white beard, simple farming clothes, a cap, and tiny feet; and he is quite old, having seen many winters. Tomten are known as solitary, ancestral, guardians and protectors of homes and farmsteads, who love tradition, respect, orderliness and hard work.

Whilst known as guardians, they’re also said to be short tempered, and will play tricks, maim, or steal if offended. They dislike rudeness, change to farming practices, swearing, and laziness. They are connected to labour and farm work ~ often giving their help ~ and are very strong. They have been likened to both brownies and land wights.

Over time, the tomte has taken on a sort of Father Christmas role, and it is believed that you should leave out a Christmas Eve offering of porridge with a knob of butter for him. I think he’s my favourite of all folkloric creatures. We have them on our tree representing our Scandinavian heritage. For all things Scandinavian head over to the gorgeous @thenordicwolfie

Do you have a favourite folklore character? Perhaps you have a favourite character related to this time of the year?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Mince Pies

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Wicker Man

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter

Fabulous Folklore: Yule Evergreens

Bringing evergreens into the home at Midwinter goes back to a time when people were more connected to the cycles of nature, way before the arrival of Christmas. Evergreens represented everlasting life in the darkest part of the year, and therefore brought the hope of returning light. Each European country, and each British county, had their own specific customs related to evergreens, but many involved hanging them around windows and over doorways.

Holly was hung over entrances to peoples’ homes, and was used to make wreaths. It brought good luck and protection, and was still beautiful in the middle of winter, giving the poor a means of decorating their homes at a time of celebration. The Druids revered holly and believed its evergreen nature was sacred; it kept the earth beautiful at a time when other trees shed their leaves.

Evergreen conifers (pine, fir, cedar, juniper, or spruce) became the Yule Tree, which evolved into the Christmas Tree. The Christmas Tree custom flourished in Germany and over time it spread to other European regions, eventually reaching North America. Traditionally the brightly colored decorations and lights symbolised stellar objects, spirits, religious figures, and religious events.

The ancient Greeks, Druids, Celts, and Norse revered mistletoe as sacred, and it was used for protection, blessing, and medicine. The 23rd December is known as The Nameless Day, and is represented by Mistletoe. This day falls outside the lunar calendar and represents the unshaped potential of all things. This is the extra day in a “year and a day” represented by so many folk tales.

This gorgeous display of evergreens is over a doorway in nearby Stamford, Lincolnshire.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Robin Redbreast

Fabulous Folklore: Robin Redbreast

There are many animals associated with this time of year, but most notably the Robin, who is often pictured perched upon a Yule Log.

Whilst many see the Robin as a symbol of good luck, fortune, and abundance, there is some dark folklore surrounding them, and they are closely associated with death.

Many believe a visit from a Robin is actually a visit from a relative in spirit. They’re seen as messengers for the spirit world, and there are many stories about their comforting presence following the death of a loved one. After my Grandmother died a Robin appeared every time my Mum entered her house. Some say that if a Robin pecks the windows or enters a house it signifies the coming death of a loved one. It is no surprise, then, that it is seen as bad luck to kill or injure one.

The old English ballad “Babes in the Wood” tells of the Wren and the Robin working together to cover the unburied bodies of two children who were abandoned and died:

And when they were dead 

The robins so red

     Brought strawberry leaves

And over them spread;

And all the day long,

The green branches among,

     They'd prettily whistle

And this was their song-

“Poor babes in the wood!

Sweet babes in the wood!

     Oh the sad fate of 

The babes in the wood!”

Christian stories suggest that the Robin was originally brown, his chest stained red by the blood of Jesus who was dying on the cross.

The Victorians were a fan of these little birds, and they would appear on Christmas cards, delivering letters like tiny postmen. The Royal Mail’s colour is red as it is linked to royalty, and thus the Victorians nicknamed their posties “Robins”.

We met this little chap last week who is fed by hand, so very friendly.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Wren's Day

The Return of the Sun

Earlier on in the week @autumncroneapothecary and I were talking about most witches having a strong relationship with the Moon (as it should be), but us feeling much closer to the Sun and solar energy.

As a Cancer I put this down to being born in the summer, I just feel so connected to it. There’s also no avoiding the fact that with several conditions related to my muscles and joints I’m relieved when the days get longer and warmer and my bones don’t hurt and click quite so much!

As we approach the Winter Solstice here in the Northern Hemisphere, I have been thinking about all the good things that happened in the warmer half of this year, and I’m really looking forward to what’s to come. A particular highlight this year was driving through a quirky little village near us and spotting this telephone box with tomatoes planted inside.

I’m looking forward to picnics and our annual Beltane celebration, time in the park with the kids, dinner in my parents’ garden, foraging, spending some time near water (typical Cancerian!) and warmth on my face.

What about you? What Sun sign are you? Does it relate to whether you prefer summer or winter? Do you think 2021 is going to be a good year for you?  What are you looking forward to most in 2021? 

NEXT - Pagan Holidays: Imbolc 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Winter Solstice Celebrations 

NEXT - Greeting the Sun After the Longest Night

Fabulous Folklore: The Battle of the Holly & Oak Kings

The rebirth of the Sun is such a huge cause for celebration that many witches mark the occasion by bringing the outside in; to signify the solar turning of the tides, and the return and commencement of the growing season. This is usually in the form of evergreens; plants that retain their green leaves throughout the year. Bay, holly, ivy, mistletoe, photinia, and cedar are all examples of evergreens, and many of them are symbolic in some way.

The holly is one such symbolic plant.

Stemming from Celtic mythology, but common in many folklore traditions, the Oak King and the Holly King - personifications of the winter and summer - are two brothers that rule over the land, sharing their rule. They are, in effect, two parts of the same thing; the waxing and waning of the yearly cycle of Earth.

The Holly King reigns from midsummer to midwinter - a waning period of increasing darkness - and represents darkness, destruction, and decay.

At Yule, the Oak King, Lord of the Summer, representing expansion, light, and growth, is reborn, ready to take the throne for the period of increasing light.

At the solstices the brothers collide; light and dark battling to decide who will win the Crown of the Year, and reign over the coming months.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Oak Galls

Media Appearance: Witchology Magazine - Sun Biscuits for Yule

Witchology Magazine - New Issue!

Perfect for a little bit of Solstice Magick, find the recipe for my warming Sun Biscuits in the latest issue of Witchology Magazine, print copies now available.

The “Transformation” edition, celebrating new beginnings, is packed full of spells, interviews, rituals, recipes and other festive ramblings for the period Yule to Imbolc.

Digital copies coming soon!

Head over to @witchologymag on Instagram to stay up to date with all the latest news and updates, and go to www.witchologmagazine.com to order your copy.

Pagan Holidays: Yule - Midwinter

Yule comes from the Norwegian word Jul, meaning “wheel”, and our ancestors believed that this mystic wheel actually stopped turning briefly at this point. Indeed, from the point of the Winter Solstice there is a moment of standstill for a few days before the days start to increase in length and light again. The Christian Church adopted this time to celebrate the birth of the Son (Sun) of God, but this time has always been celebrated by ancient people, long before the Christian story.

The solstice occurs twice a year, when one of the Earth’s poles has its maximum tilt away from the Sun, and as such, the Winter Solstice heralds the shortest day, and the longest night. As the solstice is an astronomical event, the date changes from year to year, although many pagans and witches celebrate on the 21st December regardless. In many temperate regions of the world, the Winter Solstice is seen as the middle of winter, but today, many see it as the start. In Meteorology, winter is seen as starting about three weeks before the solstice.

Energetically speaking, the balance of power has been tipped at the solstice, and we emerge from the darkness; the days getting longer, brighter, and warmer. This is a huge moment of celebration for many pagans and witches, and many choose to mark the rebirth of the Sun by observing the Winter Solstice sunrise. Whilst it is usually very cold, it is much easier to catch the sunrise at Winter Solstice than at Summer Solstice, because the Sun rises relatively late. For many people, pagan or otherwise, it is a relief to know that the dark days and depths of winter are behind them, and that lighter days will follow. Light and dark are not euphemisms for good and bad here; but there is no doubt that the returning light brings increased energy, and renewed feelings of joy and hope. 

NEXT - The Return of the Sun 

NEXT - Happy Winter Solstice 

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Robin Redbreast

Fabulous Folklore: The Yule Tree

The festivities have started on the Cemetery; the Spirit of Yuletide has been invited into our space. The tree is up!

Evergreen plants and trees have always had a special meaning for people in winter; they represent eternal life. Ancient peoples hung evergreen boughs over their doors and windows, and many folk believed they would also keep away witches, ghosts, evil spirits, and illness.

Gradually, sacred tree imagery was absorbed by the Christian church, and Germany is credited with starting the Christmas tree tradition that we know now; in the 16th century devout Christians brought decorated trees into their homes.

In Britain, the tradition of decorating churches and homes with evergreens at Christmas was long established, but the custom of decorating an entire small tree was unknown until roughly two centuries ago. Queen Victoria had been familiar with the Christmas tree tradition as a child; and after her marriage to her German cousin Prince Albert, the custom became even more widespread. In 1846 they were sketched in the Illustrated London News standing with their children around a Christmas tree. Being very popular royals what was done at court immediately became fashionable; and wealthy British middle-class families immediately followed suit, with this fashion spreading overseas to the United States.

Personally, for me, the tree is not only a reminder of the season and the fact that the Sun will soon return at the Solstice; but it is a symbol of unity - many different belief systems hold a festival of light at this time of year.

Do you have a Yule or Christmas tree? What colour are your decorations? Are your decorations up yet? Do you have any special family traditions?

Fabulous Folklore: Mince Pies

A favourite food of Father Christmas, mince pies are a sweet pie of English origin.

First served in the Middle Ages, and appearing in English cookbooks A Forme of Cury (1390) and The English Huswife (1615), mince pies were bigger, oblong shaped, and the “mincemeat” was actually meat; mutton, pork, beef, rabbit or game.

Having been around for so many years, the humble mince pie has gone by many different names; Christmas pyes, crib cakes, mutton pies, wayfarer’s pies, and shrid pies.

English tradition states that when making mice pies the mincemeat should always be stirred clockwise for fear of provoking 12 months’ bad luck, and every member of the family should stir, making a wish.

The first mince pie of the season should also be wished upon, and mince pies should always be eaten in silence; the taster risks heaping several curses upon himself if he doesn’t comply.

It is said that a mince pie should be eaten every day for the Twelve Days of Christmas; from Christmas Eve until the 5th January for good health and happiness. Anyone who refuses one of their twelve pies will suffer a year of misfortune.

Do you like mince pies? Do you have them in your country? Do you follow the 12 pie rule?

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: The Yule Tree