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It a miserable or beautiful night, depending on your point of view, before Yule as the snow fell heavy and a howling wind could be heard, as it had been going on since noon. The animals were all sleeping in front of the empty fireplace which was waiting for the Yule log that might not be possible this year. The cat had even quit chasing the mouse.
Mom was in the kitchen putting her final loving touch on all that she had made for our Winter Solstice feast next day. Keeping an eye on the children through the archway.
Dad was in his recliner telling a tale or two about elves, unicorns, fairies and dragons. The kids listened closely as they all sip their tea and each had just one of their favorite cookie trying to stay awake on couches and pillows. The tea and dad’s stories were working their magick along with mom’s softly humming a magickal lullaby. They were finally falling asleep wherever they were in the family room.
When out on the lawn they heard a happy, loud sing in amongst the other many other familiar noises. They all jumped up and ran to the windows to see who was there. Even the twins Elliot and Asher who were almost 1 getting to celebrating their very first Yule. When what to their wandering, sleepy eyes should appear through the storm but their wildlife friends the bears and deers, wood nymphs, and gnomes trudging through the blizzard with their Yule log! The children rejoiced to see their friends and the all-important Yule log that helps to welcome the Oak King and bids the Holly King a good rest. Dad had said just that afternoon, “The storm is too ferocious to bring in the Yule log from the forest this year.
Triple Goddess and her Consorts had heard the children’s chant, ” Triple Goddess please bring us a Yule log to light the way for your son and consort the mighty Oak King as he is born and to bid the tired Holly King a good rest. It helps us bring the Sun back to shine more on Mother Earth.” This wasn’t really a chant or sung on key or even close to being a tune. But the Goddess and her Consorts had heard it being sung from their hearts with their parent’s inner children joining in. It was in answer to that chant that they had found a way to get it to them.
As all the friends came into the family room, yes even the deers and bears that had carried the Yule log from the forest to their door were welcomed inside for a drink and cookie. After the guests had been thanked for their help and everyone was done with their Yule snack all their friends slowly left to go to their homes or dens or wherever they lived the children could be heard shouting, “This is going to be the best Yule ever!!!”
Mom and dad tucked them in bed reminding them to thank the Triple Goddess, Oak and Holly King for answering their chant to get them their Yule log. As the children fell asleep their mom and dad decorated the big family room/kitchen with Pine, Holly, and Mistletoe than they laid Yule log just so in the fireplace to be lit when the awoke the children at midnight. They would be leaving their offerings of sweet wine, bread, pastries, and sweets to the retiring Holly King, the newborn Oak King, and the Triple Goddess on the front porch before they partook in the light feast that would sustain them until noon the next day when they would again put offerings from their meal out for the Goddess and newborn Oak King. Singing, dancing, a few games and presents would be exchanged than the best part of all dad telling them the story of the rebirth of the Oak King, the Holly King crossing the veil to be reborn at the Summer Solstice and how the Triple Goddess bids them farewell and welcomes them again as their time comes with the turn of the wheel of the year.
Mom and Dad put out an invitation to all their friends to return for the lighting of the Yule log they had brought that stormy winter night. As they went to their bed for a few hours’ sleep they could be heard echoing their children from a couple of hours ago, “Our thanks to the Triple Goddess and her Consorts the Oak and Holly King. Thanks to all our woodland friends especially the deer and bears who carried our Yule log to us, gnomes, and wood nymphs that helped to make THIS IS THE BEST YULE EVER!!!”
Thank you for your caring support through the good and bad times in my life this year as there were quite a few ups and downs. The best thing was Big Dwag and I getting married on June 21st. If you would like to attend our handfasting on June 22, 2024, via Skype please email me so you will include in the guest list. The worst thing was for her own comfort putting Dreamer into her eternal rest.
May you and yours have one of your best Yule’s ever this year. I wish you light and love as the wheel opf the year has turned full circle again!!
Copyright by Lady Carla Beltane 2023 All rights reserved. This post cannot be reblogged or copy and pasted or in any other way be reproduced for commercial purpose without express written permission from Lady Carla Beltane. It may be printed out for personal use only.
The altar is adorned with evergreens such as pine, rosemary, bay, juniper, and cedar, and the same can be laid to mark the Circle of Stones. Dried leaves can also be placed on the altar.
The Cauldron, resting on the altar on a heatproof surface (or placed before it its too large), should be filled with ignitable alcohol, or a red candle can be placed within it. At outdoor rites, lay a fire within the cauldron to be lit during ritual.
Arrange the altar, light the candles and incense, and cast the Circle of Stones.
Recite the Blessing Chant
Invoke the Goddess and God
Stand before the cauldron and gaze within it.
Say these or similar words:
I sorrow not, though the world is wrapped in sleep.
I sorrow not, though the icy winds blast.
I sorrow not, though the snow falls hard and deep.
I sorrow not; this too shall soon be past.
Ignite the Cauldron (or candle), using long matches or a taper. As the flames leap up say:
I light this fire in Your honor, Mother Goddess.
You have created life from death; warmth from cold;
The Sun lives once again; the time of light is waxing.
Welcome, ever-returning god of the Sun!
Hail, Mother of All!
Circle the altar and cauldron slowly, clockwise, watching the flames. Say the following chant for some time:
The wheel turns; the power burns.
Meditate upon the Sun, on the hidden energies lying dormant in winter, not only in the Earth but within ourselves. Think of birth not as the start of life but as its continuance. Welcome the return of the God.
After a time cease and stand once again before the altar and flaming cauldron. Say:
Great God of the Sun,
I welcome Your return.
May You shine brightly upon the Goddess;
May You shine brightly upon the Earth,
Scattering seeds and fertilizing the land.
All blessings upon You.
Reborn One of the Sun!
Works of magic if necessary, may follow
Celebrate the Simple Feast
The Circle is released
Source: Scott Cunningham
Other Names: Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Saturnalia(Rome ~December 17 & 18), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Fionn’s Day, Alban Arthuan, Christmas (Christian~December 25), Xmas, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year
Animals/Mythical beings: yule goat (nordic), reindeer stag, squirrels, yule cat, Sacred White Buffalo, Kallikantzaroi-ugly chaos monsters(greek), trolls, phoenix, yule elf, jule gnome, squirrels, wren/robin
Gemstones: cat’s eye, ruby, diamond, garnet, bloodstone
Incense/Oils: bayberry, cedar, ginger, cinnamon, pine, rosemary, frankincense, myrrh, nutmeg, wintergreen, saffron
Colors: gold, silver, red, green, white
Tools,Symbols, & Decorations: bayberry candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells, mother & child images
Goddesses: Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis(egyptian), Triple Goddess, Mary(christian), Tonazin(mexican), Lucina(roman), St. Lucy (swedish),Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve(Hebrew), Ops(roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse)
Gods: Sun Child, Saturn(rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra(egyptian), Jesus(christian-gnostic), Mithras(persian), Balder(Norse), Santa Claus/Odin(teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus(God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian)Old Man Winter
Essence: honor, rebirth, transformation, light out of darkness, creative inspiration, the mysteries, new life, regeneration, inner renewal, reflection/introspection
Dynamics/Meaning: death of the Holly (winter) King; reign of the Oak (summer) King), begin the ordeal of the Green Man, death & rebirth of the Sun God; night of greatest lunar imbalance; sun s rebirth; shortest day of year
Purpose: honor the Triple Goddess, welcome the Sun Child
Rituals/Magicks: personal renewal, world peace, honoring family & friends, Festival of light, meditation
Customs: lights, gift-exchanging, singing, feasting, resolutions, new fires kindled, strengthening family & friend bonds, generosity, yule log, hanging mistletoe, apple wassailing, burning candles, Yule tree decorating; kissing under mistletoe; needfire at dawn vigil; bell ringing/sleigh-bells; father yule
Foods: nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies, eggnog, mulled wine
Herbs: blessed thistle, evergreen, moss, oak, sage, bay, bayberry, cedar, pine, frankincense, ginger, holly, ivy, juniper, mistletoe, myrrh, pinecones, rosemary, chamomile, cinnamon, valerian, yarrow
Element: earth
Threshold: dawn

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.
Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com
For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Gibbous. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning.
Visit the December 2024 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.
The Waning Gibbous on December 20 has an illumination of 71%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 20 the Moon is 20.13 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.
The current zodiac moon sign is Virgo, positioned at 6.34° within the sign. The Moon entered Virgo on Dec 19, 8:02 PM and will shift into Libra on Dec 22, 1:41 PM. The zodiac moon sign represents the position of the Moon as it moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each zodiac moon sign lasts about 2 to 2.5 days as the Moon travels through that part of the sky.

The current moon phase for December 21st, 2024 is the Waning Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 19.54 days old and 68.76% illuminated with a tilt of -28.527°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 397,299.81 km and the moon sign is Virgo.
The Moon phase for December 21st, 2024 is a Waning Gibbous phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon where the illumination of the moon decreases each day until it reaches 50% (the Last Quarter phase).
The waning (shrinking) gibbous Moon will rise after sunset in the east, transit the meridian after midnight, before setting after sunrise in the west.
During this phase, the illumination of the moon will go down from 99.% to 50.1%. Technically, the phase starts as soon as the Full Moon has passed, but it can be difficult to calculate and differentiate the first stage of a Waning Gibbous Moon from a Full Moon when 98-99% of the Moon’s surface is illuminated.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Moon age: 19.54 days
Moon illumination: 68.76%
Moon tilt: -28.527°
Moon angle: 0.5
Moon distance: 397,299.81 km
Moon sign: Virgo

Avoid shopping or major decisions from 9 PM to 11:55 PM PST today. After that, the Moon moves from Leo into Virgo.
5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult
***** This is a fabulous day to schmooze with friends and enjoy the company of others! Your interactions with clubs, groups and associations will also be successful. Make plans to have fun with your main squeeze. It’s also a great time to enjoy movies, the theatre, sports events and activities with children.
**** You make a wonderful impression on everyone today, especially bosses, parents and VIPs! People see you as attractive, appealing and successful. Small wonder that you might have a romantic, fun-loving evening! Passion is affectionate. Meanwhile, finances look great.
***** Enjoy conversations with partners, close friends and members of the public today because people are friendly! Everybody wants to share ideas and talk to others. New acquaintances and certainly, new romance could begin this evening. Meanwhile travel for pleasure will delight!
**** This will be a pleasant day at work because interactions with clients, customers and work colleagues will be positive, warm-hearted and friendly. Discussions about shared property, loans and mortgages will benefit you. Meanwhile romance is sexy! Great date night!
***** Get out the glitter because it’s time to go dancing! This could be one of the most romantic, amorous nights of the year! It’s the perfect time for a vacation, the theatre, entertaining diversions, sports and fun with children. Make an effort to socialize with someone – you won’t regret it.
**** You will enjoy socializing with others in a friendly low-key way today. Perhaps you want to keep things on a one-to-one basis? You might entertain one or two people at home? Or you might simply enjoy your own company? (It’s a romantic day.) Look for opportunities to be friendly!
***** Do not sit at home getting dusty today or tonight. You are a social creature and this is the perfect evening to make plans for a romantic dinner, a movie, a play, sports events or better yet – a mini holiday! That’s because this is a marvellous, sociable day for you! Romance will flourish!
**** This is an excellent day for financial negotiations, especially with important people – bosses, supervisors and VIPs. It’s also a wonderful day to entertain at home as well as explore real-estate opportunities. Enjoy romance and the company of others.
***** This is a fabulous day! The Sun is in your sign dancing beautifully with the Moon in your fellow Fire sign. Meanwhile, fair Venus is in your House of Communications smiling at Jupiter, which makes all your interactions with others upbeat, heartfelt and uplifting. (Sounds like a Hallmark moment.)
**** Although you prefer your privacy now, which is why you might take a backseat to whatever is going on around you; nevertheless, this is an affectionate, warm sociable day! On top of that, you might see ways to boost your income! Whatever you do today will be a win/win. Lucky you!
***** Today is full of harmony in all your relationships. You will encounter abundance and generosity wherever you go. Opportunities for inner growth and appreciation exist, but most of all, you will enjoy socializing with others. Romantic relationships will be affectionate and even dazzling!
**** This is a wonderful day to engage in any kind of socializing with others. Whatever happens will probably promote your appreciation of the arts and your appreciation of yourself. You might receive gifts or favours from others, especially bosses and people in authority. This is a fortunate day for you!
Actor Jake Gyllenhaal (1980) shares your birthday today. You’re imaginative and observant. To others, you act quiet and easy going; however, you’re a determined immovable force! This has been a fun-loving year; however, 2025 will be a time of creating solid foundations in your life both externally and internally because it’s time to get grounded.

You might be waiting for a rise in concordance to your efforts but this is not going to happen at this point. Your professional life is quite stagnating and you’ll have to accept this for now.
Maybe use this work slow motion to rekindle things with your partner, there are enough things you two can use to make yourself feel better.
You can also read this special Aries Daily Horoscope.
The current disposition is making you choose between two equally attractive and extremely similar choices and you’ll probably spend most of this Thursday trying to figure out what you should be doing. It is important to take your time and not act based on impulse.
There will be temptations on the way but you are definitely equipped with what it takes to surpass them.
You can also read this special Taurus Daily Horoscope.
A challenging day in terms of health, not necessarily for what you are feeling or the state your body is but more because of your hypochondria.
Whether someone else is sick or not, your attention is suddenly turned towards these aspects and you really make it your first priority to find all sorts of issues with yourself.
You can also read this special Gemini Daily Horoscope.
You may have craved for this chance earlier on but this is when you get it and you need to be content with it now. Although it might sound cryptic, this day will actually be quite clear to you once you figure a few things.
Your partner will probably be there to support you so you don’t have to worry about that anymore than about everything else.
You can also read this special Cancer Daily Horoscope.
You will see that the opinions around you are all of a sudden more accented and you tend to fall for criticism.
It is either that you have become a lot more sensible and emotional or it might be due to your behaviors, which could have been catalogued as a bit erratic in the past few days. Interesting to see which will be the conclusion you reach at the end.
You can also read this special Leo Daily Horoscope.
Craving for recognition or at least acceptance will probably transform most of how you react to what is going on today. You have kept a certain direction for the past few days and it would be a shame to ruin that out of some emotional struggles.
At the same time, once you reach a common point with a certain person, an interesting collaboration will rise out of that.
You can also read this special Virgo Daily Horoscope.
You will have something to celebrate today and although not very big, you should take any chance you have and do something out of the ordinary.
The stars are on your side and you are quite in a good entertainment mood so why not do it. In terms of love, you will have to be a lot more patient because things have not cleared just yet.
You can also read this special Libra Daily Horoscope.
You have been permitted way too much and now your dearest are set to show you exactly how you behaved with them by turning the favor.
You need to stay away from any emotional excesses that you seem prone during these days. Don’t be revengeful either but more like accept this as a tough lesson and go past it.
You can also read this special Scorpio Daily Horoscope.
Some amends will have to be made if you want to continue one important friendship for you. And it may be that you were not the only one at fault but this Thursday is demanding of you to take responsibility and maybe do a small compromise.
You will show exactly how mature you are by pursuing this. After all’s done you will feel a lot more relieved and energized.
You can also read this special Sagittarius Daily Horoscope.
The current disposition is going to somewhat determine you to spend more and a lot of self control is required from you to resist this.
Maybe you could resort to distracting your attention through family activities and spending time with people instead of trying to make yourself illusory happy through a lot of purchases.
You can also read this special Capricorn Daily Horoscope.
Some past issues are going to resurface and you will have to make allies with the most unexpected of people.
You are supported though by your family which is definitely an added bonus. Remember once all this is over, who were the people that stood by you and who were those who expected you to fall. A difficult task will see your sense prevail.
You can also read this special Aquarius Daily Horoscope.
You are counting way too much on your emotions and you risk being literally blinded by love. It is not like you are completely wrong but you should be observing some signs now, when it is still early.
You are charming and attractive and maybe you shouldn’t devalue yourself as much. Too much anxiety will attract clouds on your sky today.
You can also read this special Pisces Daily Horoscope.
You should cast this spell if you want to heal a friendship following a fight or disagreement.
After performing it, call your friend and invite him/her to go out on a Saturday or Sunday.
Difficulty: Advanced
Effectiveness: 4/5
Lavender shower gel
Pure vanilla extract
A sunflower or an object that represents it
A pink pen
A piece of parchment
Start by relaxing with a nice hot shower and lavender shower gel and while you are cleaning yourself imagine washing away the wounds and anger towards your friend.
Dry off and head to the room prepared for the ritual without getting dressed first to symbolize your willingness to resolve the conflict. Relax further and focus on your goal.
Light the candle after greasing it with vanilla extract. Invoke the goddess Kuan Yin to give you energy and pray to her:
“Kuan Yin, the goddess of affections, watches over me tonight in an attempt to regain friendship with (person’s name). Please help us to recover a peaceful and joyful relationship.”
Bring to mind the good times spent with your friend and when you feel the feelings of joy and affection grow inside you, write down everything you like about your friend.
Once finished, read aloud what you have written holding the sunflower in your hand and then repeat the following words:
“Kuan Yin, lady of friendship, charge this flower with your divine energy”. Then place it on the parchment.
Once the operation is over, thank the goddess by praying:
“Kuan Yin, thank you for giving your help in the success of my goal. I thank you for what you want to grant me. Stay if you want, go if you have to. I will leave you, be blessed.”
Let the candle burn out and give the flower to your friend as soon as you see them.
Planet: Venus
Colors: Pink and white
Date night! As tonight is Valentine’s Day for those who celebrate or care, which I don’t because every day is the Thunderdome of love up in this house, Venus is here to help bring everyone closer…rawr. But not just romantically, friendship is for Friday too. Anything to draw more love to you is for Friday, whether it’s self-love, sexual love or even mending a rift. Fridays are my best bath days too. Not just for purification, but have you ever done a glamour? Mirror mirror on the wall. I have a friend who found out I was a witch and in the conversation, I told her about a glamour because she had a date. She looked right at me and said “You bitch. I knew there were nights you just looked too good. That’s not fair” We used to go out back when we were both single. The feminine power of Venus is also good for crafting, harvesting herbs, making potions, and just flat getting your drink on. Now we all know why I go live on Fridays. Secret is out. If I am creating a tea or anything for healing, I like to craft on a Friday. And hey, I know you don’t smoke weed, I know this; but I’m gonna get you high today, ’cause it’s Friday; you ain’t got no job… and you ain’t got shit to do. I smell Netflix and chill…. (movie reference #2).

Of all the magical days of the week, Friday is the best for friendship and love spells.
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Gender: Female
Deities: Aphrodite, Eros, Freya, Venus
Colors: Aqua, Copper Colors, Green, Light Blue, Pink
Crystals: Aventurine, Blue Lace Agate, Copper, Coral, Emerald, Jade, Lapis Lazuli, Malachite, Moonstone, Quartz, Rose Quartz, Selenite
Herbs & Plants: African Violet, Apples, Apple Blossoms, Apricot, Barley, Birch, Cardamon, Carnations, Catnip, Columbine, Feverfew, Foxglove, Germanium, Goldenrod, Heather, Hibiscus, Iris, Lilac, Magnolia, Roses, Strawberries, Sweetpea, Thyme
Incenses: Cardamon, Rose, Saffron, Sandalwood, Strawberry, Vanilla, Venus Oil, Yarrow
Energies & Associations: Arts, Beauty, Birth, Fertility, Friendship, Growth, Harmony, Love, Marriage, Music, Nature, Partnerships, Peace, Perfumes, Platonic Love, Lust, Passion, Pleasure, Reconciliation, Relationships, Resolving Relationship Issues, Romance, Sexuality, Social Activities, Transformation
Planet – Jupiter
Spells/Magic – money, prosperity, holiday, travel, business, luck, growth, self improvement, generosity, health, wealth
Magical aspects: controlled optimism, energetic growth, physical well-being, material success, expansion, money/wealth, prosperity, leadership, and generosity.
Oils – lime, magnolia, strawberry, vanilla
plants and trees – sage, nutmeg,oak tree,meadowsweet, hyssop,borage,butterfly weed,clove,dandelion chestnut,maple tree, anise .
Stones – Amethyst, laptis lazuli, sapphire
Colours – blue, metallic colours, green, turquoise, white, purple.
Metal – Tin
Energy Type – Male
Dieties – dedicated to Thor, god of thunder and agricultural work. his parallels in various European Traditions include Zeus, Taranis, Perun, and Perkunas.
Thursday is the best time to deal with such matters as: Business, Gambling, Logic, Social Matters, Political Power, Material Wealth, Publishing, Collage Education, Long Distance Travel, Foreign Interests, Religion, Philosophy, Forecasting, Broadcasting, Publicity, Expansion, Luck, Growth, Sports, Horses, The Law, Doctors, Guardians, Merchants, Psychologists, Charity, Correspondence Courses, Self-improvement, Researching, Reading and Studying.

Planet: Jupiter
Colour: blue, purple, green
Plants: oak, wheat
Stone: Amethyst, Lepidolite, Sugilite, Tin
Herbs: Clove, Oakmoss, Cinnamon, Musk, Nutmeg, and Sage
Oils:manifest oil
Gods: Thor, Jupiter, Zeus, Taranis, Perun, and Perkunas.
Thursdays are ruled by the planet Jupiter. It is also associated with the Norse god Thor and the Roman God Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet and therefor the most powerful.
Thursday is the best day to perform manifesting magic. Prepare that money magic, ask for that raise, have fun with friends and loved ones.
Spells and rituals: luck, happiness, health, legal matters, male fertility, treasure, wealth, honour, riches, clothing, money, desires, business, group pursuits, joy, laughter, and expansion.
Thrifty Thursday spells:
Write what you want to manifest on a bay leaf and burn it.
Start your morning with a slice of whole wheat toast. Add butter or your choice of spread in the form of a dollar symbol ($) and feel the abundance and prosperity entering your life.
Have a meal with a good friends or family. Laugh a lot and feel how abundant your life is with the love and friendships you have.
Work some money magic with our Ancestral Money Draw Spell.
There’s just nothing better than the scent apple cider, fresh oranges, and cinnamon sticks simmering on the stove. Part of England’s Christmas tradition for centuries, wassail is a scrumptious spiced cider practically begging to be sipped fireside. Early versions of this Christmas punch included warmed wine, mead, or ale combined with roasted apples, sugar, and spice. This recipe holds fast to tradition with whole bobbing apples and a multitude of warming spices, plus a festive twist using apple cider and cranberry juice in place of the alcohol. Of course, for the grown-up version, a splash of bourbon or brandy adds a kick!
What is wassail?
This non-alcoholic Christmas drink is essentially apple cider infused with fresh orange, lemon, roasted apples, and lots of spice. Think: cozy cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, allspice, and star anise. It’s important here to use both ground and whole spices, so don’t skip either. The ground spices flavor the roasted apples through their core and have a stronger aroma than the whole spices while the whole cinnamon sticks and star anise pods couldn’t be prettier floating in this drink! The final step before serving is adding in those sweet, tender roasted apples and cranberry juice cocktail. Not only does the cranberry juice add a bright, tart note, it gives the drink a gorgeous rosy hue in your punch bowl.
What is the tradition of wassailing?
The term “wassail” has multiple meanings. First appearing in the English poem Beowulf in the 8th century, the word has been used as a salutation or toast to good health. In England, it also describes a 12th night of Christmas gathering in fruit orchards where dancing, drinking, and singing encourage spirits to provide a good harvest in the coming year. Wassailing can also simply mean Christmas caroling door to door. But today, wassail refers to the cozy, hot holiday beverage that you’ll find here, too. It’s the most delicious way to warm up after a cold night of caroling!
What’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
Apple cider is the raw, unfiltered, unpasteurized juice from apples. Apple juice is the juice from apples that has been filtered, pasteurized, and oftentimes sweetened. The difference between apple cider and apple juice may seem subtle, but which one you pick does make a difference! Use apple cider for this recipe. If you can’t find it, apple juice can be used but you’ll be left with a sweeter drink.
Can you make wassail in a slow cooker?
Yes! You’ll want to bake the apples separately, but you can add all of the other ingredients to a slow cooker and heat on high for two hours or low for four hours. Add the baked apples and cranberry juice before serving.
6 Tbsp. dark brown sugar, plus more to taste
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ground allspice
1 gal. apple cider, divided
1 navel orange
10 whole cloves
2 lemons
2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving
3 star anise pods
1 c. cranberry juice cocktail
Bourbon or brandy, for serving (optional)
Fresh or frozen cranberries, thawed, for serving (optional)
See Nutritional Information

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.
Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com
For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Gibbous. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning.
Visit the December 2024 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.
The Waning Gibbous on December 19 has an illumination of 79%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 19 the Moon is 19.23 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.
The current zodiac moon sign is Leo, positioned at 24.02° within the sign. The Moon entered Leo on Dec 17, 12:52 PM and will shift into Virgo on Dec 19, 8:02 PM. The zodiac moon sign represents the position of the Moon as it moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each zodiac moon sign lasts about 2 to 2.5 days as the Moon travels through that part of the sky.

The current moon phase for December 20th, 2024 is the Waning Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 18.51 days old and 77.85% illuminated with a tilt of -32.611°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 392,653.28 km and the moon sign is Leo.
The Moon phase for December 20th, 2024 is a Waning Gibbous phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon where the illumination of the moon decreases each day until it reaches 50% (the Last Quarter phase).
The waning (shrinking) gibbous Moon will rise after sunset in the east, transit the meridian after midnight, before setting after sunrise in the west.
During this phase, the illumination of the moon will go down from 99.% to 50.1%. Technically, the phase starts as soon as the Full Moon has passed, but it can be difficult to calculate and differentiate the first stage of a Waning Gibbous Moon from a Full Moon when 98-99% of the Moon’s surface is illuminated.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Moon age: 18.51 days
Moon illumination: 77.85%
Moon tilt: -32.611°
Moon angle: 0.51
Moon distance: 392,653.28 km
Moon sign: Leo
The yule log is a classic Christmas dessert that not only looks pretty, it’s darn delicious, too. I remember seeing this traditional treat in the pages of cooking magazine for years, but it took years for me to try it myself. It turns out, it’s really not hard to make. If you doubt your ability to make one, just give it a shot. I promise you can do it. Just bake a cake, fill it with a sweet filling, roll it up, frost it, and ta da! It looks like a gorgeous woodland log straight out of a fairy tale.
What’s the tradition behind a yule log cake?
Over the history of Christmas, yule logs date back to the 1600s when families would burn the real log on Christmas Eve to symbolize the coming of the new year and good luck. Then, they were popularized in French bakeries during the 19th century where they get their other common name, Bûche de Noël. Many of these lovely cakes are garnished with elaborate meringue mushrooms or other edible woodland creatures, but you’ll love the simplicity of this one.
What’s the difference between a Swiss roll and a yule log?
While both desserts feature a thin layer of cake and fluffy filling rolled into a log, the difference between a yule log and a Swiss roll is how the two are decorated. Swiss rolls are typically kept plain while yule logs are cut, frosted, and adorned to look like, well, logs! Some versions are artfully topped with meringue mushrooms and other intricate things, but simple garnishes like pomegranate seeds and fresh rosemary work perfectly.
How do you roll a yule log without it breaking?
The key is to roll the cake, unfilled, fresh out of the oven. Cake is much more pliable when it’s hot, which means you can easily roll it up and shape it into a log without fear of it cracking and breaking. Once the cake has completely cooled, you’ll carefully unroll it, fill it, and roll it up again! If you do end up with any cracks, don’t worry—the frosting will cover them!
How do you decorate a yule log?
This is the fun part: Once you get the log in place, slather the whole thing in the chocolate frosting. Then run the tines of a fork over the frosting to create a bark-like appearance. Stick a few sprigs of rosemary around the log and top with pomegranate seeds. If you don’t want to use pomegranates, sugared cranberries look pretty! A sprinkle of powdered sugar is great, too.
How do you store a yule log?
Wrap it tightly in plastic and store in the refrigerator for up to three days. Wait to add the pomegranate seeds and rosemary until just before serving.
4 Tbsp. salted butter, melted, plus more for the pan
6 large eggs, separated
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
1/4 tsp. kosher salt
3/4 c. granulated sugar
3/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/4 c. strong brewed coffee, at room temperature
1/4 c. powdered sugar
4 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature
1/2 c. powdered sugar, sifted
1 c. heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract
12 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
3/4 c. heavy cream
1 Tbsp. light corn syrup
Rosemary sprigs and pomegranate seeds, for garnish
See Nutritional Information

There are no restrictions to shopping or important decisions today. The Moon is in Leo.
5-Dynamic; 4-Positive; 3-Average; 2-So-so; 1-Difficult
** Cut yourself some slack today. You might not get a lot done, and the same goes for others. Easy does it. For starters, you might feel fatigued. Plus, escapist behaviour, daydreaming and avoiding responsibilities will be classic. “Let’s slip out the back, Jack.”
* This is a poor day to make important financial decisions especially about inheritances, shared property, taxes, debt or mortgages because there will be a lack of clarity. Issues might be confusing. Postpone these important negotiations for another day.
* Beware of deception today. (And this includes plain old kidding yourself.) The Sun is opposite your sign and it is challenged by Neptune, which can make you doubt your decisions. It can also attract dubious people to you. Be careful.
** Double check your work today because errors are likely. Confusion can be the result of issues that are unclear. You might not receive the correct information, or you might misinterpret it. Many things might happen. This same fogginess can apply to your health.
* This is a confusing day for romance because people are indecisive and easily disillusioned. Ironically, they are also sensitive, as well as full of self-doubt and confusion. Parents should be extra vigilant of their kids, especially with respect to poisons, gas and water accidents.
* This is a poor day to ask parents or an older member of the family who might be an authority figure for permission or advice because everything is foggy. People are confused, tired and drained. Deception is possible. Postpone important decisions for another day when you have more clarity.
** Today you might be uncertain about the direction of things or you might even doubt your own decisions. You might also be unsure if relatives, neighbours and siblings are telling you the truth. Maybe they don’t grasp the whole picture? Or maybe they don’t understand you?
** Your wise choice today is to postpone important financial decisions. That’s because there is a lack of clarity, the possibility of deception, confused communications and plain old lazy thinking that might get you in trouble. Do your homework but make these decisions or expenditures another day.
* As unusual as it sounds, today it’s easy to have a blurred self-identity. You’re not sure about what you believe or think? Or you might find yourself oscillating back and forth between different decisions. Many people feel this way today. Just tread water. Don’t act.
** Today it’s hard to know if you are being idealistic or escapist. It’s easy to avoid responsibilities today because of lack of energy and confusion. You might even feel overwhelmed by issues. If so, do something to ground yourself. Go for a walk. Postpone major decisions. Take it easy.
** Be careful if you’re talking to friends and members of groups, especially if someone is coming on with their own personal propaganda. Don’t be suckered in. It’s important to think for yourself; however, today this will be difficult to do. Protect yourself by postponing decisions and money matters for another day.
* Relations with parents, bosses and authority figures including the police will be fuzzy and confusing today. It’s not you. It’s just the way things are today. Knowing this ahead of time, do not react. Do not act. Do not follow through on anything that seems a bit far-fetched. People are prone to make poor decisions today. Stay chill.
Actor Brad Pitt (1963) shares your birthday today. You are a leader and others respect you. You’re idealistic, playful and sometimes stubborn. This has been a fun-loving year for you. However, you are headed into a year of work, building and construction – both externally and internally. Simplicity will be the key. Explore exercise, martial arts or yoga.
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Your life has started to move in quite an alert rhythm or maybe this is what you feel because some important deadlines might be piling up.
You are on a good track through as you are interacting with a lot of people and appreciate their company and advice. With a bit more wisdom in how you invest your energy you will get through this.
You can also read this special Aries Daily Horoscope.
This Wednesday will highlight once again what a great social companion you are but will also put another brick onto that narcissistic attitude of yours.
But you know how it is, one hot, one cold. On the other hand, you also seem focused on actually doing something productive, even if it doesn’t necessarily involve you taking all the credit.
You can also read this special Taurus Daily Horoscope.
Working in a group and in tight collaborations is going to be the highlight of this Wednesday although you will not be very happy once you hear the news about all this in the morning.
As the day goes by, you tend to see the good side in most of it and just try to get along. Overall you are going to be in a good mood during the day.
You can also read this special Gemini Daily Horoscope.
Totally unlike your usual self you are taking way too many precautions ad wasting too much time trying to make the safe choices.
While it might sound as something serious to do at work, in your personal life you might want to have better priorities at this point. You are enticed by new ideas and visions but maybe you are just too scared to put them in practice.
You can also read this special Cancer Daily Horoscope.
In your attempt to get as further as possible from routine activities you seem to have overlooked a very important aspect, the connections of said activities with the general route of your life and with your responsibilities.
We can’t all act like teenagers and expect for everyone else to fix our messes and then just forget whatever happened.
You can also read this special Leo Daily Horoscope.
You are somewhat expecting a consistent reward for something you have done and while some natives might be receiving something in the area of what they are expecting, some others are going to be terribly disappointed.
But at a closer look on the whole situation you might see that it kind of is selfish from your side to actually expect anything.
You can also read this special Virgo Daily Horoscope.
A vocational day so don’t be scared to show what talents you have. Life might offer you an official chance to do it but who says you can’t do it in your circle of friends.
Could be a great occasion for laughs but also for a general relaxing atmosphere. You are also benefiting from an interesting dose of popularity so this might be your chance.
You can also read this special Libra Daily Horoscope.
Don’t go searching for undeserved rewards because this day is all about work or at least real effort. This sure slams a big door in front of any games based on luck but leaves you with enough space to pursue ideas.
There is no need to be something that involves actual work, even talent can be put into something income triggering.
You can also read this special Scorpio Daily Horoscope.
You are talking way too much about your sentimental life, maybe not even with the most appropriate persons and you are actually overlooking some aspects.
It’s true that the stars might benefit you a bit if they see you trying, but being all gossipy about what you are doing in private won’t really get you any rewards at the moment.
You can also read this special Sagittarius Daily Horoscope.
You are going to put a lot of accent on the importance of pursuing your dreams but maybe you are not really in the position to practice what you preach so this will only remind you of where you stand and make you even bitterer.
The stars on the other hand want to cheer you up so don’t refuse any invitation to some entertainment tonight.
You can also read this special Capricorn Daily Horoscope.
An inspired Wednesday during which you will probably see things in a completely different light than you usually do.
A surprising rekindled ability to read between the lines will help you get far in your social relationships but you are still craving for more. A good day to show your loved one how much you care for them and do something nice.
You can also read this special Aquarius Daily Horoscope.
You are definitely making a lot of noise for nothing this Wednesday and you should temper yourself or at least don’t make this a social affair.
While work might be going just fine, it sure gives you too much free time to obsess over certain insecurities you think you have and then take it all on people you know accept such things from you.
You can also read this special Pisces Daily Horoscope.
It’s the season of fairies, and nothing delights the inner child more than playing with the woodland spirits.
This one is so easy, it’s almost self-explanatory.
Literally: Glue some sticks together. Yup. That’s it. I used hot glue for the one above.
If you want to get fancy, add little bits of (affiliate link —–>) sheet moss to get that aged-in-the-garden feel.
You can even train roses or herbs to grow on it.

The current moon phase for December 19th, 2024 is the Waning Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 17.48 days old and 86% illuminated with a tilt of -38.666°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 387,348.65 km and the moon sign is Leo.
The Moon phase for December 19th, 2024 is a Waning Gibbous phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon where the illumination of the moon decreases each day until it reaches 50% (the Last Quarter phase).
The waning (shrinking) gibbous Moon will rise after sunset in the east, transit the meridian after midnight, before setting after sunrise in the west.
During this phase, the illumination of the moon will go down from 99.% to 50.1%. Technically, the phase starts as soon as the Full Moon has passed, but it can be difficult to calculate and differentiate the first stage of a Waning Gibbous Moon from a Full Moon when 98-99% of the Moon’s surface is illuminated.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Moon age: 17.48 days
Moon illumination: 86%
Moon tilt: -38.666°
Moon angle: 0.51
Moon distance: 387,348.65 km
Moon sign: Leo

You can use this link to go forward or backward in time for Moon phase information. If you are curious, you can even find out what phase the Moon was in when you or anyone else was born.
There are 8 lunar phases the Moon goes through in its 29.53 days lunar cycle. The 4 major Moon phases are Full Moon, New Moon, First Quarter and Last Quarter. Between these major phases, there are 4 minor ones: the Waxing Crescent, Waxing Gibbous, Waning Gibbous and Waning Crescent. For more info on the Moon Cycle and on each phase check out Wikipedia Lunar Phase page.
Check the weather before a night of Moon gazing at weather.com
For a list of all the current meteor showers visit American Meteor Society
The Moon’s current phase for today and tonight is a Waning Gibbous. During this phase the Moon can be seen in the early morning daylight hours on the western horizon. This is the first phase after the Full Moon occurs. It lasts roughly 7 days with the Moon’s illumination growing smaller each day until the Moon becomes a Last Quarter Moon with an illumination of 50%. The average Moon rise for this phase is between 9pm and Midnight depending on the age of the phase. The moon rises later and later each night setting after sunrise in the morning.
Visit the December 2024 Moon Phases Calendar to see all the daily moon phase for this month.
The Waning Gibbous on December 16 has an illumination of 98%. This is the percentage of the Moon illuminated by the Sun. The illumination is constantly changing and can vary up to 10% a day. On December 16 the Moon is 16.24 days old. This refers to how many days it has been since the last New Moon. It takes 29.53 days for the Moon to orbit the Earth and go through the lunar cycle of all 8 Moon phases.
The current zodiac moon sign is Cancer, positioned at 11.37° within the sign. The Moon entered Cancer on Dec 15, 1:56 PM and will shift into Leo on Dec 17, 12:52 PM. The zodiac moon sign represents the position of the Moon as it moves through the twelve signs of the zodiac. Each zodiac moon sign lasts about 2 to 2.5 days as the Moon travels through that part of the sky.

The current moon phase for December 17th, 2024 is the Waning Gibbous phase.
On this day, the moon is 15.41 days old and 97.47% illuminated with a tilt of -60.186°. The approximate distance from Earth to the moon is 376,500.34 km and the moon sign is Cancer.
The Moon phase for December 17th, 2024 is a Waning Gibbous phase. This is the first phase after the Full Moon where the illumination of the moon decreases each day until it reaches 50% (the Last Quarter phase).
The waning (shrinking) gibbous Moon will rise after sunset in the east, transit the meridian after midnight, before setting after sunrise in the west.
During this phase, the illumination of the moon will go down from 99.% to 50.1%. Technically, the phase starts as soon as the Full Moon has passed, but it can be difficult to calculate and differentiate the first stage of a Waning Gibbous Moon from a Full Moon when 98-99% of the Moon’s surface is illuminated.
Fun fact: the word Gibbous was first used in the 14th century and comes from the latin word gibbosus which means humpbacked.
Phase: Waning Gibbous
Moon age: 15.41 days
Moon illumination: 97.47%
Moon tilt: -60.186°
Moon angle: 0.53
Moon distance: 376,500.34 km
Moon sign: Cancer
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