The fourth sill dragon

There was a Basilisk from the north,

That used to move back and forth,

He went running one day,

But went for a play,

And still managed to come in fourth.

The third silly dragon

Water dragon from the deep sea came,

Dragon’s aim was to try to find fame,

With seaweed on head,

He sat on his bed,

Being silly was the name of the game.

The second silly dragon

The Cockatrice thought himself a cleaver beast,

He tried to make bread without yeast,

The loaves they looked well,

But gave him some hell,

Because the tins they had not been greased.

The first silly dragon

There was a giant Earth Worm from below,

That wanted some bubbles to blow,

He sucked up some water,

Much more than he ought ‘r,

But all he could make was some snow.

Yule (Geola)

Yule (Geola)

Introduction to Yule (Geola)

This period, like the roman Saturnalia was between the months of December and January. All the Anglo-Saxon months followed the Luna cycle. This was a twelve day period of feasting. The fields were mostly left until February when ploughing would begin again. Compare with, for example, the Polish tradition of keeping your Christmas tree up until Candlemas. In England until recent times ploughing did not recommence until Plough Monday, the first Monday after Twelfth Night.

Wuldorfadur ‘glory father’ representing the Solar Logos, was mentioned by Bede in his ‘On the Computation of Time’

Little is known about the winter goddess, but I infer from parallel Germanic traditions that it may have been Hella.

Modra Niht ’Holy Mothers' Night’ (24^th Dec) was again taken from, Bede’s ‘On the computation of time. Unfortunately we don’t know what happened on this night, but by the time of Bede it had become the start of the new year.

Yule (Geola)

Growing colder, by the degree.

Betwixt two months, Geola be,

Best stay inside, we doth agree,

Feast and wassail, blessing on thee.

For three short days, the sun hangs still,

In three more days, the new year’s chill.

And so let us, await until,

Wuldorfadur’s, feat to fulfil.

Rejoice us this, most sacred time,

The sun wilt soon, start his slow clime.

For twelve days feast, thy time art thine!

Raise thine goblet, sun wilt soon shine.

Winter goddess, we doth Invoke,

And leave the meads, until Imbolc.

Gather within, yon groves of oak,

And sing galdors, in hood and cloak.

Modra Niht was, Holy Mothers' Night,

Hail the Goddess, returning light.

By means of light, shalt thee invite.

Night of mothers', still secret rite,

Wheel of the year, she starts to turn,

Of summers warmth, we doth yet yearn.

The sun climes high, and starts to burn,

Wuldorfadur, thee shalt return!

Copyright Andrew Rea November 2012

First Day of Yule

First Day of Yule (remember Yule is all about having fun at the darkest time of the year)

Winter Solstice, the First Day of Yule,

Twelve days, ending in festive misrule.

Deck the home, with ivy and mistletoe,

Erect the Yule tree, with candles aglow.

A remnant of, the previous years log,

Light, the Yule bower as the prologue.

Thunder god Thunor’s holy, tree is oak,

Blessings be on, his name by all folk.

Oak is the best, will last and burn true,

If you haven’t a log, a candle will do.

Saturnalia as, the Romans would say,

Slaves and masters, tomfoolery day.

Copyright Andrew Rea 2007

Captured doing some street poetry