Brits are only just discovering where the world 'Yuletide' really comes from

Christmas is known by many names, depending on where you live and what you believe. Some call it the "festive period" or "holiday season", but there's another word that's often used, even if its meaning isn't well understood: Yuletide.

You might have heard it in Christmas carols like 'Deck the Halls' or 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas', or seen it mentioned in connection with Yule logs or Yule balls, like in the Harry Potter films. But what does Yule or Yuletide actually mean, and where did it come from?

If you look up "Yuletide," online, you'll find it described as an old-fashioned word for Christmas. Dictionary.com says it's "the Christmas season" and explains that it was originally a pagan holiday celebrated by ancient Germanic people around the winter solstice, which some modern pagans still observe.

The word Yuletide comes from two Old English words: "geol", meaning Yule or Christmas, and "tid", meaning time or season. It refers to the period we now call the "festive season", which lasts from late December to early January. Just like "Christmastime", Yuletide is a way of describing the celebration known as Yule.

What exactly is Yule?

Yule was historically observed by the Germanic tribes and aligned with the winter solstice occurring on December 21-22 in the Northern Hemisphere. Originally from Scandinavia, it's an ancient tradition that can be traced way back before Christmas itself, deeply entrenched in Norse practices.

The Britannica website explains: "Its roots are complicated and difficult to trace, although there are several theories about how and why the festival was celebrated. It is generally agreed that Yule celebrations began as a Norse festival called jol, although assessments of the purpose and traditions vary. Like most winter solstice festivals, themes of light, fire, and feasting are common threads."

By the time Christianity wafted over Europe in the 9th century, Yule started to blend into Christmas. An intertwining of festivities ensued, weaving Yule into the fabric of this season, with many places still referencing Yuletide in relation to the Christmas period.

What’s the difference between Christmas and Yuletide?

Although they're often tossed around as synonyms, there exists a fine line distinguishing them. Christmas is essentially a Christian celebration marking the birth of Jesus Christ, while Yuletide casts a wider net, embracing all manner of winter celebrations without being tied to one specific religious narrative.

Yule, a tradition with pagan roots, symbolises the longest night of the year. The festivities commence on December 21 - the winter solstice - and conclude on January 1, heralding the start of the new year.

This makes Yuletide a 12-day celebration, but it's separate from the period known as the 12 Days of Christmas, which runs from December 25 until January 6. The 12-day festival of Yule was designed to mark the transition to darker hours, as the winter solstice signifies the shortest day of the year, and was celebrated long before Advent or Christian practices around Christmas.

However, today's version of Yuletide often represents a mix of historical pagan roots and Christian celebrations.