Yule Gods and Goddesses: Who to Honor at the Winter Solstice

Written by Mykhailo, woodcarver and founder of Blagowood since 2015

Yule is the oldest feast of the dark half of the year, and the Yule gods and goddesses stand at its heart. On the winter solstice, the longest night, our ancestors did not wait for the light alone. They called on their gods: the All-Father riding through the storm, the mothers who watch over the home, the Horned God of the forest. Today many pagans still place a statue of their Yule god or goddess at the heart of the altar and light the first candle for that deity.

This guide introduces the deities most honored at Yule and helps you choose the one for your altar. If you are setting up your altar for the first time, start with our guide on how to set up a Yule altar.

Which Gods Are Honored at Yule?

Yule gods share one theme: light that survives the darkness. Some are ancient Norse gods tied to the midwinter feast. Others are honored at Yule in modern pagan and Wiccan traditions, where the solstice marks the rebirth of the sun.

Which Norse Gods Are Honored at Yule?

• Odin: the Norse called him Jólnir, "the Yule one." In folk belief he leads the Wild Hunt across the winter sky. Our Odin statue with his wolves and ravens brings his wisdom to the darkest night. See all our Odin statues.
• Frigg: the queen of Asgard and the guardian of the home. The Anglo-Saxon monk Bede recorded Mōdraniht, the Night of the Mothers, on the eve of midwinter, and many Heathens honor Frigg and the ancestral mothers on that night. Our Frigg statue with her spinning wheel and keys is a gift to any home altar.
• Thor: the protector of Midgard against the forces of cold and chaos. Many link the Scandinavian Yule goat to his two goats. Our Thor statue with his goats guards the home through the winter.
• Freya: many Heathens honor the Vanir at Yule, asking for abundance and love in the year ahead. Our Freya statue with her cats brings warmth to a Norse altar.

Where Does Yggdrasil Fit into Yule?

Yule is a feast of evergreens, and no tree is greener than Yggdrasil. The Old Norse poem Völuspá says the World Tree stands ever green over the Well of Urd, holding the nine worlds in its branches. Many Heathens see their Yule evergreens as a reminder of Yggdrasil and place a carving of the World Tree on the altar beside their gods, as a symbol of life that endures through the darkest night.

Our Yggdrasil statue with the Nine Worlds and our Yggdrasil World Tree sculpture bring the World Tree to your Yule altar.

Which Celtic and Wiccan Deities Are Honored at Yule?

• Cernunnos, the Horned God: in many modern pagan traditions, the god of the forest is reborn with the sun at Yule. Our Cernunnos statue with a stag and a boar carries the promise of new life through the winter.
• Cerridwen: the Welsh goddess of the cauldron of transformation. Many modern pagans honor her in the dark of the year, when the old dies and the new is born. See our Cerridwen statues.
• Gaia, Mother Earth: she rests under the snow and holds the seeds of spring. A Gaia statue honors the quiet power of winter earth.

Why Do Witches Honor Hecate at Yule?

Hecate is the goddess who carries torches through the dark. In Greek myth she lit the way in the search for Persephone, and she has guarded crossroads, keys and the moon ever since. Many witches honor her on the longest night as the one who holds the light until the sun returns.

Our Hecate statue, Goddess of the Roads is the most loved piece among practicing witches. It comes in a standard and an enlarged size; the photo shows both side by side. Find more in our Hecate statues.

How to Choose Your Yule Deity?

1. Follow your path. Norse Heathens often choose Odin or Frigg, Wiccans the Horned God, witches Hecate.
2. Think about what you need this winter. Wisdom (Odin), protection (Thor), home and family (Frigg), renewal (Cerridwen), guidance through the dark (Hecate).
3. Listen to the one who calls you. If one deity keeps appearing in your dreams, reading or thoughts, that is often your answer.

How to Honor a Yule Deity on Solstice Night?

1. Place the statue at the center of your altar, slightly back, so the candlelight falls on it.
2. Light a candle at sunset and say the deity's name aloud.
3. Leave an offering: mead or wine for Odin and Thor, bread and honey for Frigg, garlic, eggs or honey cakes for Hecate, pine and acorns for the Horned God.
4. Speak from the heart. Thank them for the year that ends and ask for their blessing on the year to come.
5. Keep one candle burning until sunrise if you can do so safely, as a sign that the light has returned.

Can You Honor More Than One Deity at Yule?

Yes. Many pagans honor a pair, such as Odin and Frigg, or the Horned God with Gaia. Give each deity its own place on the altar and its own candle. If you are not sure, start with one: a single deity chosen with intention gives your altar a clear heart.

Any of our statues can be made in a standard or an enlarged size, so you can choose the one that fits your altar. Please check the size you select on the product page. Every statue is carved from natural wood and finished by hand in our family workshop. If you are choosing a deity as a present, our Yule gift guide for pagans will help.

The gods of Yule do not ask for a grand altar. They ask for a candle lit with intention on the longest night, and a heart that waits for the light.