In the dark and twisted alleys of Whitechapel, a cursed entity emerged from the shadows, seeking to defile a powerful sorceress. The sorceress, known for her immense magical abilities, had long been a target for those who sought to harness her powers for their own nefarious purposes. Unbeknownst to them, she carried a curse of her own – a witch’s curse that would bring misery and despair upon anyone foolish enough to cross her path with ill intentions. As the cursed entity approached the sorceress, an eerie silence fell upon the surroundings. The air grew thick with anticipation, as if nature itself sensed the impending clash of powers. The entity, unaware of the sorceress’s curse, believed itself invincible and unstoppable.
The words and music of Christmas carols were not always written at the same time. The music for Ding Dong Merrily on High dates back to the mid-1500s but the lyrics are from the 1800s. The tune for Good King Wenceslas is a medieval dance tune from the 1200s, while the words were written in the 1800s.
In Charles Dickens 1854 short story The Seven Poor Travellers he describes a group of musicians performing in a town one winter s evening As I passed along the High Street, I heard the Waits at a distance, and struck off to find them. Gain a global view of key events and decode their impact on business, politics and beyond with updates and analysis from our worldwide network of 700 journalists.
The entity, unaware of the sorceress’s curse, believed itself invincible and unstoppable. With each step it took, it grew bolder, its malevolent energy permeating through the very fabric of reality. But the sorceress, attuned to the supernatural energies that surrounded her, sensed the entity's approaching malevolence.
Top Twenty Songs to Sing at Yule
As a Wiccan and a music teacher, one of my favorite things about the holiday season are singing holiday songs. While some people enjoy them, there’s nothing that bothers me more than Christmas songs that have had their lyrics changed to Pagan words. I think we have many other options of both traditional and original music that there really is no need for it. Here is a list of songs you can sing during Yule. I have also created a playlist for them all on YouTube so you can play through them to set a holiday atmosphere this Yule!
Traditional “Christmas” carols that are really Pagan
1.Deck the Halls – Most people think of it as a Christmas song, but there is no mention of Christ or Christmas. The lyrics of the first verse portray decorating the house with Holly, wearing festive clothes, and singing carols. The second verse refers to the Yule log and “Yuletide treasure”. This is definitely a Pagan song.
2. Here We Come A-Wassailing – This “Christmas” song is about the tradition of wassailing in Great Britain. It stems from the idea that fuedal lords shared their exceeds with the peasents. Most people think of the holiday tradition of wassailing where people go caroling from house to house and are given wassail to drink. There are also traditions in cider producing regions of England that are more in line with Mabon where they crown a king and queen who bless the fruit to ensure a good apple harvest.
3. Boar’s Head Carol – This lesser-known carol gives the details of a feast featuring a boar. There are a few Latin phrases, but none of them really translate to anything related to Christmas.
4. O Tannenbaum – Most people think tannenbaum translates to “Christmas Tree”, but it really means fir tree or pine tree. The rest of the carol talks about how the tree stays green all year round and how beautiful the tree is. How Pagan can you get?
5. The Holly and the Ivy – It is very clear that this song was originally Pagan. The entire first verse is full of nature references . It mentions the rising of the sun, a popular Solstice theme. It also references the battle between the Holly King and the Oak King, though he is referred to as the ivy in this song. For example, “of all the trees that are in the woods, the Holly wears the crown.” Only the subsequent verses are Christian in nature, leading us to believe they were added to the song after the fact. The comparisons of the holly to Mary and the Christ child in the following verses are really a pretty far stretch. We don’t have any historical evidence that I am aware of with other lyrics for the other verses, but I think that the first verse does well on its own.
Honorable mentions: Patapan – Who can resist a carol with Pan in the title? It’s mostly about celebrating with music. There is a mention of Noel in the original language, which could translate to either Christmas or Yule, though all of the modern English versions opt to use Christmas. Another honorable mention: In The Bleak Midwinter – the first verse is full of beautiful winter imagery, but the rest is all about Christ. All of the lyrics were written at the same time, so it was definitely intended to be a Christmas song. Even so, the first verse might make a beautiful addition to your carols.
Traditional “Christmas” carols that are really just winter songs
6. Jingle Bells – A lot of people think of this song as a Christmas song, but there is no mention of the holiday at all. The lyrics merely detail a sleigh ride.
7. Let it Snow – This song describes a common feeling many of us have if you live anywhere that it snows. It is the feeling of being warm and comfortable and watching it snow.
8. Winter Wonderland – The idea that the season of winter changes the landscape into a wonderland is definitely a Pagan one.
9. Jingle Bell Rock – This is a nice upbeat song about nothing in particular. It certainly doesn’t mention any holidays, Christian or Pagan.
10. Frosty the Snowman – What Pagan doesn’t love the idea of personified snow? It’s a great song for kids, though the lyrics don’t exactly make it easy for kids to remember.
Honorable mention: It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – I think the title of this one describes this song nicely. There are references to holiday traditions, but there is one mention of “Christmases long long ago”. Other honorable mention: Baby It’s Cold Outside – I don’t particularly like this song because to the modern ear it sounds a lot like date rape. However, in the context of the time it was written, it was more likely meant as a woman who was reluctant to leave and felt the need to say she had to go because of societal expectations of the time.
Modern original songs about Yule
11. The Christians and the Pagans by Dar Williams – This song is a favorite of mine. It tells the story of Amber and Jane who were visiting a town for Solstice and decide to visit Amber’s “Christ-loving uncle”. It is an upbeat feel-good song with some amusing moments about the meeting of cultures like when Amber’s cousin asked if she was a witch.
12. Santa Claus is Pagan Too by Emerald Rose – I almost didn’t include this one in the list because it mentions Santa Claus. However, it’s clever and catchy and explains the Pagan origins of Santa.
13. Solstice Carol by Wyrd Sisters – This simple song is easy to sing along with and is written in Dorian mode, which seems to be a standard for Pagan music.
14. Solstice Evergreen by Spiral Dance – There is some nice imagery in addition to a singable tune.
15. On Midwinter’s Day by Damh the Bard – This upbeat song mentions other Pagan holidays and ideas, while celebrating Midwinter’s day.
Modern popular music that could be used to celebrate Yule
16. White is In The Winter Night by Enya – This song evokes thoughts of celebration and the winter holidays without directly mentioning any of them. Mistletoe, holly, candles, and colors of the season are all mentioned in this song by Enya.
17. Song for A Winter’s Night by Sarah McLaughlin – Her haunting voice really evokes the sense of winter, even though the vocals often dwell on other things.
18. Winter by Tori Amos – I chose this song because it mentions some of the symbolism of winter. Winter is a time for introspection (“Mirror mirror, where’s the crystal palace? But I can only see myself.”). Winter is also considered a time symbolizing old age (“Hair is grey and the fires are burning. So many dreams on the shelf.”). Tori Amos isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, mostly because it’s abstract and full of symbolism, but that’s why it makes this list.
19. Solstice Bells by Jethro Tull – It’s tough to believe that popular bands were playing music about the Solstice for this long, but Jethro Tull was ahead of it’s time. It is sad that in the mix the instruments overwhelm the vocals.
20. Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles – While not really a song one tends to associate with the holiday, it’s lyrics very much describe the coming of the sun.
Honorable mentions: A Long December by Counting Crows, December Child by Cyndi Lauper, A Hazy Shade of Winter by Simon and Garfunkel, To Try For The Sun by Donovan, Wintertime Love by The Doors, Winter Sun by Led Zeppelin
Bonus: other instrumental music to get you in the holiday mood
- Wizards In Winter by Trans Siberian Orchestra
- Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson
- Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky
- March of the Toys from Babes in Toyland
- Yule Log and Holly Berries by Rathkeltair
Honorable mentions: A Raven in the Snow by Jeff Johnson, The Druids Winter by Will Millar, Winter Bourne by Paul Candless
Here is the playlist containing my top choices for each category including instrumentals, for your holiday celebrations. I tried to choose videos that didn’t have to ensure songs played consecutively.
Do you know of a song that should make this list? If so, leave it in the comments below!
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She called upon her deep reserves of magical power, preparing for the battle ahead. As the entity closed in, a flash of brilliance erupted from the sorceress's outstretched hand, illuminating the darkest corners of Whitechapel. The cursed entity, momentarily blinded by the sorceress's display of power, faltered. It realized too late that it had underestimated its opponent. The sorceress, now fully in control of the situation, unleashed her fury upon the entity. Arcane energies clashed in a chaotic dance, crackling and sizzling as they collided. Whitechapel trembled under the strain of this epic struggle, its buildings quivering and its cobblestones cracking. The curse that had befallen the sorceress manifested itself, fueling her magical prowess and enhancing her abilities. With each strike, the entity weakened, its malevolence slowly dissipating. Finally, the cursed entity succumbed to the sorceress's relentless onslaught. Its form disintegrated, fading into nothingness, leaving behind only a lingering sense of foreboding. The sorceress, triumphant yet weary, stood amidst the ruins of her battle, her curse momentarily sated but still ever-present. Word of the extraordinary clash spread through the streets of Whitechapel, whispered in hushed tones by those who had witnessed the confrontation. The cursed entity's attempt to defile the sorceress had been thwarted, serving as a warning to any who dared to test the limits of her power. Whitechapel, forever changed by this supernatural encounter, would forever remember the day when a cursed entity defiled a sorceress, only to face its own undoing..
Reviews for "The Sorceress' Journey: Seeking a Cure for Whitechapel's Curse"
- John Smith - 2 stars - I was really excited to watch "Whitechapel when a cursed entity defiles a sorceress" based on the description and the trailer, but unfortunately, it fell flat for me. The plot was confusing and lacked coherence. The acting was subpar, with the actors delivering their lines in a monotone and uninspired manner. The special effects were also disappointing, often looking cheap and out of place. Overall, I found it difficult to connect with the characters or get invested in the story, and I was left feeling let down by this film.
- Sarah Thompson - 1 star - I cannot express how disappointed I was with "Whitechapel when a cursed entity defiles a sorceress." The whole film felt like a jumble of clichés and tired tropes. The script was weak, with predictable dialogue and a lack of depth to the characters. The pacing was off, making it hard to stay engaged or interested in what was happening on screen. The visual effects were also underwhelming and took away from the overall viewing experience. In the end, I regretted spending my time and money on this film and would not recommend it to others.
- Mark Johnson - 2.5 stars - "Whitechapel when a cursed entity defiles a sorceress" had the potential to be an intriguing and captivating film, but sadly it fell short. The storyline was convoluted, making it difficult to follow and understand. The performances were mediocre at best, with the actors lacking chemistry and failing to bring depth to their characters. The film also suffered from pacing issues, with certain scenes dragging on while others felt rushed. Overall, while the cinematography was visually appealing, the film failed to deliver on its promises and left me feeling unsatisfied.