Pagans celebrate Yule during the winter solstice, which typically falls on December 21st or 22nd in the northern hemisphere. It is a time to honor the cycles of nature and the turning of the seasons. Yule is rooted in ancient pagan traditions and is associated with various spiritual practices. The winter solstice marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. Pagans view this as a powerful moment when the sun begins its journey back towards the earth, bringing with it the promise of warmth and renewal. Yule celebrations often include rituals and ceremonies to honor this transition and to welcome the returning light.
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Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. When it happens again, and after Ellie passes, it begins a grieving self-discovery for Rowan, which takes her to New Orleans, where she learns about her birth mother, Deirdre Annabeth Gish.
Yule celebrations often include rituals and ceremonies to honor this transition and to welcome the returning light. One common practice during pagan Yule is the lighting of a Yule log, which represents the return of the sun. The log is typically decorated and burned in a hearth or bonfire, symbolizing the release of past troubles and the welcoming of new beginnings.
Witch series 2023
Just a few months after releasing their TV version of "Interview with the Vampire," AMC continues its investment in the Anne Rice business with a new show, focused on a new supernatural lineage. Instead of the Vampire Lestat, this new series from creators Esta Spalding and Michelle Ashford is about the women of the wealthy and mysterious witches in the Mayfair family, the subject of three books by Rice.
In keeping with the lineage of witch stories across film, TV, and books, "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches" depicts generations of women and their experiences that echo across lifetimes, going up against types of entitled, gross, manipulative men who are a fact of patriarchal societies. This also means that "Mayfair Witches" has a whole lot of backstory—there's even a look at the Mayfair women in the 1600s, and it only nudges the overall story along so much. There's a vital excitement needed for the latest and main chapter of Mayfair lore that's gravely missing here, despite it having some style that includes the pervasive presence of dark teal and more sumptuous New Orleans production design from Rice's developing TV universe. But no saga about a person learning about their witch ancestry, and the secret society meant to protect them, should feel this hollow.
AdvertisementAlexandra Daddario stars in the series as Rowan, a neurosurgeon in San Francisco unaware of her connection to the Wayfair clan in New Orleans. One day, when hitting a boiling point with a condescending male boss at her workplace, she gains the ability to burst people's brains. Freaked out by this, she brings it up to her adoptive mother Ellie (Erica Gimpel)—who is on her deathbed—and who tells her to think nothing of it. When it happens again, and after Ellie passes, it begins a grieving self-discovery for Rowan, which takes her to New Orleans, where she learns about her birth mother, Deirdre (Annabeth Gish).
For years, Dierdre has been in a silent, catatonic state, spending her days on the porch of her sister Carlotta's (Beth Grant) home and being taken care of mostly by family maid Delphine (Deneen Tyler). As we see in flashy flashbacks, Dierdre has been tormented by—after being seduced by—the same figure who also haunted her mother, a man named Lasher (Jack Huston). Appearing in these hazy sequences with a sleazy grin primed for a grimy dive bar, Lasher is meant to be a symbol of all that has controlled and manipulated the Mayfair women for centuries. Instead, he becomes a cheesy symbol—in part thanks to Huston's scant charisma—for how this story can't conjure a claustrophobic danger. The possible thrills of getting some creepy, sensual, and/or dramatic horror from "Mayfair Witches" suffer for it.
The fun of "Mayfair Witches" can be so iffy that it struggles to make much intrigue out of its aforementioned secret society of witch-protectors, named the Talamasca. Rowan receives some assistance and camaraderie from a Talamasca employee named Ciprien (Tongayi Chirisa), offering her a stronger grasp of this new world. His heroism comes with his own gift—Ciprien can touch something and be able to see its past, like when he touches the gates to the Mayfair house. When he touches Rowan for the first time, it nearly knocks him out, a testimony to how she has a special degree of power, even though she doesn't know it.
AdvertisementDaddario is good in the role that the series spends a lot of time table-setting for, especially with how much time the series dedicates to making her a person of the people, a type of innocence we are meant to root for and cherish. She can be playful as a vagabond who lives on a boat and lives a free sexual life, but we're also meant to appreciate her integrity, which could be jeopardized by Lasher. It's the general sullen nature of the series that sucks the life out of a few of its figures—despite having such a unique life's work, Ciprien is too bland thanks to his grave seriousness. "Mayfair Witches" gets its most curious mileage from Beth Grant as Rowan's sly great aunt Carlotta; her shark smile and fervent religious repression create their own striking mystery, one that gets freakier once she invites Rowan into her home.
The plotting of "Mayfair Witches" is too drawn out for its own good, with episodes one and two showing how a story can provide a lot of information and connected lives without accumulating a good pace. But the series does come to life when it brings in something trickier than Rowan's journey of self-realization. Episode three, directed by Axelle Carolyn, takes off from a shocking death in the last shots of episode two; it helps build a murder mystery while raising more supernatural elements, leaning into the weirdness that helps this series stand out most. And the slickest one may be episode five, directed by Haifaa al-Mansour. Playing out almost like a standalone episode, it gives more momentum to the mysteries at hand by crafting a psychological maze for Rowan to break through.
It seems possible that fans of the books will at least appreciate how much space this show gives its saga—it's all about the characters' backstories, but in a way that's uniquely, frustratingly counterintuitive here. So much gets tangled up or forgotten about—even the worry about Rowan having uncontrolled brain-bursting powers, the focus of the first two episodes, becomes an afterthought. But the talent in front of and behind the camera makes the problems even more glaring: it's telling how even talented directors like Carolyn and al-Mansour can't bring "Mayfair Witches" to life.
Five episodes screened for review. "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches" premieres on AMC+ on January 8.
It seems possible that fans of the books will at least appreciate how much space this show gives its saga—it's all about the characters' backstories, but in a way that's uniquely, frustratingly counterintuitive here. So much gets tangled up or forgotten about—even the worry about Rowan having uncontrolled brain-bursting powers, the focus of the first two episodes, becomes an afterthought. But the talent in front of and behind the camera makes the problems even more glaring: it's telling how even talented directors like Carolyn and al-Mansour can't bring "Mayfair Witches" to life.
It is also common to decorate homes with evergreen foliage such as holly, mistletoe, and pine boughs. These symbols of life and vitality are believed to bring good luck and protection during the winter months. Feasting is another important aspect of pagan Yule celebrations. Traditional foods such as roasted meats, root vegetables, and spiced beverages are enjoyed to celebrate the abundance of the season. The feasting is often accompanied by storytelling, singing, and dancing to foster a sense of community and joy. In addition to these traditional practices, modern pagans may incorporate their own personal beliefs and rituals into their Yule celebrations. Some may choose to perform solitary rituals or join organized gatherings with others who share their spiritual path. The focus of these rituals may vary, but the underlying theme of honoring the cycles of nature and embracing the return of the light remains constant. Overall, pagan Yule is a time of celebration, reflection, and spiritual connection. It is a time to acknowledge the magic and beauty of the natural world and to find solace in the darkness as we await the return of the sun..
Reviews for "Pagan Yule Music and Songs: Celebrating the Season with Melodies"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "When is Pagan Yule". The book had a lot of potential, but the execution was lacking. The writing was dull and unengaging, making it difficult for me to stay interested. The information provided was also quite basic and didn't delve deep enough into the history and traditions of Pagan Yule. Overall, I was left feeling unsatisfied and would not recommend this book to others interested in learning about Pagan Yule.
2. Sarah - 3 stars - "When is Pagan Yule" was just okay for me. I was hoping to learn more about the significance and rituals of Pagan Yule, but I found the book to be quite repetitive. The author seemed to continually restate the same points without really delving into any new information. Additionally, the book felt a bit disorganized, making it difficult to fully grasp the concepts being discussed. Overall, I think there are better resources out there for learning about Pagan Yule.
3. Ryan - 2 stars - I found "When is Pagan Yule" to be quite underwhelming. The information provided was very basic and didn't offer any new insights or perspectives on Pagan Yule. The writing style was also quite dry and monotonous, making it a chore to read through the entire book. I was hoping for a more engaging and informative read, but unfortunately, this book fell short of my expectations. I would recommend looking for other resources if you're interested in learning about Pagan Yule.