This post is part 5 of my 12 Days of Yule series, inspired by the seasonal framework at Pagan Grimoire. Today, we focus on the ancient and beautiful tradition of Gift-Giving.
Historically, this day was about restoring balance and building community.
During Saturnalia, people exchanged small candles (symbolizing the returning sun) and clay figurines. In the Norse tradition, it was about the reciprocity of the feast – nothing was given without the promise of connection in return.
Across cultures and centuries, these traditions remind us that giving has always been about belonging.
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| Gifts collected for an Angel Tree - an example of generosity and community giving during Yule. |
Giving as Community-Building
The photo above illustrates what I mean. It's the collection of gifts from an "angel tree." People choose an anonymous child and purchase gifts for them, then bring them back to the organizer for distribution.
The child may believe the gifts came from their parents, or Santa Claus. And that's the point – to better the lives of the community without expectation of reciprocity.
The Digital Token of Goodwill
As a digital artist, my work lives on screens, and is widely accessible. I don’t produce a physical painting or sculpture. Instead, when I gift my art, part of making it special is that it comes with a promise.
This year, I adapted a photo I took a few years ago of the ceiling of a bank. I changed it in several ways, including creating a six-pointed star. It was that version that I printed as a poster and sent to a Jewish relative. I gave it with the promise that I would never print or sell that version. They had the "original" and only copy – one I designed with them in mind.
Reciprocity and the Artist’s Spirit
The essence of Yule giving is reciprocity. We're able to give because we have received. As I look back on this year, I feel so much gratitude for the inspiration I’ve "foraged" from nature and from this community.
When I’m creating, I often feel like I’m "paying it forward." I take the beauty I’ve seen – the way winter light hits the waters of Long Island Sound, or the intricate carvings at Belcourt – and I gift it back through my art. It’s a cycle of abundance that keeps our creative fires burning even in the darkest months.
Rituals of Generosity
We don’t need to spend a fortune to honor the spirit of Gift-Giving today. We can celebrate our communal bonds through simple, intentional acts:
- The Digital Shine: We can take a moment to send a piece of art or a beautiful photo to someone we haven't spoken to in a while. A "thinking of you" token to light up their screen.
- The "Unseen" Gift: We can offer a gift of service or time: helping a neighbor clear their walk or simply holding space for a friend who needs to talk.
- A Gift for the Earth: We can leave a small offering for the local wildlife: some birdseed or a bit of suet – acknowledging that we are part of a larger, living community.
In each of these examples, the gift is not the object itself, but the relationship it sustains.
How are you practicing generosity today? Whether it’s a physical gift, a digital token, or a simple act of kindness, I’d love for us to share our stories of giving in the comments below.
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