This post is part 5 of my 12 Days of Yule series, inspired by the seasonal framework at Pagan Grimoire. Today we focus on Gift-Giving Day, a Yule tradition rooted in generosity, belonging, and community.
Historically, this day was about restoring balance and strengthening community ties.
During Saturnalia, people exchanged small candles, symbolizing the returning sun, and clay figurines. In Norse tradition, giving reflected the reciprocity of the feast. Gifts were not only objects, they were a promise of connection.
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 is a collection of gifts from an Angel Tree. People choose an anonymous child and purchase gifts for them, then bring the gifts back to an organizer for distribution.
The child may believe the gifts came from their parents or Santa Claus, and that is the point. The giving is meant to better the life of someone in the community without expectation of recognition or repayment.
The Digital Token of Goodwill
As a digital artist, my work lives on screens and can be shared widely. I do not produce a single physical painting or sculpture. 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. That version is the one 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 again. They have the only copy, one I designed with them in mind.
Reciprocity and the Artist's Spirit
The essence of Yule giving is reciprocity. We are able to give because we have received. As I look back on this year, I feel deep gratitude for the inspiration I have foraged from nature and from this community.
When I am creating, I often feel like I am paying it forward. I take the beauty I have 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 is a cycle of abundance that keeps our creative fires burning even in the darkest months.
Rituals of Generosity
We do not need to spend a fortune to honor the spirit of Gift-Giving Day. We can celebrate communal bonds through simple, intentional acts:
- The Digital Shine: Send a piece of art or a beautiful photo to someone you have not spoken to in a while. A sincere "thinking of you" token can light up their screen.
- The Unseen Gift: Offer a gift of service or time, like helping a neighbor clear their walk, or simply holding space for a friend who needs to talk.
- A Gift for the Earth: Leave a small offering for local wildlife, like 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.
Continue the series: If you missed yesterday, you can read Day 4 of Yule, Hearth and Home. When you are ready, head to Day 6 of Yule, Odin's Day and the Wild Hunt.
How are you practicing generosity today? Whether it is a physical gift, a digital token, or a simple act of kindness, I would love for us to share our stories of giving in the comments below.
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