Here they still call it Yule, Jul. At his point they used to try to getrid of all the perishables that couldn't makeit through to spring. So from really early on up here, it has been a huge comsumer, yep! consumer holiday. Plenty of old stories of folks eating themselves to death. Strange, isn't it. They also used to have midvinterblott about now. It was a less pleasent aspect of solstice, sadly.
We get lots of chances to think about such things, as there are scattered graves from the bronze and early iron age scattered around the farm and the village nearby, not to mention some old "box" graves. I think a lot about the people who lived here once, about how it is not unlikely that they have links to my sons.
GOD JUL, Elysium! May the New year bring you joy!