Yule is an ancient winter festival that celebrates the Winter Solstice, the shortest day and longest night of the year. It marks the symbolic rebirth of the sun, as the days begin to grow longer from this point forward. Originally celebrated by Germanic and Scandinavian peoples, it is a time of warmth and light in the heart of winter, where people gather to share food, light candles, and decorate their homes with evergreens to symbolize eternal life. Traditionally, Yule lasts for 12 nights. It begins on the night of the Winter Solstice (December 21st) and continues until January 1st. This entire period is dedicated to celebrating the sun's return, with each of the twelve nights representing a transition from the old year to the new one.