YULE SONG- Winter Solstice- What Night is This?

A Craft carol.
vocals, keyboards, adaption- Katerina El Haj
guitar- Jay Myerson
December 2009
Buy at katerinaelhaj.bandcamp.com
What Night Is This?
What night is this so long and drear
When all good folk would gather near
To light their pyres, the Solstice fires
And tend the blaze till morning.
All, all of nature sing
As the days grow long, so comes the Spring.
All hail the Lord, our Sun,
The babe of our blessed Lady.
So build the fires strong and high
The wind will be His lullaby
Returning king, of thee we sing
Watching the Yule log burning.
All, all of nature sing
As the days grow long, so comes the Spring.
All hail the Lord, our Sun,
The babe of our blessed Lady.
Come join me by the Yuletide flame
To call our Lord by His holy name.
By fire bright, invoke His light
Keeping watch till dawning
All, all of nature sing
As the days grow long, so comes the Spring.
All hail the Lord, our Sun,
The babe of our blessed Lady.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

For all the many people who bring my music into their homes and celebrations at Solstice time each year, I am indeed humbled by your comments and support. I send my deepest and most heart felt thanks. May you walk in the light of the Lady and speak with the wisdom of the Lord. Happy Yule. )O(

[@daveanthony7833]

Blessed be to you and your family and thank you for your music. Happy Yule.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Our fire is just lit. Thank you everyone for your kind comments. Blessed yule.

[@merrymary767]

I love it. Reclaiming pagan music for a pagan festival.Beautiful job. I will teach this song to my grandchildren this Solstice. Merry Be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Blessed be Mary. Thank you. I love that you will sing it with your grandchildren this Yule. x

[@niapet]

I agree this sounds great... but how is it "reclaiming pagan music"? The original is a love song...

[@Lady_Mstikal]

Blessed Be!! Thank you for sharing this beautiful Yule Carol! I'm teaching this to my grandchildren.

[@MooSaidChicken]

"All hail the lord our son, the babe of our blessed lady?" How is this pagan?

[@margaretwordnerd5210]

See my post. This is the original Reason for the Season. Enjoy :)

[@irishfield1]

Amazing and beautiful great singing ever thank you appreciate

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Bless you. Thank you. Happy Yule. )O(

[@lilithnymfaea6518]

Your voice so well embodies the frailness and ageness of winter 😍 I picture an old, wild, white haired crone slowly gliding through a winter wood. So absolutely beautiful.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Well when I wrote and recorded them I did not feel like a crone but I do now! lol Thank you. Happy Yule.

[@mandymckerl4548]

@@KaterinaElHaj There's something wonderfully archetypal carried by your voice .

[@briankinslow2995]

Another year to listen to this beautiful song. Something very special

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Bless you. Many thanks. )O(

[@gerpierro]

The TRUE reason for the season...beautiful!

[@Threetails]

I'm very tempted to sing this at my Yule ritual! It will be my first Yule as a recent convert, I'll be on a mountain in the Ouachita range with a magnificent view of the rising Sun. I usually don't like appropriating Christmas music with Yule lyrics, but I like this.

[@Threetails]

Wow! This is an old comment! I forgot I had even made it. A lot has changed in 6 1/2 years. My path has since led me toward Gnosticism, and I am now studying for priesthood in a church with a Valentinian reconstructionist slant. I don't regret my time as a Pagan but the path leads where it leads. Blessings!

[@TopherTensen5020]

@@Threetails if you listen to this song it's not even a pagen song

[@SuperPammyk]

I just organised my first(of many)Solstice event-: it was wonderful!... and we played this lovely song-thank you: Solstice Blessings everyone

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Wonderful! Thank you. Blessed be.

[@professorroundbottom438]

No one says "Bah! Humbug!" with more vehemence, conviction and sincerity than a lowly retail worker. I was done with this season since Thanksgiving. Then I heard this. Sweet balm to an ailing spirit. Thank you.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Aw. Bless you. Happy Solstice.

[@TheCodeCobalt]

Thank you so much for these wonderful songs, Madame. They resound with the spirit of Yule, and bring much needed light to a darkened world. Blessed Be!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. May She shine her light on this dark world so that He can bring reason for the future. Blessed be.

[@Stephen_xvii]

My Mom used to listen to this. She passed away this year, and upon hearing this I almost cried. But this is my first Yuletide, and I know she’ll be here to celebrate with me. Blessed be🕯

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Oh my lovely. I am so sorry for your loss. After my mother died, I found so many ways I felt closer to her than when she was alive and all the peripheral stuff got in the way. After her passing I began to see all sorts of deep connections, of sameness, of love that I now live with as a constant. It is such an honour to now be part of two generations of your family through my music. She will be with you this year for sure as every future year. May the Yule fires bring you strength and the joys of Yuletide help to soothe your pain. Blessed be.

[@Stephen_xvii]

Katerina ElHaj Blessed Be indeed, thinking of it like that really does help. And thank you for providing that music, you are so right about how perspective changes in regards to when a mother passes. I view her for what she truly was, a beautiful person and a wonderful mother. And I hope whatever Deities you believe in are present with you as well as your mother, blessed be.🕯❤️

[@Erzahler]

I am a Christian so I follow the Christian beliefs. But I am also discovering some of the ancient Pagan beliefs and legends, especially those pertaining to Yuletide and the Winter Solstice. I know, some people might think these two belief systems at odds with each other. Maybe they are, but so what? I think it is interesting for one to immerse oneself into another religion. Besides, Christianity and Paganism seem to have several overlapping parallels during the Solstices. And Paganism IS a much older religion -- one of the oldest perhaps, even practiced by the ancient Druids? Whatever the case, I like to keep an open mind when it comes to other religious beliefs. To everyone here, I will just say -- "Season's Greetings!" 🎄

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Merry meet! Hail Saturn! )O(

[@ennjyx]

I know your comment is older, but this made me smile.

[@Stephen_xvii]

J K Same here!

[@Stormchantress]

During the Middle Ages, missionaries would seek ways to make Christianity more familiar to the converts, while also encourage them to practise the new faith and abandon their ancient beliefs, so they would adopt many Pagan traditions to suit their purposes. The idea to celebrate the birth of Jesus during Yuletide was a political decision when Rome struggled to suppress Pagan customs (esp. Saturnalia in Pagan Rome, which took place right after the winter solstice). Bible study suggests that Jesus was most likely born in spring ;) Pagans around the globe would take notice and celebrate astronomical events that aligned with seasons and marked agricultural rhythm. Naturally, the shortest day of the year would be observed in plethora of Pagan paths, not just Celtic, but also Norse, Slavic, Roman, Egyptian (if memory serves, it marks the beginning of the Nile flowing season) Paganism. For early Christianity, it was easier to adapt their calendar than quench those celebrations. I was born in a Catholic family, but since I've become a Pagan, I've found it difficult to find Christian (Catholic) holidays that didn't stem from Paganism :)

[@jimsim3]

Hi from Ynys Mon, Just like to say Erzahler, here's an Idea, for just one season try to follow the pagan calendar and it,s celebrations make an effort with food and drink and family maybe a alter, try on that day to make connection's with nature by being part of the environment around you, search deep into your soul and share stories maybe some complementing music. see if you feel the same next year/|\

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Oh yes. Oh yes. I shall spend mine on a beach this year. Blessed be the return of the light! xx

[@bobbyjohnston7857]

Respect from the Celtic Pagans of Eire to our Pagan brothers and sisters of the world. Merry Yule and Winter Solstice 2021.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

And to you! Blessed be. Happy Yule. )0(

[@RachelCody]

OOOHHH MY GODDESS THIS SONG IS BEAUTIFUL AND SO IS THE SINGER'S VOICE.. WOW BLESSED BE TO ALL AND TO ALL A BLESSED YULE!!!!!

[@xxdifferent]

Oh, I love this so much! I've always liked the melody but the Christian lyrics, not so much.. Now following the Wiccan path I can enjoy this beautiful melody again. Wonderfully done! Sweet blessings to you!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+Jane Sawyer Thank you. Happy Yule. :)

[@kimihirowatanuki2228]

Just so you know the christian lyics your refering to is call greensleeves and its nit christian its pagan it was my great grandmothers favorite song . Henry the 8 wrote it for ann boleyn and ann was pagan very pagan . Some say she evwn was a witch and thats why she was later killed .

[@psammiad]

"Christian lyrics"? It's Greensleeves, an Elizabethan folk song - commonly misattributed to Henry VIII but actually later.

[@dedlehaunty-fa4262]

❤

[@bushkarogfa]

It's the same tune as What Child Is This which is Christian.

[@narwhool]

This is my new favorite Yuletide song! Beautiful! Merry Yule Everyone!

[@AliciaNyblade]

Lovely song. A merry Yule to you and yours. Blessed be!

[@tinaakers2148]

happy yule hail hecate

[@KaterinaElHaj]

And to you. Blessed be.

[@timmy18135]

The troubled of troy

[@ArtSings1946]

Love this...Love our Holy Mother and this so speaks to Her. Thanks.

[@Phytha]

Yule blessings to you all and a big Thank you for this wonderful song

[@yourconscience5035]

Still enjoy this piece year after year. Beautiful voice and lyrics.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

your conscience thank you. Happy Yule.

[@margaretwordnerd5210]

For those who don't understand the connections between various midwinter festivities, a brief explanation: Google the pagan origins of "Christmas." Something involving a midwinter celebration that includes being saved by light is so common that it's unusual to find a religion without something like that. Many involve a holy mother bearing a son who will bring blessings, and most associate this boy with the sun and/or fire (candles, hearthfires, etc). Some tales are much older than the Bronze Age, while traditions like Mithraism were around at the time of early Christianity and appear to have been influential on early Christianity. Midwinter legends promising blessings to come can be found throughout many cultures from the Fertile Crescent to the Celts and Teutons to the Slavs and more. If you are curious, google it and enjoy learning how many different versions of such stories there are, varying by culture and millenium but generally offering a tale of love and light. Happy Holidays to all! May we learn to share the joys of December without squabbling over whose religion "owns" the holiday season. My gratitude and blessings to Katerina ElHaj and all who helped create this lovely carol. Message me with an e-mail address to receive a copy of my oft-shared short story "Visions of Sugarplums" (or google it, the pen name I used when I gave it to the internet was Margaret Morisson). Therein a Wiccan Priestess has a surprising visit from Santa to explain why we shouldn't be so fussy about which religion claims ownership of what holiday traditions. It is the best short story I ever wrote, and has induced misty eyes in hardened cynics who would rather say Bah Humbug than Happy Holidays. :)

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Margaret Peeler Happy Yule.

[@brianvannostran5138]

this is such a beautiful song a year later I'm still listening to it its peaceful and relaxing i cannot wait too light my yule log and celebrate i will be playing this song as i feast and honer the asar and Vinar and my ancestors thank you once again for posting this video.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Bless you. High praise indeed. Happy Yuletide. )O(

[@AliceRodriguez]

I love this Song is very Beautiful. Blessed Be to all this Solstice season. May the Yule tides bring forth warmth in our hearts and our homes. Goddess Bless

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+Alice Rodriguez Thank you. Blessed be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you very much. Blessed be.

[@erinjoanna2329]

Thank you. Blessed Be.🌒🖤🌘

[@danielle53181]

Just found this music...what a magickal voice to sing of the wonder of winter

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Many thanks. Happy Yule. )O(

[@ricardosantiago9244]

How beautiful and incredible lyrics, I think I will prepare this song with my sister for this Yule, Hail to the Gods and Blessed Be

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. What fun! Happy Yule. )O(

[@guerrillaradio9953]

Beautiful performance and way to make it about you and your kin! Hail to Odin and Szepasszony, a joyous Yule to you and yours. Blessed Be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Love is the law! Happy Yule to you too. Blessed be.

[@AngelaBuyck]

Happy yule 2019

[@KaterinaElHaj]

And to you! Blessed be.

[@liliannakifflin6343]

May the goddess bless us, everyone. And a happy Yule. ❤💚⛄❄🎅🎄🕯

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Right back atcha.

[@PrincessHellcat]

Thank you so much. I am listening to this as I put up my tree and decorate it.

[@darknessthehedgehog3]

happy yule from a supporting catholic love you pagans and wiccan's out there you people have my full support

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Happy Yule.

[@echoside190]

Happy Yule, and a merry Christmas to you!

[@taylor1bc]

Blessed Solstice all

[@KaterinaElHaj]

And to you. )O(

[@Ilma1984]

May you have a wonderful solstice night!

[@joalexsg9741]

Simply perfect!! Blessed be, Merry Yuletide with many shamanic blessings! Thank you ever so much for this! Shared for sure!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Many blessings to you too. Happy Yule.

[@leytufvaqlibt7861]

Wonderful! This is truly a great piece! Warm and sweet, like sitting around the fire with family and loved ones at Yule, sharing in the season. Well done! And a Merry Yule to everyone out there!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Yes you have understood exactly. The words are about my family and I staying up all night outside around a yule fire to greet the dawn and welcome back the sun. Such a powerfully magick experience for all ages. Blessed be.

[@leytufvaqlibt7861]

Katerina ElHaj And Blessed Be to you and your kin this winter!

[@clarehatfield2914]

simply beautiful thank you Blessings for this solstice xxx

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Blessed be. )0(

[@KSLady22]

Thank you for this. What beautiful lyrics and voice to grace this old beloved tune.

[@joshdemarest7157]

Solstice Greetings to you all, and a happy Yule! Don't forget the REAL meaning of the season!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Yes! Blessed be.

[@bombygriz]

I'm a bit late to the Yule party... but as an eclectic teen still under the shadow of parental prejudice, I had no idea there were Pagan carols! This is awesome! :)

[@bardicloredotcom]

This is amazing. I love your voice, it's haunting.

[@Hotsapepper]

This is the first time I've heard this song as it should be heard. Clear, simple, sweet, poignant. Well done!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Oh thank you. Blessed be.

[@RichardMoore23]

Love it!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Good! Happy Yule. )O(

[@Sollarose_mb7x8]

Beautiful ❤️

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Many thanks.

[@Lotusflower970]

I am getting excited about Yule this year

[@TarjaTurunen1Fan]

Absolutely gorgeous, touches my heart so deeply! Thank you so very much for this...Brightest Blessings and Blessed Be to you )O(

[@ProfessorRaddish]

Beautiful. We sang this as a grove at our eisteddfod after Yule. We also included 'The Gower Wassail' and the druidic classic, 'Scarborough Fair' It's great watching the reaction on other peoples faces when they realise you aren't singing Greensleeves. Great upload.

[@Fallenangel-tk1tg]

I hope everyone has a lovely Yule

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Merry Yule to you too. Blessed be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you very much. Blessed be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Blessed be.

[@matangiandtheparrot4614]

Where did ya' go Katerina? Love your joyous earthy vocal... more please! Many blessings to you dear Katerina........

[@KaterinaElHaj]

My daughter got ill and I got old my love. Thank you. Happy Yule. x

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Met in thanks. Blessed be.

[@happyhedgewytch4573]

Love this music!Thanks for sharing

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. The singing is easy when the subject is so wonderful! lol Happy Yule to you and yours. Blessed be. )O(

[@SpazzDJFatman]

Very beautiful. I am glad to see that there is music for the Yule. Blessed be!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Happy Yule. Thank you.

[@cuauhtemoc_chan4975]

Praise to Woden !

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Blessed be.

[@gloriawilson2655]

beautiful!!! such lovely music!!! Blessed Be and I hope everyone enjoyed the solstice this year

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+Gloria Wilson Thank you. Blessed be.

[@kangtut9448]

Merry Yule brothers and sisters

[@KaterinaElHaj]

And to you.

[@ThePamAnne]

Katerina, I love your lyrics. They fit so well with the tune.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+ThePamAnne Thank you. They describe our Yules here at this farm. My children and I. A very magical memory for us all. Happy Yuletide. )0(

[@1WkdGrl]

Simply Lovely. Have a blessed Yule!!! Blessed Be.

[@gregorykastrinos3035]

Blessed be, Blessed Yuletide to all of our brothers and sisters!

[@kennenite2092]

A beautiful song!Blessed Be Katerina!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Blessed be.

[@LordJordanXVII]

May the Gods bless us all! Blessed Yuletide! Happy Christmas! Winter's glad tidings!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Io Saturnalia!

[@AncientAtheist]

Wonderful. Thanks and Happy Yule to you.

[@AsheJudeCovers]

This is gorgeous... It's my first year celebrating Yule, and now I finally have some songs to listen to while everyone plays Christmas songs! Thank you! Merry met and blessed be!

[@NinaNiterose86]

It's today! :) Happy Yule everybody!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

All hail! Happy Yule. )O(

[@KaterinaElHaj]

The lyric is there. I am glad you like it. Happy Yule.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Happy Yule.

[@cindymoit535]

Beautiful thank you for sharing!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+Cindy Moit Happy Yule. )0(

[@LindaDeeTee]

What a beautiful version of this song!! Thank you all so much for taking the time and effort to share this beautiful song. Blessed be this Yule and always!

[@violetmarbles]

I love this so much. My favorite carol and your voice is so rich and lovely. Thank you for sharing this with us.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

I am so very glad. The words come from my experience of raising kids in Goddess traditions on Hadrian's wall in the country. Thank you. Blessed be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

A pleasure. Thank you

[@gigiboy23]

Blessed Yule to you! Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful talent with us! This song was used as our Yule fire burned bright! Blessings to all.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+gigiboy23 Oh how wonderful. I am so glad. Blessed be.

[@renamcvicar]

Best adaptation I've ever heard.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Oh my. High praise. Thank you. I adapted the words sitting with my children at our outdoor yule fire one winter's night. They are grown now but I feel their younger spirits in this still. Happy Yule. x

[@shannonwolf5116]

Me too! This is my first year!!! Blessed Be )0(

[@LadyMoonweb]

Very good, found it shared on Facebook. Blessings all witchy sisters and brothers, Rejoice for the Oak King :)

[@marlastevens9036]

Thank you! Be merry and bright. Blessed Be to all.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Blessed be.

[@S4rahislove]

Thank you so much.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

@Vierotchka In the USA they use greenseleeves as a Christmas carol. William Chatterton Dix,from Bristol England, wrote those lyrics.. A writer of Hymns and carols.I am simply reclaiming it.

[@Moonsong227]

That time of year again~

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Happy Yule. Stay safe. Blessed be. )O(

[@davidsmutha]

Yuletide Blessings to one and all.. I love this adaptation of Greensleeves...

[@prudencebailey2060]

Beautiful song

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+Prudence Bailey Thank you. Blessed Yule. Io Saturn!

[@ElidirPeters]

Wonderful. I just put it on my FaceBook page. I am more and more growing as a Crone which was how I refound my being one of the women of Mother Earth that can be called Hexa (wise woman). And sometimes I AM wise. Like now. :-)). Thank you very much indeed!

[@elli3352]

Merry Yule! 💜🌞

[@KaterinaElHaj]

+Audra And to you!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Happy Yule to you too. BB

[@mandymckerl4548]

'Tis the season. Thank you

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Very welcome. Happy Yule! )O(

[@owensangi]

blessed be,peace to all

[@tatili1930]

Beautiful just beautiful!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Many thanks. Blessed be.

[@Bangy]

A pagan song that unites Christians alike. I think I'm in love.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Bless you. Happy Yule.

[@Topher1286]

I'm in love with this song and with your voice! A Blessed Yule to all. Io Evohe.

[@starinalov2000]

this is great I played this song during our winter solsitice spell because my whole family comes and we do a family casting.

[@GoyliathZiofister]

Lovely song

[@wbworkout]

When I get a comment even a thank you, I send a thank you back, thank for for the time you took to post such lovely songs and even send a greeting. Blessings of the 4 directions!

[@witchespagansofangusw.p.aj9352]

Wonderful music, Thanks and Blessed be.

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you, Blessed be.

[@LordJordanXVII]

Thank you for these special songs, ma'am. Each one is a gift!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

You are very welcome. Happy Yule.

[@LordJordanXVII]

@@KaterinaElHaj Happy Yule to you too! Winter's blessings, from West Virginia.

[@michelledashner6880]

Absolutely Hauntingly Beautiful!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Thank you. Happy Yule.

[@kyeaster7672]

I’m celebrating Yuletide in secret because my parents probably won’t let me if I ask :/ I love your music and making it a part of my secret festivities though!

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Happy Yule!! The true celebration is in the heart and inner core of being. No one can see that. When you are older, you can follow your own path. For now, read, learn and observe. That is enough. Blessed be. )O(

[@RavenSoulifer]

Oh wow I love the voice!

[@AkasaWolfSong]

A Very Blessed Solstice and Merry Yule to All...

[@KaterinaElHaj]

Blessed be.

[@niapet]

Gnostic, pagan Christian... what ever story you like best I guess.