Happy Yule! Happy Winter Solstice! Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays 2025!!
We potatoes know that we have said this a million times at this point, but it bears repeating, this year has been heavy. The world feels uncertain, unjust, and in many ways, deeply and severely out of balance. But still, we potatoes are holding fast to this season of reflection and renewal. We are remembering what this time has always meant. We are centering stillness, rest, warmth, and the quiet, radical magic of choosing hope in dark times.
We potatoes are greeting this season with full hearts and weary spirits. The state of the world is, well, bleak. Food insecurity is on the rise. Fear is mounting. And with the political landscape growing more terrifying by the day, it is hard to feel celebratory at all. But that is exactly why this season matters.
Yule reminds us that even in the coldest, darkest moments, light is not gone. It is waiting. It will return.
The Ancient Festival of Yule
Yule, rooted in ancient Germanic and Norse traditions, starts on and honors the winter solstice, the longest night of the year, and celebrates the rebirth of the sun. Spanning roughly twelve days from December 21st to January 1st, Yule carries a powerful message: the light will return. Communities would gather to feast, decorate with evergreen boughs, exchange gifts, and light the Yule log to welcome the sun’s return. It was a sacred time of connection, introspection, and communal care.
As the calendar tipped toward January, Yule blended naturally with the New Year, a transition from shadow to light. Evergreen trees, wreaths, feasting, and gift-giving all trace back to these ancient customs. They were never about consumerism. They were about survival, joy, and continuity. A promise that the light would find its way back.
From Yule to Christmas
When Christianity spread across Europe, the early church could not erase Yule’s deep cultural resonance. Instead, they rebranded it. They shortened the celebration and attached it to their own religious narratives, a strategic move that allowed Christian traditions to absorb pagan customs rather than honor them.
This form of religious syncretism deserves reflection. While it preserved some of the seasonal practices, it was never meant to honor the old ways or the season. It was about control. Even today, we see institutions trying to whitewash, erase, or commodify ancient traditions. And yet, Yule endures. It is resilient. It is still here. The warmth of the hearth, the glow of lights, the presence of evergreen, and these remnants are not just pretty decorations. They are living echoes of something older, deeper, and fiercely magical.
Celebrating Traditions Old and New
Acknowledging these roots does not ruin the season’s magic. It expands it. It deepens it. Whether you celebrate Yule, Christmas, Solstice, or another winter holiday, this season is about choosing joy in the dark. It is about honoring what came before while making space for what comes next.
For us potatoes, this season is special. We decorate our Yule tree, light candles, wrap thoughtful gifts, and prepare a cozy feast. This year’s Yule feast includes roasted lamb, roasted potatoes, a vegetable platter, our homemade comforting mac and cheese, and sliced sourdough bread. Simple, hearty, and delicious. We will savor it while cuddling with the dogs and watching some of our favorite holiday movies, a tradition that reminds us that even as the world changes, comfort and peace can still be found.
Roasted lamb (we sliced it in the kitchen beforehand), roasted potatoes, a vegetable platter, our homemade comforting mac and cheese (shredded Parmesan on top) , sliced sourdough bread, and Champagne. The photo truly does not do not it justice, it was all incredibly delicious!
If you are able to donate food to a local pantry or mutual aid group this season, we encourage you to do so. We will be doing the same. Every small act of care matters.
Christmas Day Movie Itinerary 2025! It is short and simple this year.
Here’s our official lineup for Christmas Day:
The Muppet Christmas Carol
A Christmas Story
Home Alone 1 and 2
Elf
For Those Facing a Complex Holiday Season
We know this time of year is not easy for everyone. If you are grieving, navigating family estrangement, facing economic hardship, or still trying to process the devastation of this year’s election, please know this, you are not alone.
You are allowed to set boundaries. You are allowed to create your own rituals. You are allowed to rest. This season can be yours, even if it looks different from what others expect. Capitalism does not own this holiday. Religion does not own this holiday. Consumerism does not define your worth. Black Friday chaos, endless sales, performative traditions, all of it can be rejected.
What matters is that you protect your peace. That you care for your spirit. That you honor what you need. And please, we beg you, hold onto hope. Even if it is small. Even if it flickers. Hope is not naive. Hope is revolutionary. And it is desperately needed right now.
Cheers to the Season!
As we gather in our own small ways, let us honor the roots of this holiday. The resilience. The renewal. The gathering of loved ones, chosen family, quiet rituals, and flickering lights. May your days be filled with softness. May your nights be calm. May you get some much needed rest. May your spirit feel nourished and grounded in a world that is anything but.
Here’s to a Yule season that reminds us who we are! Here’s to remembering what matters. Here’s to laughter, to gentle joy, to memories that carry us through. And most of all, here’s to you! The light will return, and it will shine out the clearer. We will persevere, and get through this together.
Happy Yule, Happy Winter Solstice, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays 2025!!
The Yule/Christmas Movie Drinking Game!
Take a sip anytime:
1. You see Santa or Santa is mentioned
2. Santa is in "disguise"
3. There's an airport scene
4. You hear music from "The Nutcracker" or instrumental Christmas Music
5. Snow starts to fall
6. Anyone mentions the "True meaning of Christmas"
7. You hear Christmas music (Classic or Remixed)
8. Anyone has to "Save Christmas"
9. “We don't have enough money for Christmas"
10. Love interest is a "Saint"
11. Snow globe on screen
12. Dead or deathly ill parent or spouse
13. Cooking or Shopping montage
14. Family drama/estrangement
15. Going home for Christmas
16. Advent calendar on screen
17. Nativity scene
18. Christmas "miracle"
19. Anyone mentions the "importance of family"
20. Anyone mentions "Christmas Spirit" or the "Spirit of Christmas"
Have you seen any of these movies? Did you love them? Did you hate them? What films do we need to watch? Do you like this drinking game? Are there rules missing? Is the game too intense? Any and all thoughts are welcome! Let us know down in the comments and always remember to be safe and drink responsibly! Drinks can be water, soda, anything nonalcoholic, etc. Please be safe, have fun, and take care of you!