December 21, the winter Solstice, is a magical date for many people. It is considered to be the shortest day (and the longest night) of the year in the Northern Hemisphere and during this time, before Christianity and Christmas, the pagan and Germanic tribes of northern Europe celebrated their winter festival.  They called the 12-day festival “Yule” and during it they killed animals, finished making their beer and prepared for the long, hard winter months ahead.