Yule Vigil

Island Willow Protogrove, ADF will be holding a Yule Vigil from December 21 at 3:30pm till December 22 at 10:00am, the opening and closing sections of the rite will begin at 4pm and 7:15am sharp.

We will be lighting a candle from the dying rays of the sun, watching it all night long and then using it to re-light the sky in the morning. The tradition states that if you help the sun survive the longest night, you start winter on your own terms... and if you don't then you are at the mercy of the elements. As usual there are two types of people present. Guardians, who take on the job to stay up all night and watch the candle AND fairy folk, who take on the responsibility to keep the guardians awake and having fun throughout the night. Guardians must be present for the whole Vigil, fairies can show-up and leave at anytime, stay for 5 minutes just to say hi or stick it out for the whole thing.

Food: In addition to the usual potluck Yule supper, we are also going to do breakfast this year as well before kicking people out of my house. My kitchen is at your mercy. Main dishes, alcohol, desert, drinks, snacks, alcohol, breakfast materials, etc... Cash donations to Island Willow are also welcome in lieu of contributions.

Music: feel free to bring stuff

Games: feel free to bring stuff

Arts and Crafts: We will be continuing the tradition of decorating the Yule tree, some materials will be provided.

This vigil party is technically a Norse Pagan tradition, but it is open to people of all paths and religions, plus a fair amount of atheists... I just ask that everyone keep it respectful... rules of hospitality, yadda, yadda, yadda. I've never had a problem in the past but I just like to mention it.

Please contact us by email (islandwillow@gmail.com) to RSVP and get directions to Raven's house.

Who is Island Willow Protogrove, ADF?

We are ADF’s local congregation [called a “Grove” instead of a “Church”]. While officially based in Pointe-Claire, we are committed to serving the Montreal Pagan Community as a whole, with members and guests coming from all over the island. At present, we are still a small but growing community, we are doing our best to maintain a friendly family-like atmosphere, which we feel is important to the feel of our grove.

For more information on Ár nDraíocht Féin, visit their website.