Brii Zeiger

When you think of a witch, a couple of things might pop into your head: pointy hat, broomstick, green skin. Maybe you go the more historic route and think of the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. Though those trials were a long time ago and we know that they were wrongfully accused, witches do exist, maybe just not how you would normally imagine them.

The word “wicca” means “witch” in Old English. Although some Wiccans don’t practice witchcraft, many do. The difference between the Wiccan religion and Paganism is that with Paganism, believers have free range to whatever belief they desire, including the range between positive and negative energy. Wicca is purely positive, but both celebrate Yule. Yule is celebrated between December 22 to January 2 by many different groups of people and religions.

“I celebrate what I’m grateful for and the people in my life,” says East senior Brii Zeiger. “Every year, I give up something and I can’t go back to it. This year, I’m going vegan. I also celebrate the changing of the seasons.”

Yule can also be connected to Christianity and Catholic religions, including Lutheran. It has been around for longer than Christmas. Zeiger, however, is Wiccan. “Wicca is purely about believing in the world and in nature,” she explains. “You can have gods but there’s no rule saying that you have to. I’m more of someone that just believes in nature and the way of the world.”

There are many different ways to celebrate Yule. Zeiger specifically practices healing rituals. “I give good fortune to other people. I do tarot readings and such. It’s spirit work,” Zeiger says. “I do it whenever I have time and whenever I have the energy to, because if you don’t have the right energy, then it’s not going to work.”

With all stereotypes aside about this practice and the names attached, this holiday is widely celebrated. Though many times evil connotations come with witchcraft, the evil is only within a person who wishes to do bad.