The Yule Faeries- A Winter Solstice Story

I wasn't able to read this story to the children at our Holiday party. Our printer was out of ink AND paper and reading it gathered around the computer just didn't seem right for such a nice story so I decided to post it here. Feel free to use it as a bedtime story or snuggle up by the fire one of these cold afternoons and read it together as a family! Enjoy!

The Yule Faeries - A Winter Solstice Story
(author unknown)

A group of little Faeries huddled in their home deep under the roots of a giant oak tree. They were safe and snug in their tiny
underground cave lined with dandelion fluff, bird feathers, and dried
moss.

Outside, the wind blew cold and the snow fell softly down to cover
the ground. "I saw the Sun King today," the faerie named Rose said as
she pulled her mossy cloak tighter about her. "He looked so old and
tired as he walked off through the forest. What is wrong with him?

The great oak said he's dying" answered Daffodil. Dying? Oh, what
will we do now?" Little Meadow Grass started to cry "If the sun King
dies, our little plant friends will not grow. The Birds will not come
and sing again. Everything will be winter for ever!" Lilac, Dandelion
and Elder Blossom tried to comfort their friend, but they were all
very sad. As they huddled together, there was a knock on the tiny
door.

"Open up, Faeries," called out a loud voice. "Why are you hiding
instead of joining us in our Solstice celebration? "

Rose opened the door and the little gnome Brown Knobby pushed inside,
shaking the glistening snowflakes off his brown coat and hat.

"We are too sad to celebrate," Daffodil said wiping her eyes, "the
Sun King is dying, haven't you heard?" "He is dead you silly
Faeries." Brown Knobby's round dark eyes sparkled with laughter. "now
hurry, or we'll be late for the celebration! " "How can you be happy
and laughing?!" Elder Blossom stamped her little foot and frowned at
the gnome. "If the Sun King IS dead, it will be winter always. We
will never see the Sun again!"

"Silly little child-Faeries. " Brown Knobby grabbed Dandelion by the
hand and pulled her to her feet. "There is a secret to the Winter
Solstice. Don't you want to know what it is?"

The Faeries looked at him in surprise. "Secret?" they all said. "What
secret? We are only new little Faeries, you silly gnome. We've never
been to a Solstice celebration before." "Come and see. Come and see.
Get your capes and come with me." Brown Knobby danced and jigged
around the room.

"Hurry, Hurry, don't be slow! To the sacred oak grove through the
snow!" He danced out of the door and disappeared.

"What did that gnome mean?" Rose asked as she gathered up her cloak
of dried rose petals held together with cobwebs and lined with goose
down. "I don't know, but the Lady lives in the sacred grove." Meadow
Grass pulled on her hat. "Perhaps if we go to see the Goddess, She
can explain what Brown Knobby was talking about".

The Faeries left their snug little home and trudged off through the
snow toward the sacred oak grove. The forest was dark with only the
light of the Moon shining down through the thick fir branches and
bare limbs of maple and hawthorn. It was very difficult for them to
get through the snow because they were very, very small. As they
waded through the wet snow and shivered in the cold wind, they met a
fox. "Where are you going, Faeries?" the fox asked.

"To the sacred grove," they answered, they were cold and
shivering. "Climb on my back and I will take you there swiftly." The
fox knelt down so the Faeries could climb up. Then he raced off
through the dark. "Listen!" Lilac said as they neared the grove of
sacred trees. "Someone is singing happy songs. A LOT of someones."
The beautiful music carried over the cold, still, moonlit air.
It was the most beautiful music the Faeries had ever heard. The fox
carried the Faeries right to the edge of the stone altar in the
center of the grove, then knelt down.

"Look!" said Elder Blossom as they slid to the snow covered
ground. "There is the Maiden and the Mother and the OLD Wise One, And
many other Little People." "They are all smiling and happy," said
Lilac as she looked around at all the creatures.

"All the animals are here too," whispered Dandelion. "why are they
all looking at the Mother?" The Faeries moved closer to the three
Ladies seated on the altar stone.
The Mother held a bundle close in Her arms, smiling down at it. The
Maiden reached down and took the Faeries gently in her Hands. She
held them close to the Mother so they could see what She held. "A
Baby!" the Faeries cried. " A new little Baby! Look how he
glows!" "He is the newborn Sun King," said the Maiden smiling. "But
Brown Knobby and the old oak tree said the Sun King was dead," the
Faeries answered her. "How can this little baby be the Sun King?"

"That is the secret of the Winter Solstice." The Old Wise One touched
the baby's cheek with her wrinkled hand. "Every year the Sun King
must come to the sacred grove during the darkest days of winter where
he dies. I take his spirit to the Mother who gives him new life
again. This is the way for all creatures, not just the Sun
King." "You mean everything lives and dies and lives again? the
Faeries looked down in wonder at the baby Sun King, nestled in the
arms of the Mother. "Yes Little Ones," answered the Old Wise
One. "There is never an end to life. This is the great mystical
secret of the Winter Solstice." The Faeries laughed because they were
so happy. "I think the little Sun King should have gifts," said
Rose. "I will show him where the wild roses bloom in the early
summer." "And, I will teach him to call the birds and listen to the
songs of the wind," exclaimed Dandelion. "When he is older and
stronger, " said the Mother, "then the flowers will bloom at his
touch, the birds will return to sing their songs, and the air will be
warm from his breath, and winter will be gone for a time. Then the
Sun King will run and play with you in the forest."

The little Faeries sang to the Baby Sun King, songs of the coming
spring, the sweet smelling flowers, the bumbling bees, and all the
secrets of the forest. And all the creatures within the sacred grove
sang with them. Then the fox took them back to their snug home under
the roots of the giant oak tree where they dreamed wonderful dreams,
waiting for the warmth of spring and the fun they would have with the
little Sun King.