Holly King - Oak King

[qos]

I've been inspired to look more deeply into lore and customs around the Holly and Oak Kings.

Does anyone here have any favorite sources, stories, rituals, or personal experiences to share?

Comments

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info. One of the things that was twitching me was how little I'd seen about it.

If a story expresses something important, I don't care if it's ancient or not -- but I always like to know the roots one way or another.

[alfrecht.livejournal.com]

As brigidsblest said, this is not in any sense an "old" archetype, and doesn't even go as far back as J. G. Frazer; it gets its start, I think, in Robert Graves, but apart from that, has no more ancient or reliable tradition behind it.

That having been said, if it is an archetype that works for you and that you enjoy and find meaningful, then by all means run with it. One of the nice things in such situations where there is no supporting tradition is that UPG can then become so much more important and pertinent to one's considerations.

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the info!

[die-uberfrau.livejournal.com]

Going to third what's already been said. Be that as it may, there is a bit of Lore in Saxo, I believe, about how Odin was exiled and Ullr ruled in His stead for about 10 years, changing the way sacrifices were made. Ullr has very strong connections to winter, hunting, and martial arts (my other half works a bit with Him), and IMO/IME is also one of the Vanir (whereas Odin is very Aesir). So while this isn't explicitly Holly and Oak King, I think it fits the theme well for Yuletide.

And in any case, will also echo what was said about if something works for you, by all means work it.

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

I appreciate your input!

Thank you!

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

Here's my personal experience...

My best friend and I organised that we and our partners would celebrate every sabbat together. Eventually I moved away from Sabbat based practice but the Yule/Litha pair held on.

Our first ritual was Yule, and we decided to have an Oak King/Holly King ritual. My best friend and her husband took the roles of the Holly King and Queen, my partner and I the Oak King and Queen. In addition, she and I took a shade of the Aset/Nebthet pairing. We embodied the Goddess in the rituals, and raised the slain King from the dead.

We have hand made garlands for the "ruling" couple, the male crown is half gold, half silver stars. The queen crown has a silver moon descending on one side, and a gold sun descending the other. So either couple can wear them, the following season following at their backs. Always balanced.

Each Litha and Yule we meet for a feast and a ritual. Our sacred fire is lit (a large candle sanctified by the embodied dual goddess). One god dies, as is reborn a child. The other slays his brother and becomes king.

Oh, then we have presents, :)

It's nothing but UPG, but it worked for us.

[shadowandstar.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for sharing this.

I find it especially interesting -- but certainly appropriate for your group -- that you had Holly and Oak Queens as well as Kings.

When you were still observing the Sabbats, did you use the Holly/Oak symbolism when invoking the Divine, or did those roles manifest just at Yule and Litha?