All this fuss of food and warmth and material comfort to feast ourselves silly against our fears of the coming cold, the dark and the unknown. Not so many in our wealthy, comfortable society, but still, some. So draw close your old, your very young, your sickly, and cherish them well for they may be culled as Holly is culled. This is the festival of Earth as Spring is Air, Summer is Fire and Autumn is Water. This is the Festival of Earth.
Earth is food, material things, comfort.
Roars of laughter from Pagans. Yule is the great festival of the Body where the appetites are given full freedom to glut. All those presents and cards. Such hard work. Later in Spring or Summer or Autumn, when I need help, the exchange of gifts now ties me to the ones who will help me and the ones I will help in my turn.