PRIEST: Reads the Toast, then says, Tonight we celebrate the longest night of the year, & though it be our season of winter, tonight our darkness will end. Even though all about us appears in slumber & death, we are not forgotten. Beloved Arianrhod turns Her Wheel once more & the Sun Child is reborn again, Hail to our young Lord! He who has returned bringing light & the promise of renewed fertility to our world, He who warms us anew.

EACH ONE DRINKS FROM THEIR GLASS & SAYS:

Blessed be our Goddess o' giver of life!

Priest lights the taper & blesses it, he then hands the taper to the priestess, if there are 3 priestess to represent "The Triple Brigids" he gives it to the maiden, who will light the white candle & pass it on to the mother who lights the red candle & passes it on to the crone, who will light the black candle before speaking, in the case of only one priestess, all 3 candles are lit before she speaks.

PRIESTESS LIGHTS YULE LOG & MAY QUEEN RECITES HER LINES AS EACH CANDLE IS LIT:

Blessed be our Maiden, wide eyed, eager, innocent & fresh, lover of the Horned One, our young Lord. Blessed be our Mother, protective & fertile, Mother of the Magical child. Blessed be our Crone, Goddess of magic & power, wise guardian of the great cauldron of death, life & rebirth.

Priestess / crone says:

Welcome Lugh! Welcome! Sweet bringer of warmth & love, we drink a toast to you.

ALL drink then raise your glass & say:

Blessed be our Magical child, bright Sun King.

The May Queen blesses both Oak & Holly Kings with blessed water & says:

Winter, Great Holly king, I bid thee farewell, for it is time for thee to descend into the Summerland of death, & when the wheel turns once more, all shall welcome thee once again.

HOLLY KING:

Nay, fair May, I have not been challenged by the new born One.

OAK KING STEPS FORWARD:

I am the Oak king, God of the waxing year, fear not on this dark night of winters cold, for I am come again to guide all creatures to light, warmth & the blessings of rebirth. I salute thee worthy opponent, Great Holly, King of the waning year! Holly King returns the salute & the fight begins. When the duel ends the priest speaks once more.

PRIEST:

The Holly King is slain, The Oak King reigns, The King is dead, long live the King!

ALL: Long live the King!

MAY QUEEN CROWNS THE OAK KING & SAYS:

The wheel of the year turns on & on, bringing us to & from each season. Merry meet at Yuletide rite.

ALL CHEER & the fire is lit, dancing begins.