Paganistan: Notes from the Secret Commonwealth

In Which One Midwest Man-in-Black Confers, Converses & Otherwise Hob-Nobs with his Fellow Hob-Men (& -Women) Concerning the Sundry Ways of the Famed but Ill-Starred Tribe of Witches.

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Breakin' Old Yule Up

 It wouldn't be Yule without the all-night dance, now, would it?

 

Breakin' Old Yule Up

 

Hoo-ray Jake and hoo-ray John,

breakin' old Yule up all night long.

 

Way back yonder a long time ago,

the old folks danced the do-si-do.

 

Hey little children, off to bed:

you'll wake up with ginger bread.

 

Way down yonder along the creek,

I saw Berhta washin' her feet.

 

Berhta come, Berhta gone:

breakin' old Yule up right along.

 

Roll up the rug and dance all night,

stay with me till mornin' light.

 

Pitch a nickle, pitch a dime,

breakin' old Yule up one more time.

 

 

Appalachian traditional

(adapted by Steven Posch)

 

 

You can hear the Apollo's Fire version here.

You can hear the classic Tommy Jarrel version here

(and for gods' sakes, check out cute little Luke Skywalker on second fiddle!).

 

 

Mother Berhta, also known as Old Witch Winter, is the local Yule ogress and bringer-of-gifts to children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

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Poet, scholar and storyteller Steven Posch was raised in the hardwood forests of western Pennsylvania by white-tailed deer. (That's the story, anyway.) He emigrated to Paganistan in 1979 and by sheer dint of personality has become one of Lake Country's foremost men-in-black. He is current keeper of the Minnesota Ooser.

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