The story of King Hulst and King Oak
According to the myth, two kings, brothers, lived in the same kingdom somewhere far away. King Hulst lives in the north. It is cold there, there is always snow and it is dark. He is the older and wiser of the two. He wears a thick winter cloak and a wreath of holly on his head. In his hand he carries a staff of holly. In this dark, cold area people learned to be frugal with food and were prepared for the bad times. They also took time to rest. They lived frugally, but light burned in their hearts.
King Oak, brother of King Hulst, lives in the south. He only wears a wreath of oak leaves. He doesn’t need more, because here in the south it is always warm and the sun shines brightly. King Eik believes it is important that his people can enjoy life and celebrate. Fertility is an important theme for King Oak: they sowed, reaped and ate well. But when winter comes in the south, King Oak is not happy and his people are not happy either. It’s getting cold and food is running out. They do not know how to deal with these circumstances and shortages, unlike the people in the north.
King Oak decides it is time to visit his brother in the north and make sure the weather warms up. On December 21 he arrives in the north with his brother. King Oak walks up to King Hulst and asks him to bring back the light and the sun. Hulst laughs at him and tells him that his people should not live so loosely and should learn to be more frugal and take more rest.
King Eik does not agree with that. In fact, he doesn’t even know how to do that. He tells his brother that he will fight for the return of the light. They fight each other, King Oak fights for the light and for his people, and he eventually defeats King Holly. From that day onwards, light and warmth slowly return. The days are getting longer and longer.
This is still celebrated every year on December 21 during the midwinter solstice. The time of sowing and celebrating is coming back again.
Source: Williamson, John – The oak king, the holly king and the unicorn