The lore of the Holly/Oak King is a tale of power, progress and change as illustrated by the lyrics of Raven Simons of the Curious Birds in their 2004 album, The Wheel Turns (Shapeshifting Music)
Bit by bit, the wheel turns around
Snowflakes are dancing though they make no sound
Dancing drifting, swirling in the air, blanketing silence everywhere
…The wheel is turning, Winter when it’s here, brings its changes to the time of year
The Wheel of the Year is a construct of a Pagan calendar often using an agricultural or progressive lore cycle to mark the passage of time. Based on seasons and sabbats, each holiday has lore associated with it to illustrate the changes occurring seasonally and within our personal paths.
In some traditions of neopaganism, specifically those of Celtic origin, there is a tale of the battle of two brothers, the dual archetypes of the Oak King and the Holly King. These two Tanist/heir apparent twins battle twice a year to reign for six months as the Wheel of the Year turns the seasons. During the Winter Solstice the Oak King conquers the Holly King who then reigns until they battle again at the Summer Solstice where the Holly King is triumphant and rules over the shadow part of the year. These two archetypes illustrate power of fertility and fecundity in the Oak King and the power of wisdom and grace in the Holly King.
The Oak King and the Holly King are seen as twin aspects of the Horned God in some traditions. Doing battle at the solstices, particularly the winter solstice is how this tale becomes part of Yule lore.
For more information on the lore of the Holly and Oak King, read “The White Goddess” by Robert Graves and “The Golden Bough” by Sir James George Frazer.