One Yule tradition involved making large wheels of pine boughs, lighting them on fire, and rolling them down a hill in honor of the sun. This is the name of a heathen feast Food And Drinks For Yule. The Yule goat is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition based on Norse legends and worship of God Thor. The narrative continues that toasts were to be drunk. It is not clear where mythology terminates and history begins, and one cannot help but wondering if the scheming historian kept the ambiguity on purpose. Perhaps the most iconic of Yule traditions, the yule log played a large part in solstice celebrations all across Europe. In the Norse religion , Yule was a winter festival celebrated during the … Old Norse Yule. The first toast was to be drunk to Odin "for victory and power to the king", the second to the gods Njörðr and Freyr "for good harvests and for peace", and thirdly a beaker was to be drunk to the king himself. The rituals of Yule are meant to entice the sun to return to the land. Icelandic by birth, he would no doubt feel at home in the world of modern politics; as a matter of fact, he might have one or two things to teach any well seasoned contemporary politician. Yule, spelled “Jol” in Old Norse, was the name for the period between the winter solstice and the blot associated with it, which is speculated to have happened on January 12. Although Yule is a no longer an institutionalize celebration, it’s customs have been adopted by many of us. They carved the runes on the oak to wish for the protection of the gods. Many of the modern-day traditions during this time of year have pagan roots, so many groves use Yule logs, exchange gifts, hang evergreens, etc. The Egyptians celebrated the reappearance of Ra (the sun god), the Romans celebrated Saturnalia honoring Saturn (the agricultural god), and the Old Norse celebration of Jól which consisted of a twelve-day feast. Saved by Jodie-Lea Claridge. The Rebirth Of Yule In The Modern Era Wikimedia Commons During the Christian holiday of Twelfth Night, revelers enjoyed wassailing, or Yule singing, while dressed in outlandish costumes which may have derived from ancient Viking traditions. Your email address will not be published. Yule is the season at which the gods and goddesses are closest to Midgard: our deities were called 'Yule-Beings' by the Norse, and Odin himself is called Jólnir, the "Yule One" and is where the image of Santa Claus is derived from. Mr. Sturlason is indeed a kind of mysterious figure. Ynglinga saga, the first book of Heimskringla, first mentions a Yule feast in 840. Christmas in Iceland is taken very seriously: it is not actually just one day of celebration, but a period of 26 days. The saga states that when Haakon arrived in Norway he was confirmed a Christian, but since the land was still altogether heathen and they retained their practices, Haakon hid his Christianity to receive the help of "great chieftains." Nonetheless, in analogy to other historical figures, he machinated and intrigued a bit too far, which brought him his demise, after an anyway rather long life. These traditions also bring gratitude to the most difficult months of the year. Falling on or around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere and June 21st in the Southern, Yule marks the moment when the days begin to lengthen and the sun’s power begins to grow. One of the names provided is "Yule-beings." Not surprisingly so though, due to the extreme bellicosity and, from our late twentieth century point of view, hooligan-like features that characterized that string of monarchs. These were fashioned like sprinklers, and with them were to be smeared all over with blood the pedestals of the idols and also the walls of the temple within and without; and likewise the men present were to be sprinkled with blood. The Nordic peoples of Scandinavia and the Germanic tribes in northern Europe celebrated the winter solstice through the Yule festival, which was held for centuries before the arrival of Christianity in the region. Yule and Winter Solstice History and Traditions Winter Solstice (sometimes referred to as Yule or Midwinter) has been revered by many different people and cultures for thousands of years. According to the saga, the result of this was that his popularity caused many to allow themselves to be baptized, and some people stopped making sacrifices. your own Pins on Pinterest Fires were to be lighted in the middle of the temple floor, and kettles hung over them. Home page. Yule is a flicker of hope and light in the darkness. Upon their arrival, "Haakon made it known that he would have the gospel preached in the whole country." It was ancient custom that when sacrifice was to be made, all farmers were to come to the heathen temple and bring along with them the food they needed while the feast lasted. Traditions of Yule. Here are a few Yule traditions we still have. A milestone in the world literature and history, the Heimskringla will leave no one unmoved, and will surely expand the vision of many. It was believed that the goats Tanngrisnir (“Gap-tooth”) and Tanngnjóstr (“Tooth-grinder”), who pulled Thor’s chariot, provided food for the god and his friends. The original meaning is unknown, but the word itself stems from the Norse word jol. In chapter 55 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, different names for the gods are given. TessWhitehurst.com uses cookies to ensure that you get the best experience on this website. The Yule Goat (Norwegian julebukk) is one of the oldest Scandinavian Jul symbols. As early as two thousand years before Christ Yule-tide was celebrated by the Aryans. Yule is a traditional holiday holding roots in various northern European traditions, particularly that of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples. The traditions related to Jul have So, I’m offering ways you can enjoy Yule, even if you’re a solitary Heathen. At the thirteenth century, the historical framework that saw the flourishing of Snorre Sturlason, the dynasties of Norwegian kings have come to an end. Yule Rituals. It was for the protection purpose. During Yule the gods were thanked for bringing back the sun and made offering for a good harvest. Haakon spent most of this time in Trondheim, Norway. The Old Norse festival was known as “Jol”, though it is spelled in other ways. In addition, toasts were drunk to the memory of departed kinsfolk. Traditional customs such as the Yule log, the decorated tree, and wassailing can all be traced back to the Norse people, who called this festival Jul. Divine theme by Restored 316, Divine Resonance Magic Certification Course. Snorre's tale starts at the mythical times of the creation of the world, eons ago, with a crisp narrative of the well-known old Norse cosmology. If you make it a week or two in advance, you can enjoy it as a centerpiece prior to burning it … « Are Spells Safe? Yule. Yule: Rituals, Recipes, & Lore for the Winter Solstice, perhaps as an incarnation of the Norse god Odin, Shadow of Night Real-Time Reading – 17 December – Chapter 13 – Chamomile & Clove, Fourteen Things to Do for a Magical Yule – Siobhan Johnson, How to Cast a Magical Circle in 6 Simple Steps. In time, Haakon had a law passed that established that Yule celebrations were to take place at the same time as when the Christians held their celebrations, "and at that time everyone was to have ale for the celebration with a measure of grain, or else pay fines, and had to keep the holiday while the ale lasted." Discover (and save!) So yuletide is the season in which people celebrate Yule festivals and traditions. Ham. Norse solstice traditions. Yule had previously been celebrated on midwinter night for three nights, according to the saga. The Grettis Saga refers to Yule as a time of "greatest mirth and joyance among men." It was a long oak with fir. Celebrating Yule is one of our most beloved festivities, one that could never be totally eradicated. After 1000, it is the main feast of the year. See more ideas about yule, norse, winter solstice. He's no doubt the Herodotus of the northern latitudes - and the Machiavelli. Haakon planned that when he had solidly established himself and held power over the whole country, he would then "have the gospel preached." Yule Log. Yule log was one of the traditions of the Viking Yule. A holiday celebration that began in Norway, on the night of the winter solstice it was common to hoist a giant log onto the hearth to celebrate the return of the sun each year. Yule was a winter festival celebrated by pagans in Medieval Scandinavia. When the days grew colder and the nights grew longer, people of ancient times would light candles and gather round fires to lure back the sun. If your family enjoys ritual, you can welcome back the sun at Yule with this simple winter ceremony. Christmas and Yule have a flood of holiday treats. As one might expect, the Norse ritual Yule is typically celebrated in late December. Old Norse Yule In some Norse myths , God Thor was said to riding a flying chariot drawn by two goats. Christmas season begins December 12, when the first Yule Lad (jólasveinn) comes. This saga is set soon after Iceland converted to Christianity and identifies Yule with Christmas: "No Christian man is wont to eat meat this day [Yule Eve], because that on the morrow is the first day of Yule," says she, "wherefore must men first fast today." Nowadays, a lot of Pagan religions have adopted or try to recreate Yule, such as the Wicca or the Ásatrú. Yule or Yuletide ("Yule time" or "Yule season") is a festival historically observed by the Germanic peoples.Scholars have connected the original celebrations of Yule to the Wild Hunt, the god Odin, and the pagan Anglo-Saxon Mōdraniht.. Later departing from its pagan roots, Yule underwent Christianised reformulation, resulting in the term Christmastide. In modern English, the word is “Yule” and is synonymous with Christmas. Many etymologists, those brilliant people who study word origins and evolution, also believe that the word “jolly” in English has its roots in the Norse “Jol”, as does the French “joli(e)” which originally meant “festive”. The reader will no doubt be captured by the relentless, powerful sense of revenge implicit in the death of a Scottish chieftain, who succumbed to infection that set in due to the injuries done to his leg by the teeth of the head of a Norse invader, that he had cut off and tied up to this horse's saddle as a victory trophy; or by the moving, and the same time horrific, reaction of king Harald the Fairhaired at the death of his favourite lover Snaefrid, the details of which we leave for the inquisitive reader to discover. There are several traditions that we Asatruar practice around Yuletide. There are many traditions and practices that are traditional to the month of Yule the most well known is of course the 12 days of Yule. Some Heathens may simply bookend Yule with Mother’s Night and Twelfth Night and not have specific observances in-between those days, there are some other Heathens who have taken things a step further. The sacrificial beaker was to be borne around the fire, and he who made the feast and was chieftain, was to bless the beaker as well as all the sacrificial meat. Yule, or Winter Solstice traditions are many and generous, and are shared not only with Christianity with the birthday of the Christ Child, but with many pre-Christian Pagan traditions and indeed more recent ones. During 12 days they drank, feasted and made sacrifices to the gods to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun and life. Norse Yule Rituals. At any rate, Snorre's prose flows easily and leads the reader deep into the old Norse world and customs, everyday life, nonchalantly describing grim, sometimes gruesome deeds, bringing us back to a period in which the conception of the world, ethics, morality and existence itself, were vastly different from ours in the West. The Romans celebrated Saturnalia beginning on Dec. 17, a week-long festival in honor of the god Saturn, that involved sacrifices, gift-giving, and feasting. Yule is also the season during which the dead return to … Can I Do Magic If I’m a Christian? The saga continues describing the reactions of various regional things as they differ the matter to one another. The Svarfdæla saga records a story in which a berserker put off a duel until three days after Yule to honor the sanctity of the holiday. The first thing you'll need is a Yule Log. Yule is one of our biggest celebrations as Heathens, but if you’re a solitary Heathen, like I am, you may be wondering how in the Hel you can celebrate it. We enjoy chocolate yule logs, eggnog, chocolate oranges, peppermint everything, krumkake, and gingerbread at this time of year. Its origin is the legend about Thor, the Norse God of Thunder, who rode in the sky in a wagon pulled by two goats. When Haakon figured that he wielded enough power, he requested a bishop and other priests from England, and they came to Norway. The Vikings would save a piece of the log for next year's fire in their house. Similarly to the Roman Saturnalia, Yule grew over … The Yule log, (usually made from a piece of wood saved from the previous year) is burned in … The round shape of wreaths also depicted the cyclical nature of the seasons and of the Norse conception of the cosmos/time. If you decorate your home with a Yule tree, holly or candles, you are following some of these old traditions. This toast was called "minni [memorial toast]". At this feast all were to take part of the drinking of ale. Jul is originally an ancient old Norse tradition related to the Germanic Yule celebration of North Europe, but was mixed with the overlapping Christian tradition of Christmas when Denmark was christened during the 11th century. Jun 30, 2020 - Explore Lora Kuchar's board "Yule -Norse traditions" on Pinterest. Wiccan. Also all kinds of livestock were killed in connection with it, horses also; and all the blood from them was called hlaut [ sacrificial blood ], and hlautbolli, the vessel holding the blood; and hlautteinar, the sacrificial twigs [aspergills]. What does Yule mean? The idea of Yule originated with our ancestors during a time when they worshiped the true gods of our people. That’s Christmas for you non-pagans out there. The Yule goat was also one of the most important parts of the Viking Yule. From then on, “Yule” and “Christmas” became synonymous throughout Scandinavia, and the traditions were blended together. Freya, the Norse goddess of fertility, was associated with boars. Saved by Jodie-Lea Claridge. But the meat of the animals was to be boiled and served as food at the banquet. Before Christianity … A work by the skald Eyvindr skáldaspillir that uses the term is then quoted, which reads: Again we have produced Yule-being's feast [mead of poetry], our rulers' eulogy, like a bridge of masonry. In Old Norse, the word “jól” was used in poetry to refer to a large celebratory feast. Ancient Yule Traditions or YULE-TIDE OF THE ANCIENTS "There in the Temple, carved in wood, The image of great Odin stood, And other gods, with Thor supreme among them." A description of "heathen" Yule practices is provided (notes are Hollander's own): Few topics might have a less boring promise to them than a a dreary, commented narration of the deeds of long-dead monarchs. Yule or Yuletide was a festival celebrated at the Winter Solstice by Germanic and Norse tribes. Norse solstice traditions. One of the names provided is "Yule-beings." But, as it happens, in the skilful hands of that remote, enigmatic figure that was Snorre Sturlason, this compendium becomes a thrilling subject likely to satisfy the mind of the professional historian and thirst for adventure of the young, budding intellectual turk. Merry Yule! This is why Yule is celebrated as the birthday of the sun and the renewal of the light. Dec 24, 2014 - This Pin was discovered by Kat Rader-Fletcher. In chapter 55 of the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, different names for the gods are given. Wiccan ... Wiccan. Why he devoted his life to political scheming and Norse history, we shall never know for sure; but should be under no illusion about his prowess in both disciplines. These Lads (plural: jólasveinarnir) are creatures who come from the mountains one by … A Yule celebration Turning an eye to the Germanic-Scandinavian context also provides intriguing connections. . google_ad_client="pub-4520119733373775";google_ad_width=336;google_ad_height=280; Copyright 2009-2012 ScandinavianChristmasTraditions.com. [6] Saga of Hákon the Good credits King Haakon I of Norway with the Christianization of Norway, as well as rescheduling the date of Yule to coincide with Christian celebrations held at the time. Many customs created around Yule are identified with Christmas today. Greet the Sun on the Solstice If you’re a morning person, you might want to get up before the dawn and greet the sun. The Yule tree, known as Jultre in Scandinavia, and Christmas tree in other lands, is usually an evergreen conifer such as spruce, pine, or fir. That could never be totally eradicated to Yule as a time of year Sturlason is indeed a of! 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