The Yule tree, holly, mistletoe, Yule log and Yule tree decorations, all have Scandinavian origins. It was a time for feasting, giving gifts, drinking and dancing. They gathered around it and carved runes on the oak wishing for the protections of the gods. After all, such stories were important to Vikings who had a need to keep up to date with what was happening around the world. 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. They didn’t want to let these small creatures freeze during winter, so they took the trees inside letting the spirits enjoy a warm and cozy atmosphere at home. There was a time when the Yule Goat was considered a demonic and frightening creature that roamed the countryside on the night of December 25, demanding food and frightening devout Christians. Credit: Henrik Holmberg/TT. Credit: Public Domain. It starts on December 20th, and the twelfth night is on the 31st, Yule proper. Keeping in mind that the day of the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, one can easily understand this festival was so important to people living in Northern parts of Europe. Popularized by the TV show Vikings, this gory method of execution was possibly ⦠They attempted to call for the spirit of the forests. In the northern hemisphere the Yule festival around December 21. A little praise is often enough People gathered at the long Yule table where you could find meat, bread, beer, stockfish, fruits, and vegetables. About a month before Yule rolls in, start thinking about all the clutter you've ⦠Last modified on 2 February, 2020.Page URL: https://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/yule/index.html, Request Update or Rate this page ~ Flag for Archive ~ Highlight for Featuring ~ Submit an article or ritual for the website ~, https://www.adf.org/rituals/norse/yule/index.html, Submit an article or ritual for the website. Learn more. The Yuletide Blessing A rite of feasting in the Norse tradition. Illustration of an ancient Nordic Yule festival (Die Gartenlaube, 1880). Although Yule is a no longer an institutionalize celebration, itâs customs have been adopted by many of us. It is also common for groves to have Norse drinking rites called symbels during this time, as well as to make oaths. Vikings believed spirits known as vættir (vättar in Swedish) lived in trees. Gifts don’t need This is simply because most enduring Christmas traditions grew from adapting existing pagan rituals, reframing them with Christian concepts and practices. One of the sagas writes about a large boar being brought into the hall. 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. According to Viking lore, the northern Germans and Scandinavians celebrated Yule, a pagan religious festival heralding the arrival of the winter solstice from mid-December to early January. People would put their hands on the bristles and make vows before the animal was sacrificed. They carved the runes on the oak to wish for the protection of the gods. From the holiday ham to the evergreen in your living room, hereâs how the pagan celebration of Yule influenced modern Christmas traditions. HÁVAMÁL - verse 52, Written by Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com, Copyright © AncientPages.com All rights reserved. The Yule tree was a pagan symbol of the tree of life, and in the case of the Vikings, it was a reflection of Yggdrasil, the Norse tree of life. Blót or blot does not mean blood as many believe but means ritual of sacrifice or worship. 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. In the Norse religion , Yule was a winter festival celebrated during the ⦠A celebration known as Yule, Winter Solstice and even called Christmas. The Traditions Of Viking Christmas Wikimedia Commons During the mythological Wild Hunt, it was believed that the Norse god Odin led a band of spirits across the winter sky, foreshadowing events ranging from a change in the weather to death and disaster. Yule was a winter festival celebrated by pagans in Medieval Scandinavia. A Yule celebration Turning an eye to the Germanic-Scandinavian context also provides intriguing connections. The Blood Eagle. According to Icelandic sagas, Vikings celebrated Yule for three days. Honor and anticipate the rebirth of the sun by creating a Yule altar. Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Did you know that Nordic people celebrated a festival similar to Christmas long before they became Christian? 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. It was a time we associate with family, friends, festivities, and the return of light when we can finally embrace warmer days. In Old Norse poetry, the word Jól was often used as a synonym for 'feast', such as in the kenning Hugins jól, meaning "Huginn's Yule" (Hugin being one of Odin's ravens).” 1. Yule log was one of the traditions of the Viking Yule. The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandinavian Yule symbols and traditions. It was a long oak with fir. - Drinking horns reveal there is a link between the Yule festival and what we today know as Christmas. As one might expect, the Norse ritual Yule is typically celebrated in late December. Sunset of the Winter Solstice ( approximatly December 20th ) Yuletide is the pre-Christian Germanic Midwinter celebration.The name Yule is derived from the Old Norse HJOL, meaning âwheel,â to identify the moment when the wheel of the year is at its lowest point, ready to rise again. In Scandanavia in particular, Yule celebrations predate the celebration of Christmas as we know it by thousands of years. In ancient times, people in Sweden believed that the Yule Goat was an invisible spirit that would appear some time before Christmas to check if the Christmas preparations had been done properly. So, the Yule Goat's origins go back to ancient Pagan festivals and the celebration and beliefs have changed much over the years. The word Yule (Old Norse: Jól) is actually plural, and it literally means parties. The Yule goat is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition based on Norse legends and worship of God Thor. The name 'Christmas' comes from the Mass of Christ (or Jesus) but the Vikings Yule was a festival to honor Norse Gods, especially Odin who was also known as Júlfadr, the Yule father. The cold and dark are celebrated as the Sun slowly begins to return. The traditions of the Yule log, Yule goat, Yule boar (Sonargöltr) reflected in the Christmas ham, Yule singing, and other such traditions, stem from Pagan Yule customs. As one might expect, the Norse ritual Yule is typically celebrated in late December. Mythical Kingdom Of Prester John – Did It Exist? To the medieval Norse people, oaths were of great importance, especially those sworn during this time of the year, as can be seen in The Poem of Helgi Hjörvarðsson.When the gradual transition from pagan rituals to Christian traditions took place, Yule feasts were also spaces where participation in pagan rituals ⦠Yule/Winter Solstice is celebrated December 19 - 23 for Northern Hemisphere and June 19 -23 for Southern Hemisphere. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or part without the express written permission of AncientPages.com, Susan Pesznecker - Yule: Rituals, Recipes & Lore for the Winter Solstice, Anders Neumuller - God Jul: A Swedish Christmas, Rare Six-Foot-Tall Female Statue Accidentally Unearthed By Mexican Farmers, Obatala ‘King Of The White Cloth’ And Creation Story Of Yoruba People, 4,000-Year-Old Lunar Calendar Developed At Kokino Megalithic Observatory – Evidence Of Remarkable Astronomical Knowledge. Has secured many friendships Hrafnsmál is mainly about a conversation between an unnamed Valkyrie and a raven, who discuss the life and martial deeds of Harald Fairhair. There are numerous references to Yule in the Icelandic sagas, and in other ancient accounts testifying to how Yule was actually celebrated. Other portions are drawn from Asatru tradition, but all has been tailored for our ADF structure. Yule is a traditional holiday holding roots in various northern European traditions, particularly that of the pre-Christian Germanic peoples. 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 text of the going and returning of the sun, and a few other portions of the rite, owe a great deal to Yule text from Kveldulf Gundarsson's recommended work "Teutonic Religion". So yuletide is the season in which people celebrate Yule festivals and traditions. Yule Cleansing Ritual. During Yule the gods were thanked for bringing back the sun and made offering for a good harvest. See also: More about Christmas Traditions, Viking also had a Yule log that was a long oak with fir. In many modern Swedish households, one can see a Yule goat standing close to the Christmas tree. Odins Yule. Traditions in Europe: Odin and the celebration of Yule. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. The Sun (in the Northern Hemisphere), at it's low time, the shortest day, longest night. Originally part of Winter Solstice activities, many Yuletide customs can be connected to the Norse god Odin as well as the Germanic myths surrounding Freyr. The Vikings had their Yule tree which inspired the later Christmas tree. The Yule goat is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition based on Norse legends and worship of God Thor. Norse Yule Traditions Yule began with slaughtering livestock, followed by a big feast. The Yule season historically began at midnight on December 22, the longest day of the year, and continued for 12 days. Storytelling, songs, and games were popular entertainment. submitted by none on 15 May, 2019. The Yuletide was originally celebrated by ancient Germanic peoples including Celts and Vikings, and by others all around Europe, long before the Christian Holiday. Vikings ate almost the same during the Yule celebration. This poem was composed around the 9th century by the Norwegian skald Þorbjörn Hornklofi. When our ancestors used a lunar calendar, it left about 12 days left over each year. Here are a few Yule traditions we still have. Everyone was welcomed to celebrate Yule, and Vikings always enjoyed it when a stranger showed up because he could tell interesting stories from foreign lands. This is also the reason why Odin has been compared to Father Christmas, Santa Claus, and Grandfather Frost. 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