Yule, or the Viking “Christmas,” marked the end of the solar year and was celebrated with many festivities on the darkest night of winter. It starts on December 20th, and the twelfth night is on the 31st, Yule proper. This period, called Midwinter lasts for about 25 days from the 12th of December. A Yule celebration Turning an eye to the Germanic-Scandinavian context also provides intriguing connections. 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 … Traditional Christmas food in Sweden. 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. So the twelve nights of Yule were considered to be not part of the old year, nor yet part of the new year either. 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. Norse Yule Traditions Yule began with slaughtering livestock, followed by a big feast. This poem was composed around the 9th century by the Norwegian skald Þorbjörn Hornklofi. Ellen Lloyd - AncientPages.com - Did you know that Nordic people celebrated a festival similar to Christmas long before they became Christian? It is the sacred world tree of the Teutons, known as Yggdrasil. Yule food traditions go back millennia, with pagans from Germanic, Nordic and Celtic regions, among others, all bringing their own traditions to the winter solstice. submitted by none on 15 May, 2019. The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandinavian Yule symbols and traditions. The Vikings had their Yule tree which inspired the later Christmas tree. The word is therefore not referring to one single party or one event, but to several Yule celebrations that most likely took place between the winter solstice and the Yule Sacrifice (Old Norse: Jólablót). They carved the runes on the oak to wish for the protection of the gods. People would put their hands on the bristles and make vows before the animal was sacrificed. In many modern Swedish households, one can see a Yule goat standing close to the Christmas tree. The Yule Goat is one of the oldest Scandinavian Yule symbols and traditions. In Old Norse, the word “jól” was used in poetry to refer to a large celebratory feast. Did you know? 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. They attempted to call for the spirit of the forests. 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. A candle holder shaped like a log will make an… 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. Yule celebrations and traditions at the winter solstice predate Christianity by thousands of years. As one might expect, the Norse ritual Yule is typically celebrated in late December. Here are a few Yule traditions we still have. 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. 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. They gathered around it and carved runes on the oak wishing for the protections 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 Romans celebrated Saturnalia beginning on Dec. 17, a week-long festival in honor of the god … In Nordic folk traditions, a remnant of this system seems crystalized in the concept of the Yule moon. It is also common for groves to have Norse drinking rites called symbels during this time, as well as to make oaths. Blót or blot does not mean blood as many believe but means ritual of sacrifice or worship. From the holiday ham to the evergreen in your living room, here’s how the pagan celebration of Yule influenced modern Christmas traditions. Yule Goat Is A Scandinavian Christmas Tradition Based On Norse Legends And Worship Of God Thor. The Yuletide was originally celebrated by ancient Germanic peoples including Celts and Vikings, and by others all around Europe, long before the Christian Holiday. In some Norse myths, God Thor was said to riding a flying chariot drawn by two goats. The Yule goat is a Scandinavian Christmas tradition based on Norse legends and worship of God Thor. 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. During this period of the year, the Sun can be seen for only a few hours or, in some parts of the north, it can barely be seen at all. Freyr is the link that combines medieval holiday traditions with the present: The Germanic god is associated with the wild boar. Learn more. For those who prefer the pagan aspects over the Christian, Yule can still be celebrated today, right alongside Christmas (or any other culture's winter holiday for that matter). Also, during Christmas, we give presents so why not keep in mind what Norse people thought about gift giving? An herb of the Sun, Ash brings light into the hearth at the Solstice. 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. We find the oldest written source of the Viking Yule celebrations in a work known as Hrafnsmál, which means "raven speech" in Old Norse. Norske religious worship is the traditional religious rituals practiced by Norske pagans in Scandinavia in pre-Christian times. To Vikings, Yule was the most important festival of the year and they certainly celebrated it all they could. In the Norse religion , Yule was a winter festival celebrated during the … Freya, the Norse goddess of fertility, was associated with boars. Ash is the traditional wood of the Yule log. - Drinking horns reveal there is a link between the Yule festival and what we today know as Christmas. Other portions are drawn from Asatru tradition, but all has been tailored for our ADF structure. “The Old Norse word Jól was used to describe a feast, and Jólablót was a midwinter festival associated with the rebirth of the sun. 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. In the northern hemisphere the Yule festival around December 21. Ham. 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The word Yule (Old Norse: Jól) is actually plural, and it literally means parties. There are numerous references to Yule in the Icelandic sagas, and in other ancient accounts testifying to how Yule was actually celebrated. 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. A celebration known as Yule, Winter Solstice and even called Christmas. 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. 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. Traditions in Europe: Odin and the celebration of Yule. One of the sagas writes about a large boar being brought into the hall. The round shape of wreaths also depicted the cyclical nature of the seasons and of the Norse conception of the cosmos/time. 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". In Scandanavia in particular, Yule celebrations predate the celebration of Christmas as we know it by thousands of years. 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. Has secured many friendships The Yule season historically began at midnight on December 22, the longest day of the year, and continued for 12 days. We celebrate Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. Some think it’s a magical experience, but many think it’s a depressing time. 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