Yule in old Norse is celebrated with Family or friends’ rooftree (the house) bonding around the hearth-fire or bonfire. Preparing feasts and mead for everyone to go around. Yule was a time of reflecting on one’s deeds. Men of the Warband would return to their homes to spend Yule with their loved ones until the next spring raid or war. Giving offerings and exchanging gifts.

The Icelandic sagas of ‘Svarfdæla Saga,” speaks of warriors postponing wars until after Yule. Yule is also spoken of in, “The Saga of Hakon the Good.” Yule is celebrated depending on tribes/kindred, the moon phase, and which calendar they go by. Some people celebrate 3 or 12 days on December 21. Whereas others celebrate in January using the 13-month calendar.

In modern days, people decorate a lot more than in the old Norse times. People decorate within and outside of the home. Making feasts with Ham, side dishes, and dessert (cookies or yule logs). Crafting Yule logs and Yule goats giving these items as gifts or to burn for New Years'. Burning the Yule logs symbolizes an offering in hope for steadfast. Along with other offerings given at a ritual to the gods, goddesses, and ancestors.

Since Yule is a time of reflection, 2023 has given a lot of time for reflection. It helped people realize who we can count on. What humanity means to others. As well as everyone's true colors. 2023 has shown us to keep our loved ones close. Because life can change at any moment. For it is the little things, our deeds to our family, and others.

The Hávamál is a great example that prepared us for times like these

“It’s better to have a home, even if it is little. Everyone calls somewhere “home.”  

                                                                ~Stanza 36

“Be a friend to a friend, repay a gift with a gift, laughter with laughter, and treachery with treachery.”

 ~Stanza 42

“Cattle die, kinsmen die, I too will die. But one thing that never dies is the reputation of man,”

 ~Stanza 77

This Yule has taught us it is the little things. Being fortunate to be alive! For death waits for no one. Hold your loved ones close. Light those bonfires, give your oath, boast, and toast!

“Better ask for too little than offer too much, like the gift should be the boon.

Better not to send than to overspend.”

                                                                   ~Stanza 144

Charming of the Plough

Sunna emerges from the gloomy, icy winter.

In February, Sunna awakens the dogwoods, daffodils, and vaettir.

In celebration of her awakening, the communities joined together.

Providing food and gifts within their house in memory of her and blessing farm equipment.

There are numerous deities that people worship.

Spring Awakens by Sunna

Fertility is blooming thanks to Freyr and Freyja.

Mother Earth is represented by Nerthus or Jörd.

Our ancestors plowed the fields before us!

We wouldn't be where we are now if it weren't for them.

Our ancestors provide the foundation for the meaning of our lives.

The cycle of life, rebirth, and death is celebrated on this day, as it is on most holidays.

In the same way, the seasons change, and so do we.

We till our souls, sowing seeds of change in exchange for steadfast.

With honor, that blooms alive and vital within us. 

Hail Sunna

The Dísirblót is a blot which honor of the female spirits called Dísir. There isn’t a specific day for this celebration. However there is some community the celebrate Dísirblót on March on the Full moon. This holiday is very similar to Mother’s Night in December.

Families honor and make offerings to the spirits of their female ancestors who are descended from them on this holiday. In honor to the Goddesses, the ancestors, Vaettir, and the female spirits. For the fertility of their homestead and to obtain blessings for the goddesses, people worship female spirits. Every female spirit bestows a different blessing on the family. 

The Dísir are guardian spirits that may represent a single person or a family.  The Dísir have connections with the Landvaettir of the individuals or families that buried their female family member in their land. This indicates the relationship between the ancestor worship on Dísirblót, Wintersnight, and Mother's Night, and the homestead and land.

However, The Dísirblót stands for the significance of honoring the Goddesses, ancestors, and feminine spirits of individuals or families. In honoring these important female figures in return for steadfast in the fertility of the land, protection, blessing of childbirth and more. Dísirblót shows the significant to our ancestors and remains so today.

We honor Odin, Vílí, and Vé on this Sigrblot

These gods created Ask and Embla

Giving them the breath of life, consciousness, and senses

In return our ancestors could create their descendants

Our ancestors had many victories and defeats

In exchange for us to be present where we are now.

We celebrate our victories to come in our lifetime.

We carry on the old ways to our clans and tribe that will carry on after us.

May Odin and his Valkyrie bestow victory upon you.  Never forget the victories and battles that are behind, before or after us. 

May your hugr be strong

May your Fylgja follow

May your Hamingja plenty

May your Hamr be unbreakeable

Midsummer is a time of many things. Since Sunna awakened in spring, she awakened the land and Vaettir, and communities celebrate the return of summer. 

Once again, it is a time of balance to celebrate by lighting bonfires, feasting on the crops, and honoring the gods. 

Honoring Gods, the Ancestors, and Vaettir is important on Midsummer. Similar to our Ancestors, we planted our seeds of change in Spring, and wait patiently for the harvest from the fruits of our hard labor and our deeds. 

Midsummer reminds us, as we move forward with the warm of the summer in our hearts. Change pushes  us forward in life, to grow, and to blossom such as summer. The harvest of our deeds in honoring our ancestors is soon to come!

Wintersnight will be on the October in the full moon. Wintersnight is a period when people give an offering to their ancestors, nature spirits, gods, goddesses, and the last of the crop. A majority of individuals can communicate with the ancestors and land spirits since the veil is thinning.

Tribes prepare bonfires and hold feasts from the harvests and livestock. Tribes coming together to weave frith and seek protection from the the challenges of winter by making offerings

Offerings in the home's altars are for the gods and ancestors. Offerings to the land spirits are placed on altars outside in the Vé. The people share stories with loved and reflect on our deeds.

to be continued

Mōdraniht or Modranicht, translates to "Night of the Mothers" or "Mothers' Night" in Old English, on December 20th. According to some, it is related to the Germanic Matres and Matronae festivities, as well as other Germanic events (similar to Dísblot, honoring the feminine ancestral and gods).

Mother's night is a time of reflection

A reflection of honoring the Dísír and Goddesses

The Dísír are female spirits

Spirits of one's ancestors

Also honoring the goddesses

Frigg, Freya, Nerthus, Eir, Sunna or Idunna.

Honoring any goddesses of your choosing

For the goddesses were with us all year

On this night, one gives their offerings

Putting pictures of loved ones on one's Altars

Honoring with food and drinks

Items of that female ancestor.

Honoring the Dísír and goddesses on this night

Letting them know we appreciate and love them

Giving us strength when one cannot find it

Love, courage, or more ....

Hail to the Goddesses

Hail to the Dísír