![]() The Yule holiday is the holiest and most popular of all the native Germanic spiritual celebrations, as Yule marks the return of the God Baldur from the realm of Hel and the loosening of winters grip on the frozen Earth. It was a time for feasting, giving gifts, feasting and dancing. There are numerous references to Yule in the Icelandic sagas, and in other ancient accounts testifying to how Yule was actually celebrated. Yule celebrations and traditions at the winter solstice predate Christianity by thousands of years. HJOLhas been inherited by Germanic and Scandinavian languages from a pre-Indo-European language level, and is a direct reference to the return of the Sun represented as a fiery wheel rolling across the heavenly sky. The name Yule is derived from the Old Norse HJOL, meaning ‘wheel,’ to identify the moment when the wheel of the year is at its lowest point, ready to rise again. Yuletide is the pre-Christian Germanic Midwinter celebration. In modern times, Sleipnir was changed to a reindeer and the grey-bearded Wotan became the kindly Santa Claus (Father Christmas). In return, Wotan would leave them a gift for their kindness. In ancient times, Germanic and Norse children would leave their boots out by the hearth on Solstice Eve, filled with hay and sugar, for Sleipnir's journey. The god Wotan (Odin) is the leader of this Wild Ride charging across the sky on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir a very awe-inspiring vision. During this festival, the Wild Hunt is at its greatest fervor, and the dead are said to range the Earth in its retinue. Jul signifies the beginning and end of all things the darkest time (shortest hour of daylight) during the year and the brightest hope re-entering the world. In later years, after the influence of Christianity, the god Baldur, then Jesus, was reborn at this festival. ![]() On the night of December 20, the god Ingvi Freyr rides over the earth on the back of his shining boar, bringing Light and Love back into the World. This is the most important of all the Norse holidays. Celebration of the Norse New Year a festival of 12 nights.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |