My Norwegian grandmother, who was 101 when she passed from this world to the next, told me that Yule was not a single day holiday. Yule started on the Winter Solstice but lasted 12 days (but they started preparing for it on December 3rd...not sure why). Everyone stayed inside and celebrated on the 21st BECAUSE despite the Christianization of the holiday, there was still this lingering fear that their souls would be gathered up by the grim reaper if they were caught outside from sunset until morning. We know that the ancient Norse Pagans believed in the Wild Hunt, so I am guessing the tradition of staying inside to party was just a carry over from that time. She also said that Yule was a time to remember the people who have passed on...and that too is carry over from Pagan times. They did make a Yule goat from twigs and hay, and they did have a Yule log but I believe my grandmother's family kept feeding the fire with wood cut from one single tree and they DID stay up all night on "the long night" to keep the Yule log lit on the evening before Winter Solstice. I also remember her telling me that you put fruit or oatmeal outside in a small bowl "for the Christmas Spirits" and I am guessing that was a carry over from when people put out offerings for the local nature spirits. The turning of the wheel of the seasons of the year was super important to the Norwegians. Can't wait to see the video from your Yule celebration in Ohio!
The original Yule festivity did not take place during the Winter Solstice. Hákon the Good, made a law where the Norwegians must celebrate the Yule festival on the Winter Solstice in order to gradually convert them into Christianity. The christianized Julian calendar celebrated the birth of Christ on the Winter solstice around December 21st. Which is why it is called Christmas as in "Christ's Mass" or "the mass of Christ". Yule festival began around mid January which roughly corresponds to the month Thorri. The first blót to the festival is Thorrablot, then the actual Jolablot and finally Sonarblot. Yule is the name of the festival or Veizla. In Ynglingasaga, Odin established a law where money blots take place along with three festivities. The Yule festival is the celebration of the Asgardsreid or "The procession of the Asgard" where Odin is known as Jólnir and the rest of the Aesir were the Jólnar. Hence, all the Aesir where offered sacrifices in return to offer blessings and good crop. People would chase the Tunriðr away, to symbolize as a demonic (þurs) being. During the time, the sun would not rise for the thirteen days due to living nearby the arctic equator. So the ancient Norse called upon their gods for blessings as they were submerged into darkness. Hopefully this helps for anyone knowing what Yule is, when it was celebrated and what was about.
After watching this video I didn't realize that I had been in a way celebrating Yule. In my Greek/Italian family this is usually a time of family gathering serving lamb from a pit and foods made from milk of goats, sheep or cow. There is a traditional dish called in dialect "cruistine". It consists of gizzard, liver and hearts with anchovies. It's put on breads and the drinks are sweet liqueurs. I researched my ancestry and found in variations that this basically comes from offerings to Zeus and Poseiden. I was raised to respect the old Gods, but Odin was the one who caught my attention as an adult. Hail to the Gods, and the greatest of Yule Tidings. Thank you, my friend.
Just a note about Yule Logs. The fire Place as we know it (for northern Europe at least) has its origins with the invention of the chimney around the 12th century. Most homes and feast halls just had a trench in the middle of the room and a Smoke Hole in the roof. It would have been possible to burn a very long Yule Log this way since there would have been no fire box style fire place up against a wall.
I may be from Southeast Asia, but I'm having interest and fascination with Norse Paganism. I want to celebrate Christmas with the spirit of Yule despite I'll be with non-pagan family members. Skal!
you're the first male pagan i've found that i resonate with!! i'm so excited to watch more of your videos. your lighthearted yet informed and nuanced content is so refreshing.
I wish all a Happy happy Yule, may you be Warm, well feed, and Safe, My your Gods protected you and Your Family. From a Loki / his kin. Worshiper ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
i love your videos so much. i struggle w my faith in paganism alot bc i still live w my parents, and they are extremely christian and don't allow me to practice my faith. i pray and worship the gods in secret, but it's very hard and often feels lonely. but this channel has always helped me feel seen.
Thank you for the pointers on these celebrations! I'm staying with a house of athiests so it's been a bit hard to find out how to get started on this path alone, but thankfully I don't think anyone here will be too judgmental about it
The cross pollination of cultures has always happened and is one of the best things about life in general. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't at least acknowledge where particular festivities come from, and honour and express gratitude for them. I also fully agree that we should avoid dogma and finger-wagging lectures because individuals put different and accesnts on their practices. As with all things spiritual, it's the intention behind it that matters. Great video as always, brother.
Loved the content in this video! My husband and I moved to a pagan path about seven months ago so this is our first time celebrating Yule. We got the chance to attend an amazing blot at The Texas Viking Festival last weekend. It was incredible to find a community, especially so early in our journey. They also have a gathering for Midsummer, we can't wait!
I celebrate on the solstice but honestly as long as it’s in winter I don’t mind. I plan to sacrifice animals (probably a large fish I catch) in the future. Horse meat is good btw.
Actually up through the 1950s horsemeat was fairly easy to obtain. Just people got squeamish over it. And if you go just about anywhere in the world you can still get horsemeat. Which is pretty good meat.
Beautiful video! I want to wish you a happy Yule and everyone else as well! It's to bad that you're not in Pennsylvania haha! I would love to go to the gathering this year!!
Actually, here is a fun fact: that goat is not supposed to be burned despite the fact that it does almost every year 40-foot straw goats are very expensive
A Christian perspective: I was told that the 12 days of Christmas were based on the belief that the Wise Men/Magi took 12 days from the birth of the Christ to reach Him honoring him with the gifts of gold, myrrh, and frankincense. There are some flavors of Christianity that are said to exchange gifts on January 6th to recreate the Magi bringing gifts to the Christ. I have not fully researched this, so I don't know how much is true, but I like the concept.
Hailsa! I just wanted to extend a heathen hand, & send some Yule Spirit your way 🍻That was an interesting video & well made. May The Aesir & The Vanir guide you into & through the New Year 🍻🇧🇻🇮🇸💯👊🏻 I currently residing in Maryland, not far from you. Maybe I could attend to a few events sometime....... ALWAYS Interesting in celebration with like minded brothers & sisters in our Heathen ways. Mostly prefer the ol traditional/historically accurate, but still room for the"modern" practice. The ol ways must be understood & never forgotten, what we have left of at least. SKÖL!🍻
Thank you for this video! I enjoy learning from your channel/experiences. I must ask where you obtained this amazing sweater lol. I also laughed so hard regarding the saga involving the dolphin! I have questions as well lol...Happy Yule to you and your loved ones!
I want to say thank you for this amazing and very insightful content in this video it cemented in me what and how I want to celebrate Yule this year and come out of the “Pagan Closet” to my loved ones.
I found your video beautiful and heartwarming. I was curious if there were communities in my area, so I clicked around on social media. Unfortunately I didn't see any that stayed on topic so I will continue studying solo for now.
I'm curious, is the Christmas season celebrated more like an actual christian holiday in USA or is it just presents and Santa? In Finland the christmas is Joulu (Yule) and I must say that not a single person I know, even my parents or grandparents, celebrate the season anyway religiously, chrstian or otherwise. Fun fact, Santa Claus is Joulupukki (Yule Goat) in Finnish. There is an old tradition where young men of the village would dress up as goats (Nuutipukki) with tree bark masks and fur coats and scare the children. They would enter the house, demand the leftovers, especially alcohol, and if they would no be served they would cause some kind of trouble. There are still this kind of traditions in the country but they have transformed to be more entertaining events for the kids without the alcohol and scary things :)
Christmas here is different between families but usually follows the routine of Kids waking up the parents for Santa, laying out cookies the night before and then getting together with family and having dinner or lunch and exchanging more gifts and sometimes playing modern board games. If you’re Christian (I grew up Christian) there’s a Christmas Eve service the night before where (at least two different denominations of churches that I attended did this) the story of Jesus’s birth is recited- then everyone sings hymns while holding candles (looking back this feels almost like pagan rituals but instead of just in a family setting, it’s practiced inside a church).
We have a fairly large group here that means every season. Be sure to go to our community website www.northerntraditions.org to stay up to date on our events!
Love your videos your very relaxing to listen to and explain things in such a great uplifting way. I would love it if you wrote a book for the younger children on Yule. Happy hibernation my friend.
Excerpt from the bible "Do not learn the way of the Gentiles; Do not be dismayed at the signs of heaven, For the Gentiles are dismayed at them. For the customs of the peoples are futile; For one cuts a tree from the forest, The work of the hands of the workman, with the ax. They decorate it with silver and gold; They fasten it with nails and hammers So that it will not topple..." Jeremiah 10 1-25 So it seems Christmas trust are at least not Christian. Cool video I just started watching last year around January so I missed your frist 2 yule videos The main thing I think we should take away is that yule is a pagan holiday or folk holiday. However you celebrate it is correct. Folk generally means ones own family practices.
Thank you jacob! I am going to make an altar and have candlelight, my walk in this faith has only strengthened since i found the wisdom of odin, thank you brother.
And if you want to know who Santa is, just put the n from the middle of the word Santa to the end. Transforming himself into an angel of light, deceiving people, especially children away from the truth, that is Christ, the true God, who loves us and who died for us and washed us in his own blood to save us sinners from death giving us for free the gift of everlasting life.
Thank you for sharing your animal free offering of mead and iron oxide. Makes this vegetarian very happy 😁 Also, your sweater is awesome. Love the Sleipnir details.
🤔 I need one of those sexy yule sweaters.. But being in Germany.. Everybody is going to think I am celebrating my returning from a holliday in Sweden.. 😂
It could also be changed to use bone broth made from the meat eaten on Yule. Iron oxide is rust, and rust might not be a good reflection of blood. Buy broth bones days before? 🤔
Iron is also in blood! We tried it out at this last gathering, and let me tell you, it was awesome! Bone broth would work too, I just worry the consistency would be too runny
