Gebo, Yule, and the Sacred Tradition of Gift-Giving
By Harvala Heathor Clinkenbeard
December brings us into the deep quiet of winter, a month of reflection, hearth-fires, kinship, and preparing for the holy days of Yule. For our ancestors, this was a time when the world slowed and the bonds of the folk were strengthened through hospitality, storytelling, and the exchange of meaningful gifts.
At the heart of these traditions lies a rune whose spirit guides this entire season:
Gebo. The gift rune (ᚷ) teaches the ancient law of reciprocity. “A gift for a gift,” as expressed in the Hávamál.
This is not a simple exchange, it is the weaving of frith, honor, and mutual goodwill. When we give freely from the heart, we strengthen the hamingja of our relationships. When we receive graciously, we honor the giver and the bond between us.
In the time of our ancestors, Yule was marked by days of feasting, oaths, honoring the gods, remembering the ancestors, and, most beautifully, the crafting and giving of gifts.
These gifts were not purchased. They were made. They carved wooden tokens, gave woven cloth, painted or stitched symbols of protection, created charms inscribed with runes, made homemade treats, gave simple tools, toys, or household items, wrote each other written blessings or poems, and made small ornaments crafted from natural materials.
Each gift carried personal energy, skill, and intention, the giver’s hamingja woven into a tangible token. The act of making the gift was just as sacred as the giving itself.
Lore echoes this spirit. In the Hávamál, the exchange of gifts is described as a foundation of friendship and trust. In the sagas, gift-giving appears as a sign of honor, gratitude, and goodwill. Kings, jarls, and chieftains cemented alliances with gifts; families strengthened kin bonds through the same practice. Even the gods exchange gifts, Mjölnir, Draupnir, Gullinbursti, Gungnir, all made by skilled hands, all given to forge deeper bonds.
This is Gebo in its purest form.
In modern life, it is easy to fall into the rush of shopping, spending, and scrambling. But for Raven Folk, Yule invites us to return to the old rhythm.
Handmade gifts remind us:
We give our time, not just objects. We infuse meaning into what we create. We show kin and community that they matter. We carry on a tradition our ancestors held sacred.
Even simple gifts, a rune charm, a candle, a knitted square, a jar of homemade treat, become powerful when given with intention.
Gebo tells us that the value of a gift comes from the heart and hand of the giver, not its price.
As we move through December, take time to slow down and prepare spiritually and emotionally:
Reflect on who has supported you this year. Think of what you want to gift your folk, not just physically, but emotionally and energetically. Create something by hand.
Set intentions for the coming Yule nights. Strengthen bonds through presence, kindness, and shared work. Let this be a month of warmth against winter’s cold, a month where Gebo guides your actions and your crafting.
I encourage each of you to let Gebo lead your heart as we move toward Yule. This is a season for giving of ourselves in meaningful ways, through handmade gifts, shared meals, time spent with kin, and words spoken from the heart.
Let December be a time of crafting, connecting, and honoring the ancient ways that still live within us.
Blessed Yule preparations, dear folk. May your hands be guided by intention, and may your giving strengthen every bond within our community.
Use our craft groups to share your work. We will have a Raven Folk Family Yule Log workshop on December 14th. We will together create our Yule log, drill holes, decorate and anoint the candles in preparation for the twelve days of Yule.
Hail the traditions of our folk new and old!
Hail the Gods and Goddesses!
Hail Raven Folk United!