Happy Summer’s Eve!

By Shade McCurdy, RFU Lawspeaker

In the traditional outlook of our Heathen ancestors, the year was divided into two seasonal halves, called “Misseri” by the Norse. First came the winter half. This cold, dark, and challenging time required folks to plan ahead and stay near the homestead, lest they be swept up by the Wild Hunt. Then came the summer half. A vibrant time for work, travel, trading, and raiding.

When reckoning by the phases of the moon, the first day of summer (Sumarmál) begins on the third full lunation after Midwinter. May 1st of this year.

Times of transition are powerful moments in our faith. As winter becomes summer, there is a brief liminal threshold that belongs to neither season. This may be a time where spirits and omens make themselves known to us. This is one reason Summer’s Eve was a remarkable occasion for our Heathen ancestors, who would stay up late into the night, feasting and holding ritual bonfires—partly to celebrate surviving another winter, and partly for protection against any final winter wights on their way out.

In various parts of Germany, ritual effigies were made of wood, straw, and fir branches. In later folklore, these appear to have represented Winter or Death itself, and were carried away from town to be burnt or tossed into bogs or rivers in order to free the village of the powers of that spirit. However, the festivities of this night were not viewed kindly by Christians. An Anglo-Saxon missionary woman named Walpurga travelled to Germany in the 8th Century in an attempt to convert the Heathens there. After she died, the church renamed the Heathen holiday after her, calling it Walpurgisnacht, German for “Walpurga’s Night”. Then the ancient bonfires were used to burn new effigies which represented the pagans and witches that the Christians wanted to be rid of. In Bavaria, this holiday is now known as Hexennacht, or “Witches’ Night.”

The Gaelic people observed a similar holiday called Beltane, which took place at the Cétshamhain, or “first of summer,” and also featured a sacrificial effigy often referred to as the “wicker man.” This effigy was ritualistically burned, sometimes with additional offerings placed inside his straw limbs.

The English preserved the memory of this holiday in May Eve. After shifting away from the lunisolar calendar, they began to observe the first day of summer on May 1st, called May Day. This year, May 1st and the full moon are on the same day, which is auspicious. In Devon, a tradition is still practiced where a figure known as the Earl of Rone is captured from the forest, paraded through town as he rides backwards on a donkey, and is repeatedly killed until he is thrown into the sea until next year.

According to folklorist Jacob Grimm, the ancient Germans may have called the first day of summer Pholstag, “Phol’s Day.” Phol was likely another name for Baldr, as mentioned in the Second Merseburg Charm, and also used in some place names in Germany, such as Westphalia. In Old English, he was called Bældæġ, which could be broken down to mean “Bale/Pyre Day.” A similar figure may be found in the god for whom the Gaelic Beltane bonfires are lit, as well, known as Belenos. All these names do have rough etymological connections to words meaning “bright.” In light of these similarities, an interesting theory arises which suggests that the original identity of the effigies on the bonfires may have represented Baldr himself, or his brother Hoðr, both being gods who were brought to the funeral pyre.

There are many names for this holiday, but they all celebrate the changing of seasons and a time for blessings of protection over new growth.

Hail the Gods!
Hail the Folk!
Happy Summer’s Eve!