Sumarmál and the Sigrblót
By Shade McCurdy, RFU Lawspeaker
As mentioned in my previous article about Summer’s Eve, when reckoning our Heathen holidays by the phases of the moon, the first day of summer (Sumarmál) begins on the third full lunation after the Midwinter moon, or May 1st of this year.
Not much is preserved in the Norse literature about how Sumarmál was observed, but we have a few examples that provide a rough picture of this holy tide:
In Ynglinga Saga, Chapter 8, Óðinn declared to the Swedes that “They must sacrifice at the meeting of winter for a good year, then sacrifice at midwinter for good crops, and the third at summer, which was a Sigrblót [victory-sacrifice].”
“It is their custom to hold a sacrificial feast in the autumn to welcome the winter, another at midwinter, and a third in the summer, to welcome the summer.” (Heimskringla Ch. 109)
“During the pagan period, [Sigurðr Þórisson] was accustomed to hold three sacrificial banquets every year, one at the winter nights, the second at midwinter, the third in the summer.” (Heimskringla Ch. 117)
“The following spring King Granmarr went to Uppsalir for a sacrifice, as was the custom at the meeting of summer, to ensure peace.” (Ynglinga Saga Ch. 38)
Additional mentions of a blót specifically taking place at the start of summer appear in Egil’s Saga and Vatnsdæla Saga. What we see is the repetition of there being three sacrificial feasts, also known as “veizlur,” which might have involved the consuming of the very meat which came from the animal offered in blót. Often the connotation of the blót pertains to success—be it by peace or by conquest. There are many other saga references to the general pattern of venturing out in the summer season for exploration of new territories, conducting commerce, going on raids, or waging war, before ultimately returning home in the autumn.
In The One-Eyed God: Odin and the (Indo-)Germanic Männerbunde, Kris Kershaw says that raids “took place during those times when the herds were out away from the village; at these times the youth would both guard the perimeters and make forays into neighboring territories.”
Here we may find a connection to the concept of the *koryos, or the adolescent warband. As a young man came into his own summer, he and his peers would have undergone ecstatic initiations which made them fend for themselves as dogs in the wilderness—akin to outlawed vargr, “wolves.” They owned no land, tended neither cows nor horses, wore no armor, had no wives, and no allies. They were a liability until they proved themselves worthy of belonging to the village (or settling their own).
What god would be more fitting to invoke for success in this rite of passage than Óðinn? He is the Herjaföðr, the Father of Hosts. The animalistic ulfheðnar and berserkir warriors were especially devoted to him. By his blessings in combat and intellect, may the young thane make a name for himself.
“I know an eleventh spell;
if I lead old friends
into a battle,
I enchant their shields
so that they will have the victory;
they will go to battle unharmed,
and return from battle unharmed.
They will come home without harm.”
- Hávamál 156
Whatever your endeavors you embark on this summer, may the gods deliver you to success!
Happy Sumarmál!
Hail Siggautr!
Hail Óðinn!