By Shade McCurdy, RFU Lawspeaker
In the traditional timekeeping of our Heathen ancestors, the year was divided into two seasonal halves, called misseri by the Norse. First came the winter half. A cold, dark, and challenging time that required folks to plan ahead and stay near the homestead. At this time, many warnings were issued about the inauspicious encounters one might have while traveling alone, and so to avoid being caught up in the ghostly procession of the Wild Hunt, loved ones are called home to kindle the hearth flame until Sól’s light and might returns.
"[The English] called the month in which the winter season began "Winterfylleð," a name made up from "winter" and "full moon," because winter began on the full moon of that month." (Bede, De temporum ratione)
According to the lunisolar reckoning, when the first new moon after the autumn equinox waxes into a full moon, winter has begun. This is also three moons before Midwinter. This marks one of the three holy feasting tides—veizlas—which Óðinn declared as a time for offering blót. This one is known as Vetrnætr, “Winter Nights,” and it is the most attested holidays in the Heathen lore, second only to Yule.
Like all the seasonal veizlas, the observance of a blót and a feast, or sumbel, would have been the centerpiece of this event. Some Scandinavian regions observed blóts to the Álfar (elves) and Dísir (feminine spirits—perhaps valkyries, goddesses, or matriarch ancestors) at this time, while other regions may have observed them at other times of year, like the Swedish Disting in February or March. Not much is recorded about the traditions of the English, but some have speculated that the Saxons may have given offerings to the gods and wights at the Irminsul before returning to their homes or sacred groves to perform private blót and sumbel.
Other festivities purported to occur around this time were marriages, ball games, horse races, and the issuing of prophecies. Marriages may have been consecrated in the name of Yngvi-Freyr, or offerings might have been given to the Dísir in order to invoke their blessings for childbirth, or their protection during the Wild Hunt. The Álfar may also have been invoked for their protection and healing abilities, as well.
We'll take a look at each of these blóts over the next three days, letting tomorrow's full moon lead us into Winter Nights!