The winter solstice is an astronomical phenomenon that marks the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It occurs when the tilt of Earth's axis is farthest away from the sun. This event has been observed and celebrated by various cultures and civilizations throughout history. In pagan traditions, the winter solstice is often referred to by different names that highlight its significance and symbolism. One such name is Yule, which is derived from the Old Norse word "jól" and is associated with the Norse pagan tradition. Yule was a time of feasting, drinking, and merriment to celebrate the return of the sun and the rebirth of nature.
Olaf Tryggvason later decided that the heathen celebration would become illegal, and that the new celebration was to be called "Kristmesse" - the delayed celebration of the birth of baby Jesus (which is assumed to have found place some time during the spring og early fall (3)). This name didn't quite stick in the North where we still use the heathen term Jól in Iceland, Jul in Norway, Sweden and Denmark and Yule in some English-speaking societies, while others have gone over to use Kristmesse/Christmas. The old tradition of brewing Yule ale and drinking in honor of the Æsir, friends and kinfolk also remained in the time following the Christianization, with the law demanding people to brew enough as well as strong enough (4, 5), but people were now to drink in honor of Christ and the virgin Mary instead (6).
Some sources have suggested that the celebration took place in the month of Ýlir, the second month of winter, from mid-November to mid-December 7 , connecting the name of the celebration to the name of the month as well as to one of Odins many names; Jólnir. The old tradition of brewing Yule ale and drinking in honor of the Æsir, friends and kinfolk also remained in the time following the Christianization, with the law demanding people to brew enough as well as strong enough 4, 5 , but people were now to drink in honor of Christ and the virgin Mary instead 6.
Yule was a time of feasting, drinking, and merriment to celebrate the return of the sun and the rebirth of nature. It was also a time to honor and worship the gods and goddesses of the Norse pantheon. Another pagan name for the winter solstice is Alban Arthan, which is of Welsh origin.
Winter solstice pagan name
I once stumbled upon a comment written by a Christian friend of mine saying that "People who don't wear crosses around their necks should be working during Christmas", and I was taken aback for a moment. Have Norwegians forgotten about their history? Do some of us own this season, more rightfully so than others?
The following is an English translation of a Norwegian post written two years ago, the first of what will probably be a series of translated, further developed and elaborated versions of past ramblings from when I used to write this blog in Norwegian.
Yule (Jól) is now considered to be a Christian holiday by many Scandinavians. The mischievous Norse "nisse" and the 13 scary Yule-lads from Icelandic folklore have been replaced by the shiny Coca-Cola Santa, - and instead of the heathen Jól we celebrate a much younger and Christian tradition that came to us from the Middle East, roughly one thousand years after the church allied with the kings and Scandinavia was Christianized. The struggle to thwart pagan traditions or at least move them into a Christian framework as Erik Tornes puts it (1), had begun. Haakon the Good considered moving the heathen celebration to the same time as the Christian to be the most convenient (2).
Olaf Tryggvason later decided that the heathen celebration would become illegal, and that the new celebration was to be called "Kristmesse" - the delayed celebration of the birth of baby Jesus (which is assumed to have found place some time during the spring og early fall (3)). This name didn't quite stick in the North where we still use the heathen term Jól in Iceland, Jul in Norway, Sweden and Denmark and Yule in some English-speaking societies, while others have gone over to use Kristmesse/Christmas. The old tradition of brewing Yule ale and drinking in honor of the Æsir, friends and kinfolk also remained in the time following the Christianization, with the law demanding people to brew enough as well as strong enough (4, 5), but people were now to drink in honor of Christ and the virgin Mary instead (6).
Yesterday was the winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year, when the sun is at its lowest. There are uncertainties as to when Yule was celebrated in the Viking Age, but the common idea that it was at the winter solstice is believed to be a modern misconception. Some sources have suggested that the celebration took place in the month of Ýlir, the second month of winter, from mid-November to mid-December (7), connecting the name of the celebration to the name of the month (as well as to one of Odins many names; Jólnir).
Scholars do however commonly claim that the celebration was held around the middle of January, centered in between the first day of winter and the first day of summer using the old Norse Calendar. On the prime staff, the 12th of January is marked with dots symbolizing snowflakes, and the tradition of Yule Ale and "drinking Jól" is further symbolized by a drinking horn on December 25th, with an upside-down drinking horn depicted on January 13th, symbolizing that the ale should be finished by then (8). According to Visted, Midwinter was on January 13-14th (9). Others have claimed that it was moveable and celebrated at the first new full moon after the solstice(10), that is, between January 5th and February 2nd, varying from year to year. In Heimskringla, Snorri Sturlusson writes that the old celebration started with Midwinters night or "Hökunótt", lasting for 3 days, and that king Aðalsteinsfóstri later had the celebration moved to coincide ith the Christian celebration (11).
Jól was celebrated as a sacramental feast or a blót, toasting for the passing of winter, for harmony, fertility and happiness in the new year, as illustrated by the ceremonial expression "til árs ok friðar" (for a good year and peace) (12). The time of Jól was also related to folklore about ancestors and guardian spirits of the farm, who looked after the farm and the family, and many of the old Norse traditions are associated with these spirits or elves, who at the time of Jól returned back home, thereby requiring ale and porridge, and a place to sleep. They would protect the children and animals and help out on the farm, but could sometimes be rather troublesome and were quite nasty if offended (9).
I myself grew up with Icelandic traditions in the Yuletide, where I placed my shoe in the windowsill 13 days before Christmas. It was during these days that the 13 Icelandic Yule lads would come sneaking one by one each day, to put something nice in the shoe if I had been good - or a lame old potato if had had been mischievous. They were however each specialized in their own form of mischief, and were admittedly sons of the troll Grýla, who would collect bad children in a sack and. eat them. She also had a cat, the Yule Cat, who would attack and eat those who had not got at least one new piece of clothing for the occasion!
The old traditions around this dark period of the year don't exactly make for cozy nighttime reading material. They are characterized by a large accumulation of folklore and fearful joy related to this season, with everything from Aasgaardsreiden (the Wild Hunt) (13) to voracious Yule cats (14). But at the same time, this mix of good and evil and all the eerie aspects of Yule can be a refreshing alternative to the modern-day materialistic season, where consumerism, shopping sprees and high cholesterol gets wrapped up in glitter and giftwrap and celebrated by people who don't really know the reason why.
We all have different reasons to celebrate this season. This dark and mysterious time of year is a natural subject to superstition and philosophy, and especially around the time of the winter solstice and midwinter. The Romans called this celebration the Saturnalia (15), the Incas celebrates Inti Raymi (16), the Iranians Shab-e Yalda (17), and the list goes ever on.
I for one wish you all a merry Yuletide, and the freedom to celebrate midwinter as you choose; just please don't claim it as your own, or as the possession of your one religion.
- "When the Christians met the heathen", comment by Erik Tornes in Aftenposten [article in Norwegian]
- Saga Hákonar góða (934-961), in Heimskringla, by Snorri Sturluson [saga in Norse]
- "When was Jesus Christ born? Was Jesus born on December 25 - Christmas Day?", article by the United Church of God
- Norges gamle Love/Den ældre Gulathings-Lov (the Older Gulaþing Law), section 7
- Norges gamle Love/Den ældre Frostathings-Lov (the Older Frostaþing Law)
- "Yule ale – a heathen tradition", by Kristin Straumsheim Grønli (2002), forskning.no [article in Norwegian]
- "Dimentions, Weight and Time", in the Electronic Book "Arild Hauges Runer" by Arild Hauge (2002) [article in Norwegian]
- "The Drinking Horn - The Strongest Symbol of Yule", by archeologist Brynja Bjørk Birgisdottir (2009), forskning.no [article in Norwegian]
- Vor gamle bondekultur, by cultural historian Kristofer Visted (1908). Kristiania: Cappelen [book in Norwegian]
- Jul, disting och förkyrklig tideräkning – Kalendrar och kalendariska riter i det förkristna Norden, by Nordberg, A. (2006). Uppsala: Kungl. Gustav Adolfs Akademien för svensk folkkultur
- Hvernig fóru heiðin jól fram?, by Árni Björnsson (2005), the Icelandic web of science [article in Icelandic]
- Til árs ok friðar, Gyldendals encyclopedia of Norse mythology, by Finn Stefansson [encyclopedia in Danish]
- Oskoreia, Store Norske Leksikon [encyclopedia in Norwegian]
- Jólakötturinn (The Yule Cat), by the Icelandic National Museum [text in Icelandic]
- Saturnalia, Store Norske Leksikon [encyclopedia in Norwegian]
- Inti Raymi, The Celebration of the Sun, text by the Peru Cultural Society
- Shab-e Yalda: Light Shines and Goodness Prevails, text by the Virtual Embassy of the United States Tehran
Yesterday was the winter solstice, the shortest and darkest day of the year, when the sun is at its lowest. There are uncertainties as to when Yule was celebrated in the Viking Age, but the common idea that it was at the winter solstice is believed to be a modern misconception. Some sources have suggested that the celebration took place in the month of Ýlir, the second month of winter, from mid-November to mid-December (7), connecting the name of the celebration to the name of the month (as well as to one of Odins many names; Jólnir).
Alban Arthan means "Light of Winter" and is associated with the druidic tradition of the ancient Celtic people. The winter solstice was seen as a time of harmony and balance, when the darkness and light are in equal measure. It was a time to reflect on the past year, set intentions for the upcoming year, and celebrate the cycle of nature's rhythms. The pagan names given to the winter solstice reflect the deep connection between ancient traditions and the cycles of nature. They remind us of the importance of honoring and celebrating the changing seasons, and the power of nature to inspire and renew our spirits..
Reviews for "Winter Solstice's Pagan Name: Reflecting on Ancient Beliefs and Practices"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Winter solstice pagan name". I was expecting a deep exploration of pagan rituals and traditions during the winter solstice, but instead, it felt like a shallow and commercialized version. The entire film was filled with clichés and stereotypes, and it lacked any real substance or depth. I would not recommend it to anyone looking for an authentic portrayal of pagan practices.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "Winter solstice pagan name" was a complete waste of time. The storyline was weak and the characters were incredibly one-dimensional. I found myself losing interest within the first few minutes and it didn't get any better as the movie progressed. It felt like a cheap attempt to capitalize on the popularity of pagan themes without actually delivering anything worthwhile. Save your money and watch a different film.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - While "Winter solstice pagan name" had some beautiful cinematography and a promising premise, it ultimately fell short of expectations. The pacing was off, with slow and drawn-out scenes that seemed to go nowhere. The dialogue was also incredibly cheesy and forced, making it difficult to connect with the characters. Overall, it had potential but failed to deliver a captivating story.
4. Mark - 1.5 stars - I was hoping to learn more about the winter solstice and its pagan origins, but "Winter solstice pagan name" failed to offer any meaningful insights. The movie seemed more focused on romance and drama, which was not what I signed up for. It felt like a missed opportunity to explore and educate viewers about an important cultural event. Disappointing to say the least.
5. Rebecca - 2 stars - I expected "Winter solstice pagan name" to be a thought-provoking exploration of pagan beliefs and rituals, but it turned out to be a predictable and superficial film. The plot was predictable, the characters lacked depth, and the narrative felt contrived. It seemed to rely on tired tropes rather than delving into the rich history and spirituality of paganism. I wouldn't recommend it unless you're looking for a mindless holiday romance.