The witch named Gritch is a well-known character in children's literature. She is often depicted as an old and ugly witch with a crooked nose and a pointy hat. Gritch is known for her magical powers and her mischievous nature. One of the main characteristics of Gritch is her greed. She is always looking for ways to obtain more power and wealth, often resorting to dark magic and manipulation. Gritch is not satisfied with what she has and is constantly searching for ways to gain more.
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.
Gritch is not satisfied with what she has and is constantly searching for ways to gain more. Despite her villainous nature, Gritch is often portrayed as a comical and slightly bumbling character. She is not particularly clever or resourceful, and her plans often backfire.
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).
This adds an element of humor to the stories in which she appears. Another important aspect of Gritch's character is her transformation. In many stories, Gritch starts out as a wicked and evil character but undergoes a change of heart. This transformation usually occurs when Gritch encounters a kind and loving character who shows her the power of forgiveness and compassion. The main message that can be derived from Gritch's character is the importance of kindness and empathy. Even the most wicked characters can change if they are shown love and understanding. Gritch serves as a reminder that everyone deserves a second chance, regardless of their past actions. Overall, Gritch is a fascinating character in children's literature. She represents the struggle between good and evil and the power of redemption. Her unique personality and transformations make her an interesting and memorable character for young readers..
Reviews for "Lessons from Gritch: Finding Courage and Confidence in Witchcraft"
1. Mary - ★☆☆☆☆
I did not enjoy "The Witch Named Gritch" at all. The story felt disjointed and confusing, with a lack of clear plot or character development. The writing style was choppy and unengaging, making it difficult to connect with the story. Additionally, I found the illustrations to be bland and uninspiring. Overall, this book failed to capture my interest or entertain me in any way.
2. John - ★★☆☆☆
"The Witch Named Gritch" fell short of my expectations. While the concept of a witch's journey could have been intriguing, the execution left much to be desired. The pacing was slow, and I found myself losing interest in the story quickly. The characters lacked depth and failed to engage me emotionally. The book could have benefited from more engaging dialogue and a stronger plot structure. Unfortunately, I found this book to be a disappointment.
3. Sarah - ★★☆☆☆
I found "The Witch Named Gritch" to be a forgettable read. The story lacked originality and felt like a recycled version of other witch-themed children's books. The writing style was average, and the plot was predictable. Additionally, the illustrations were lackluster and did not add any visual appeal to the story. Overall, this book failed to stand out among its counterparts, and I wouldn't recommend it to those looking for a captivating witch tale.
4. Michael - ★☆☆☆☆
I regret reading "The Witch Named Gritch." The story was dull and uninspiring, failing to captivate my attention. The characters felt one-dimensional, and their actions lacked substance. The writing lacked creativity and flair, making it difficult to stay engaged. The illustrations were also disappointing, lacking detail and depth. Overall, this book was a letdown, and I would not recommend it to others.
5. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
"The Witch Named Gritch" was a huge disappointment. The story felt cliché and unoriginal, following the same tropes as countless other witch stories. The characters were uninteresting and lacked depth, making it hard to care about their journey. The writing style was lackluster, and the narrative lacked excitement. I found this book to be a snooze fest and quickly lost interest. I would not recommend it to anyone searching for a captivating witch tale.