Ulfhethnar Kindred

Seasonal Holy Days

The Holy Days and festivals of Asatru follow the natural cycles of the seasons, usually corresponding to the solstices, equinoxes and the natural planting and harvesting times of the year.

In the ancient Northern European world these Holy Days and festivals may have varied in their format from region to region or from era to era, but they always followed the seasonal spokes.  For instance in the Germanic regions Ostara was honored in the Spring, while in the Norse lands her counterpart Freya was more likely to be celebrated.  But their role, and the reason for the festival, was the same – fertility.

Modern Asatruar likewise have adapted the Holy Days to their current surroundings and culture, but the overall meaning behind the rites remain and we still follow the seasonal spokes.  For example, while most Asatruar no longer perform animal sacrifices at Yule, we still hold a huge sacrificial feast (utilizing store bought meat).  We now consider the toil of our jobs, which pay for the food, to be part of the sacrifice to our Gods and Goddesses, and we always offer a portion of the feast to our deities.

From historical, literary, and archeological sources we have pieced together the basics of the way our ancestors worshipped, and have attempted to follow these sources as closely as possible when designing our own rites.

This pamphlet is an outline of the seasonal Holy Days as observed by the Ulfhethnar Kindred.

Yule  (Winter Solstice, December 21)

Yule is the beginning of the year for Asatruar and is our largest and holiest festival.  Yule marks the return of the sun and signifies rebirth.  It is a time to contemplate the past year and to focus on positive change for the coming year.  It is a time for feasting, celebration, family and friends.  For our Yule Blot we usually alternate annually between Odin and Thor.

Disting/Charming of the Plough  (Mid February)

By mid-Feburary our ancestors knew they had made it through the harshest part of winter and could look forward to the upcoming planting season which would soon be upon them.  The Ulfhethnar Kindred usually takes this opportunity to enjoy the last days of winter by embarking on a snow camping trip.  We feel this helps put us in touch with the struggles our ancestors faced living in the cold climates of Northern Europe.  We honor Skadi on these trips, and usually spend a day snow-shoeing.

Eoster/Ostara  (Spring Equinox, March 21)

At the spring equinox we celebrate Eoster, or Ostara.  As can be seen in the modern Easter trappings of bunnies and Easter eggs, Eoster was originally a fertility festival to celebrate spring, good fortune with the crops, and new life.  The Ulfhethnar Kindred usually gives Blot to Freya on the spring Equinox.

Walpurgisnacht/May Day  (April 30, May1)

This festival highlights the polarities of life and death.  On Walpurgisnacht, sometimes called Witch’s Night, the line separating the living and dead is said to be particularly thin and so, historically, large bonfires were lit to keep away evil spirits.  On the Night of the 30^th, the Ulfhethnar give Blot to Odin in honor of his many travels among the dead in his quest for knowledge and wisdom. 

On May 1^st, May Day is celebrated.  May Day is a life affirming celebration focusing on motherhood and life.  The Ulfhethnar honor Odin’s wife Frigga on May Day morning.

Midsummer  (Summer Solstice, June 21)

The sun is at its zenith on this day and our ancestors celebrated the highpoint of the summer with huge celebrations.  Midsummer is second most prominent of the Holy Days.  It was a time for joy, but with the knowledge that the darkness would soon be returning.  The Ulfhethnar Kindred sees many parallels between this time of the year and the myths of Baldur, so we find it fitting to pay tribute to him at Midsummer.

Loaf-Fest (August 1)

Loaf-Fest was a harvest festival held throughout Northern Europe on August 1st.  It was a time to celebrate the bountiful grain harvest with a feast prominently featuring lots of bread.  There are various fertility deities that can be honored for this Blot, with Freyr being particularly fitting.  Enjoy this day with a great feast, but be mindful that the bounty of the harvest has to last through the winter.

  Winter Finding (Autumn Equinox, September 21)

Many Asatruar celebrate either Winter Finding or Winter Nights but not both, us included.  But when the Ulfhethnar Kindred has celebrated both, we found the autumn equinox is a great opportunity to celebrate the 2nd (Fall) harvest.  A bountiful 2nd harvest could mean the difference between life and death in the coming winter.  The Ulfhethnar Kindred has honored Idunna with Blot at Winter Finding, a time of the year when the apples are ready for harvest .

Winter Nights  (Mid October)

One of the three major Holy Days listed by Snorri Sturlasson, Winter Nights is also known historically as the Disir Blot.  It was a time to celebrate the female ancestors and guardian spirits of the family, clan and tribe.  Freya, also known from the lore as Vanadis, or “Dis of the Vanir” is the Goddess we invoke on this night, as well as the female ancestors and guardian spirits.

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