List of Northern Paganism Holy Days

Last year i wrote about the pagan festivities and celebrations of the European peoples, especially the northern people of Scandinavia, their holy days throughout the year, so as you may guess, i will not be writing about them again this year unless there is something of worth to be written about or to remind. But i will not repeat those words, because these pagan holy days are always the same, of course the good about the pagan religions, is the fact that they evolve with time and have the ability to keep up with the current needs of societies and the personal needs of each one of us, but i just don't see the need to repeat myself in those subjects for now. This is why i will leave you here with the list of the Northern Paganism Holy Days, and if any questions or doubts might appear, i will be here to help.

Studying about the history of each group of individuals spread all over Europe and and their cultures, religions, myths, daily activities, etc. and reading the Northern Sagas, we, all over the world, came to know their feasts and celebrations in the beginning of winter and during that time, as well as in spring, the folklore tales of midsummer festivals and many other celebrations held through the year. So now i will leave you here that list for those who are interested in such matter.

Note: I will not describe in detail each celebration, any doubt, ask me or read what I wrote in my blog during 2011 and 2012.


Winter

In the Northern hemisphere, Winter starts early, and in ancient times hours did not exist, so the sunset in each day, marked the beginning of a day, and so Winter would mark the beginning of the year, the time when the crops could no longer be harvested and the land it self started to wither with the snow, frost and ice, the beginning of survival, passing that trial to the coming year. So it is natural that the celebrations start here at winter time, but the year was not counted in days till these made a month, in ancient times, the month was counted in every full moon, so from full moon to full moon, it would make a month, each year had 13th full moons, so each year had 13th months. So lets just start with the celebrations that begin with the last full moon after the Autumn Equinox.


After the Autumn Equinox an other full moon will come, so the first full moon will be in October and a celebration is held, called Winter Finding, and after that, the Vetrarblót (Winter nights ). this will be between the 11th and the 17th of October.

Also during this time ( and no one seems to know exactly when ) there are two celebrations, the Dísablót or just called the Dísir, a celebration to honor the female beings such as goddesses, landspirits and our own female ancestors, all of those who helped us during the year and also the celebrations called Alfáblót, to honor the Alfar ( elves ) and the landspirits and ancestral spirits who helped us in taking care of the crops, to have a good harvest etc. this is also a celebration to be done within the family, very personal because people honor their own ancestors.

11th of November - The Ancestorsblót or the Feast of the Einherjar, to remember the deceased members of the family and their deeds, to ask them for strenght and wisdom.

19th of December - Mōdraniht (Mother Night) to honor the goddess Frigg.
21st of December - Jólablót.

13th of January - Midvintersblót.
19th of January - Thor's Day.

14th of February - Valiblót.


Spring


20th of March - The spring Equinox and after the first fullmoon of the same equinox we will have the celebration called Sigrblót to victory

1st of April - Lokiblót.
14th-19th of April - between these days, Sumarmál or Sommarsblót.
22nd -23rd of April - Yggdrasil Day.
30th of April to the 1st of May - Walpurgisnacht.

20th of May - Friggablót.


Summer



21st of June - Midsummer, and also to honor Sunna and Baldr.

1st of August - FreyFaxi.


Autumn


21st - 24th of September - Haustablót.


I hope you have a fine year and all goes well. Any information about these days, just read my blog or contact me. Stay well friends!