Winternights (Vetrnaettir) and the Start of Norse Winter

 

The Norse, like the Celts, followed a lunisolar calendar.  In both societies, the year was primarily divided not into our traditional four seasons (Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter), but two:  Winter and Summer.  For anyone living in a northern climate, this actually makes sense: Here where I live in the Green Mountains of Vermont, the snow first flies in October, and is often lingering on the ground during the first week of May.  In addition, the calendar was reckoned through lunar cycles, not Gregorian calendar dates, The three main Norse celebrations were based around this bi-seasonal and lunar calendar approach.

According to the Ynglinga Saga, Ch. 8 (c. 1225 CE), “Odin established the same law in his land that had been in force in Asaland [Asgard]… On winter day (first day of winter) there should be blot for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good crop; and the third blot should be on summer day, a Victory-blot.”

The first day of winter this year (2022) falls on the October Full Moon, October 9. As is alluded to in various places in the lore, it is a three-day feast, as are the other two major blots.  The ‘basic blot’ probably involved sanctifying the area with fire, toasting various gods, sacrificing an animal to later be consumed by the participants, the pouring out of its blood on a horgr (stone altar) and sprinkling of its blood on those involved, and oath-making, followed by feasting, drinking, more toasting, and boasting (the “Sumble”).

Winternights: Who is the Focus?

There appears to be three foci of the celebration.  We have some evidence that Frey was specifically honored.  In Gisla saga Súrssonar, we read “…that autumn, Thorgrimur planned a feast for winternights, to welcome winter and make a sacrifice to Frey.”  We also know that the Volsathattr in the Flateyjarbok tells of an autumnal seasonal ritual on a farm in where a horse penis was held aloft and venerated by the woman of the house. While Frey is not directly mentioned, he is directly connected with both male sexual activity and horses. Horses were often sacrificed to Frey, and archeological artifacts depict Frey with an erect phallus. Since Winternights would be a time to thank the gods for the just-completed harvest, over which Frey was seen to play a key role, it would be reasonable to conclude that this, too, is a reference to Frey.

In addition, there appear to be traditions of honoring male ancestors and elves on one night, called Alfablot – and again, we know that Frey rules over Alfheim. It appears that this celebration was closed to the immediate family: In Olafs Saga Helga, the author claims he was prohibited from joining because the locals were participating in a “sacrifice to the alfar”

And on another of the three nights, a special celebration – a very public one – was held in honor of the Disir – female ancestors and, most believe, the Valkyries. In some places (particularly in Sweden), these became three separate celebrations held at different times, but in most of the Norse world, they would constitute the three nights of Winternights.

 What else would take place?

The lore suggests at least elements were common enough to mention: Feasting, Athletic Games, and Divination.

Feasting:

Eyrbyggja Saga: “The next autumn at Winternights, Snorri the Godi held an autumn feast and invited all of his friends. There was heavy ale drinking there.”

Athletic Games:

The Eyrbyggja Saga additionally states that a game called knattleikur was played as an autumn tradition by the men of Breidnik at Winternghts. The game (similar to Irish hurling) is also mentioned in Egils Saga in connection with Winternights activities.

Divination:

At least two sagas - Eiríks saga Rauda  and Orvar-Odds Saga – give detailed accounts of volvas stopping into the feasts to make predictions about the coming winter season and the fates of individuals. As such activities were generally the domain of women, who would consult Disir, it is consistent with what we know about the focus on the Disir at Winternights.

However you plan to celebrate the start of winter, we certainly have enough evidence of its elements for you to pick and choose what works best for your household: Feasting, Drinking, Blotting, Runecasting, Bonfires, Honoring your Ancestors, Thanking Frey - and whatever else you can think of. In addition to most of the things I've just mentioned - I will be honoring my Danish grandma, who passed on many years ago, by making ebelskiver, a dessert she was well-known for.