Lesson Seven Part A

[S_Wodening]

Asatru and Heathen Yule


Yule called in Old English Geol began with the rites of Modraniht or the Night of the Mothers. Bede refers to this sacred night as the beginning of the Anglo-Saxon New Year in his De Temporum Rationale

"The ancient peoples of the English computed their months according to the course of the moon ... However the year began on the eighth day before the Calends of January [December 25] where we now celebrate the birth of our Lord. And the same night now sacred to us, they then called by the pagan name Modranect, ‘Night of the Mothers’, on account, we suppose, of the ceremonies which they performed overnight."

In all likelihood, Modraniht was in some way connected to the cult of the Mothers. Altars all across the Lowlands, in England, France, and in other areas were erected to the "matrons," by Germanic mercenaries in the service of Rome. In some cases these altars were more than mere votive stones, but made up part of greater cult centers such as those at Nettersheim and Bonn. The "mothers" were shown with fruit baskets, plants, trees, babies, children, cloths for wrapping babies, and snakes. Most feel that this cult of "matrons" can be linked to the Norse idea of the disir or ancestral women who had a sacred night to them in the fall at Winter Nights (commonly referred to as Disablot.
In the Norse Sagas we are told that boar was eaten at this time of year, and that it was sworn oaths upon.

"One time Hethin was coming home alone from the forest on Yule eve. He met a troll woman riding on a wolf, with snakes as reins. She asked his leave to keep him company, but he would not. She said: "That shalt thou rue when drinking from the hallowed cup." In the evening vows were made: the sacrificial boar was led in, men laid their hands on him and sware dear oaths as they drank from the hallowed cup."

As the boar is sacred to the God Ing (Freyr), it is known that at least one day of the 12 nights was sacred to him. In addition, Woden played a role in Yule as the Wild Hunt is said in many of the Norse sagas as well as in English and Germanic folkore at that time, not to mention his byname in Old Norse of Jólnir.

[S_Wodening]

Yuletide Rituals and Sedes (customs)


Modern followers of Asatru and Heathenry have at their disposalcenturies of customs concerning Yule. Many of these date back tothe time when it was the ancient Heathens who celebrated the tideof the ancestors, frith, and gift giving. Many of these canbe used to enhance the blots and symbels done during this period,and therefore are presented here with a brief description. By using the rites designed for each of the Twelve Nights ofYule, as well as the traditions here it is hoped you can have afuller holiday experience.


Dreams


One ancient belief is that dreams duringthe Twelve Nights predict the events in one's life for the comingyear. An interesting activity would be to keep a log ofone's dreams for each of the Twelve Nights.


Gift Giving


The tradition of gift giving goes backto Heathen times when gifts were exchanged throughout theYuletide and not only on one day of the tide. Therefore it isfitting Heathens do this as well. Gifts need not be expensive andoften handmade gifts are better than something purchased at astore. Ideal gifts are those relating to our religion,books, ritual gear, art, tapes, and of course drinking horns.


Holly, Ivy, and Yule Decor


At Yuletide the Elder Heathens decoratedtheir homes with ivy, holly, and boughs of evergreens. Ribbonswere also used and the entire home covered with garlands andwreathes. Modern Heathen should do not less in anattempt to capture the Yuletide spirit. Below are three of themore common house decorations.


Yule Tree: The tradition of the Yule tree comes fromGermany. Originally it is believed the trees
were decorated outside and gifts left for the land wights. This custom can still be observed in other parts of NorthernEurope. With Christianity, the trees were brought inside tohide from the church. Modern Heathen trees can be decorated withHeathen symbols as well as the commercial lights, glitter, andornaments. If one wants they an decorate a tree outside insteadas the Heathens of old did.
Yule Wreaths: Modern tradition uses a Yule wreath at theMothers' Night symbel as an oath ring. This wreath is oathed uponas well as wished upon, and then burned at the Twelfth Nightblot. Therefore these wreathes are best made out of naturalsubstances such as cedar branches. Other wreathes can beused as decorations around the house.
Lights: In the more northern countries, Lucy Daywhich was a festival of lights is celebrated and
seems an ancient holiday in connection with Yule. Candles,torches, and other forms of light were
left burning to light up the night skies. Today we can useelectric lights for the same purpose.


Hoodening


A tradition well recorded in England,but probably beyond the means of most Heathens to perform isHoodening. The tradition of dressing in animal skins andperforming plays, dances, and processions is a practice observedthroughout all of the Germanic area, but is recorded particularlywell in parts of England and Scandinavia. As early as thefifth century this practice was condemned by the Church. Archbishop Theodore condemned those "who on thekalends of January clothe themselves with the skins of cattle andcarry heads of animals". While St. Augustine condemned the"filthy practice of dressing up like a horse or stag in the5th century." Men in skins with animal heads are acommon theme in early Heathen art.


Hoodening is a practice that was observed in Kent and the Isle of Thanet on Christmas Eve... areasthat have remained Anglo-Saxon since the intital invasion of thetribes. Hoodening consisted of carrying either the skull of areal horse or a wooden one from house to house on a pole. The jaws of the horse head were rigged to snap by a stringbeing pulled. The head was then carried by one of the Hoodening party, who was covered in furs or hides. The rest ofthe party, also dressed in furs, carried handbells ringing themwhile singing songs. For this they are given gifts usually in theform of money. It was considered bad luck not to give tothe Hoodening party. There were several reports in the 19thcentury of folks being extremely frightened by this, tho thosefrom the area seem to have been amused. In the modern era,Hoodening has taken on many aspects of the hobby horse plays andmumming. Below is one of the songs from a modern Hoodening party:

Boy and horseare friends once more
Head and eyes no longer sore
Dobbin now is all submission
Having learned his hardest lesson
Half starved he is now, poor nag
Something please to fill his bag
Do not burst out the door
Give us something, good friends, for ...
If ye the Hooden horse do feed
Throughout the year ye shall not need.


Morris Dancing



Not quite as impractical as Hoodening isMorris dancing. Morris dancing, particularly the varietyconsisting of sword play also took place during the Yule tide.Morris dancing to quote Linetwigle of the Ealdriht in her paper, Dancein Northern Tradition consisted of "stamping, leapingand hopping, rapping of swords or planting rods against theground (these denoting a connection to fertility of the land),and the wearing of bells, plus a plethora of regionalvariations." Morris dancing also consisted of blackening ofthe faces (as did often mumming and hoodening) to either scareoff evil spirits, or to mock the Wild Hunt.


Mumming



Something more practical for Heathensthan Morris Dancing or Hoodening is mumming. Mummer playstake place in all of England, usually in pubs, and like Hoodeningseem to date back to the Heathen Era. All of the playsconsist of five to twelve cast members and follow the same basicplot. 1) A hero returns from a distant land. 2) The hero ischallenged and killed. 3) A doctor is called and revives thehero. 4) All hostilities are ceased. Some see this as aritual reenactment of the birth and death of a sun god. This is highly unlikely, as Heathen lore seems to have preservedno myths of this particular type. More likely the playswere for entertainment value alone, and if anything to celebratethe healing powers of the gods, particularly Woden as a healer,and to educate that Yuletide is a time for frith and wishs thatcome true. Day 8 of the Yule rites presented here consists of aMummer Play.

Sword Dancing



Another form of dance performed at Yuletide besides the Morris Dances were the Sword Dances. These were at one time performed with thelong sword and seem to be quite ancient. Most of the dancesconsist of a procession and the clashing and leaping ofswords as well as the formation of various patterns with theswords. Often the dance ends with a mock death and revival by a"doctor" as with the Mummer Plays.

Wassailing



The wassailing of Victorian timesresembled carolling more than it did its earlier
counterpart, and is the form most are familiar with. Ancient wassailing consisted of making the drink wassail,originally mulled ale, curds, apples, and sometimes nuts. Agroup of wassailers would then go out with bowls filled withwassail from house to house and wassail the apple and cherrytrees with songs and loud noises to ensure a good crop from theorchards the next year. A few wassailing songs survive, but theseseem to be of a later variety.


Yule Log



The Yule log has not survived intomodern celebrations for the most part, and for most
modern Heathens would be difficult to do without a fireplace orwood burning stove. You may therefore wish to set up asymbolic Yule log. You can carve it with wishs for the NewYear, garland it, do what you wish. If you have a place youcan burn it outside during Yuletide, you may wish to do so. Traditionally, the Yule log was broughtin on Mothers' Night, it was then set ablaze and hoped to burnall Twelve Nights (remember this log was nearly an entire tree tobe burned in the long pits of a long house). Differentareas had different customs concerning the Yule log. Everywhere the log was garlanded and decorated with ribbons prior to the processionto the longhouse. The procession was, as mostprocession during the holidays, a joyous one. Once burningno one could squint in the presence of the log, nor werebarefooted women allowed around it. In Yorkshire,England, they practised what is called mumping or gooding. Children would go begging and singing from house to house as thelog was brought in. In other areas, the children wereallowed to wassail the log the first night and drink to it.

[LivingTemptation]

1) Ok, so now that I have that misconception between Yule and Winter’s Night figured out, let me just make sure I’m getting this right. Yule begins with the Winter Solstice, which is on the 21st/22nd of December, and Mother’s Night (which is also the Anglo-Saxon New Year) is celebrated on the 25th?

2) Jólnir is a byname of Woden, and is used specifically with reference to the Wild Hunt?

3) So because there are no records of specific days that Woden or Ing were honored during Yule, is it just up to those celebrating Yule as to which night is which (other then Mother's Night, ofcourse)? Does this apply to the rest of the festivities?




I always wondered where the “deck the halls with boughs of holly” part of that song came from :mmm:

[S_Wodening]

1) Ok, so now that I have that misconception between Yule and Winter’s Night figured out, let me just make sure I’m getting this right. Yule begins with the Winter Solstice, which is on the 21st/22nd of December, and Mother’s Night (which is also the Anglo-Saxon New Year) is celebrated on the 25th?


No, Mothers Night is the longest night in the year. Under the old Julian calendar this would have been the 24th, but now under the Gergorian it is the 21st/22nd.



2) Jólnir is a byname of Woden, and is used specifically with reference to the Wild Hunt?


Correct!


I always wondered where the “deck the halls with boughs of holly” part of that song came from :mmm:[/size]


For the most part, yes, it does as there is so little information on what was done. We do not know for example who Midsummer may have been dedicated to other than a few educated guesses.

[LivingTemptation]

No, Mothers Night is the longest night in the year. Under the old Julian calendar this would have been the 24th, but now under the Gergorian it is the 21st/22nd.






So Yule begins with the Winter Solstice, which is also Mother's Night, on the 21st/22nd?

I'm starting to feel like I'm making this really hard on myself :weirdsmil

[S_Wodening]

So Yule begins with the Winter Solstice, which is also Mother's Night, on the 21st/22nd?

I'm starting to feel like I'm making this really hard on myself :weirdsmil

I think you got it right!

[LivingTemptation]

I think you got it right!


:hehehehe: It certainly took me long enough....

[S_Wodening]

One thing I forgot to elaborate on here was Twelfth Night, the last night of Yule. We do not know its significance to the ancient Heathens. We do know it played an important role in early Christian celebrations of Christmas and therefore may have been a borrowing from Heathen Yule. Many Asatru and Theodish groups as well as Anglo-Saxon Heathen celebrate their highest symble at this time. A tradition amongst my first fellowship was to take oaths on a wreath at Mothers Night. This wreathe would be burned at Twelfth Night. I am sure other groups have other traditions.