A Winter Solstice with Vikings

A Proper Viking Celebration on Phangan!

Toasting with Valhalla!

The Vikings celebrated the conquer of the darkness of winter.
They drank a toast for the past year and for future hopes in the new year.

Together the Vikings toasted and drank, and by that they thanked each other and the gods for the past year and welcomed the new.

The winter solstice, the rebirth of the Sun, is an important turning point, as it marks the shortest day, when the hours of daylight are at their least. It also the start of the increase in the hours of daylight, until the Summer Solstice, when darkness becomes ascendant once more.

A Winter Solstice Celebration that would have rendered even Valhalla envious.

-and here you have great photos of Proper Phangan Vikings in case your wonder how those ones would look ;)

Wild borg and Mjoed on the long tables. A knife if you need to cut something – or someone ;) Bread and raw BBQ sauce. That’s all we need. Us Vikings!

Beer and pork!!

The celebration was a series of feasts with beer and pork being consumed in large amounts.

At the Norse god's feast in Valhalla, the pig are served to the gods and the bravest Vikings, and eating pig was central for the Vikings and their celebration.

The Yule celebration is also referred to as “drinking jól”, as in “to drink” yule. 

This descriptive term strongly suggests that drink was an important part of the celebration. 

Yule is also known as Alban Arthan and was one of the “Lesser Sabbats” from the Wiccan calendar in a time when we celebrated the rebirth of the Sun God and days with more light. 

The Grand Mjoed horn is prepared and with respect we all say our thanks and ask the God we feel is suitable for our future – or past - endavours to help us on the way.

We also know that apart from drinking a lot, there would also be feasting, banquets, games and song – and sacrifice to the gods and other powers of winter.

The actual days of the great drinking and eating banquet associated with Jól did not last for more than three days although the time of Jól certainly did, lasting for more than three weeks.

Feast of Juul Ritual Prayer;

"Since the beginning of time, we have gathered in this season to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun."

"On the Winter Solstice, the darkest of nights,
The Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again
gives birth to the Sun and the new yearly cycle.
Bringing new light and hope to all on Earth."

"On the longest night of winter,
and the dark night of our souls,"

"- there springs the new spark of hope,
the Sacred Fire,
the Light of the World."

"We gather tonight to await the new light."

"On this night, the Maiden, who is also Mother
and Crone, prepares to welcome the Sun."

"Let's now prepare to welcome the new light within."

Traditionally fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the returning sun.

A Yule or Juul log was brought in and burned on the hearth in honor of the Scandinavian god Thor.

Due to location we modernized with electric lights but with same intention ;)

" And the Yule-log cracked in the chimney,
And the Abbot bowed is head,"

"And the flamelets flapped and flickered,
But the Abbot was stark and dead."

H.W. Longfellow 'King Witlaf's Drinking Horn (1848)

Thanks you Carlo and Nid for the arrangement and Best of Luck in all you do and may the new comming Sunlight shine on your path and ensure your happiness for another year to come <3  ;)