FESTIVALS & HOLY DAYS

DISABLOT

Disablot is a festival that honors the female spirits known as the Dísir and Valkyries. It was originally a sacrificial holy day held to enhance the coming harvest and was celebrated from pre-historic times until the Christianization of Scandinavia. The exact timing of the Dísablót varied across different regions, with some accounts placing it at the beginning of winter, during Winter Nights, while others mention it being held at the vernal equinox.

OSTARA

Ostara is a holy day celebrating the spring equinox, typically observed around March 20th or 21st in the Northern Hemisphere. It is named after the Germanic goddess Eostre, who is associated with spring and fertility. The celebration of Ostara marks the beginning of spring, symbolizing renewal, rebirth, and the awakening of nature after winter.

WALPURGIS NIGHT

Walpurgis Night, is a celebration observed on April 30th. This is a traditional celebration in Germany and some other European countries, marking the eve of May Day. It is believed that witches gather on the Brocken mountain to celebrate the arrival of spring. People light fires and engage in various rituals to ward off evil spirits and protect themselves. They would then walk the cattle through the smoke to bless them before rehoming them for the warm months.

MIDSUMARBLOT

Midsumarblot is a significant ritual in Asatru, marking the summer solstice. This ritual involves offerings to the gods and goddesses, often including the passing of a horn of mead around a ceremonial circle. The horn is filled with mead and offered to the deity to whom the blot is dedicated. The mead is then poured into a blessing bowl, which is later emptied on the ground as an offering. This ritual is a form of mutual exchange between humans and the divine, symbolizing the giving of gifts and strengthening the bonds between the two.

FREYSBLOT

Freysblot is a holy day celebrated to honor Freyr, the God of Fertility. It typically takes place on July 31st and is associated with the first harvest of the year. During this time, followers may engage in various activities such as baking bread, planting crops, and making offerings of mead or other food items. The celebration often includes rituals and feasts, reflecting on the agricultural cycle and the god’s role in fertility and prosperity.

HAUSTBLOT

Haustblot is a holy day celebrated at the end of the harvest season. It typically occurs around the autumn equinox or the first full moon following it, though the exact date can vary based on local agricultural conditions. This festival is a time of giving, sharing, and expressing gratitude to the gods for their blessings. It involves feasting, dancing, and making offerings to the gods, particularly those associated with harvest and fertility, such as Freyr and Skadi.

VETRNAETR

Vetrnaetr, also known as Winter Nights, is a festival marking the end of summer and the beginning of winter. It is one of the most significant celebrations. The exact date varies annually, typically occurring around the first full moon after the autumn equinox, which in 2024 was October 17th. During Vetrnaetr, people would hold feasts, make offerings, and perform sacrifices to honor the gods, elves, and ancestors. These rituals were meant to thank the deities for the successful end of the growing season and to seek protection against the harshness of winter. The festival also included games and competitions to foster community spirit.

JOL

Jol, also known as Yule, is a significant celebration in Asatrú. It marks the winter solstice and the rebirth of the sun, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and the return of light after the darkest time of the year. Practitioners of Asatru view Jol as a time to honor the gods and goddesses, particularly those associated with the sun and the cycle of the seasons. The term “Jol” is derived from the Old Norse word “Hjol,” meaning “wheel,” which refers to the wheel of the year and the cyclical nature of the seasons. This celebration is observed around the winter solstice, typically from December 20th to January 1st.

LESSER DAYS

• Raud the Strong's Day
• Eyvind Kinnrifi’s Day
• Thorrablot
• Egill Skallagrimsson’s Day
• Radbod’s Day
• Herman the Cheruscan’s Day
• Leif Erikson Day
• Queen Sigrid’s Day
• Einherjar Day
• Weyland Smith Day