Nordic Calendar Archives — The Rational Heathen

The Norse Calendar: Harpa or Gaukamánuður Month

April 21, 2023 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Welcome, fellow Heathens, to the month of Harpa or Gaukamánuður. In modern times, this month roughly corresponds with the middle of April and marks the arrival of spring. In Old Norse tradition, Harpa was a time of celebration and renewal. People celebrated because winter gave way to the sun’s warmth and spring’s return.

Etymology of Harpa and Gaukamánuður

The month of Harpa takes its name from the harp. People associated this musical instrument with the goddess Eostre or Ostara, whom pagans celebrated this time of year. Eostre is a Germanic goddess of spring and fertility. Ancient Heathens often depicted her with hares or rabbits, which were symbols of fertility and rebirth.

Gaukamánuður takes its name from the cuckoo, a migratory bird that returns to Scandinavia during the spring. The cuckoo’s arrival heralded the changing season, and the bird became a symbol of spring and renewal.

Celebrating the Return of the Sun

During the month of Harpa, the Vikings celebrated the sun’s return and the longer days. In Norse mythology, the sun is personified as the goddess Sunna, who rides across the sky in a horse-drawn chariot. The Vikings celebrated the return of the sun with festivals and rituals.

The Blót of Eostre or Ostara

One of Harpa’s most important festivals is the Blót of Eostre or Ostara, It is held to honor the goddess of spring and fertility. The Blót was a sacrificial rite in which animals, usually a boar or a goat, were slaughtered and their blood was offered to the gods. The meat was then cooked and shared among the community in a feast that marked the beginning of spring.

During the Blót, offerings of eggs and flowers were also made to the goddess Eostre, as eggs symbolized new life and flowers represented the beauty of nature. The festival of Eostre was also associated with the Christian holiday of Easter, which falls around the same time of year and shares many similarities with the pagan celebration.

Walpurgis Night Festival

Walpurgis Night in Jesenice in Prague-West District, Czech Republic by Chmee2, licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported license.

Another important festival is Walpurgis Night, which is celebrated on the night of April 30th. Walpurgis Night was named after Saint Walpurga, a Christian missionary who was venerated in Scandinavia. It may sound strange to celebrate this holiday, but the festival, itself, has pagan origins. Unfortunately, the name has been lost to time.

During Walpurgis Night, the Vikings would light bonfires and dance around them. This celebrated the arrival of spring and warded off evil spirits. They believed the bonfires had purifying and healing powers, and people would jump over them for good luck and fertility.

Other Rituals and Activities

Harpa was also a time for spring cleaning and renewal. The Vikings would clean their homes and barns. Now is the time they would repair any damage caused by the winter and prepared for the planting season. They would also perform rituals to bless their crops. To ensure a good harvest, they might sprinkle the fields with holy water or ashes from the Yule log. Or they might make offerings to the land spirits.

In addition to the festivals and rituals, Harpa was also a time for outdoor activities and games. The Vikings would engage in sports such as archery, wrestling, and spear throwing, as well as horse racing and boat races. These activities were not just for entertainment, but also served as a way to train for warfare and maintain physical fitness.

Celebrating Harpa or Gaukamánuður

As modern-day Heathens, we can still honor the traditions of the month of Harpa and celebrate spring’s arrival. We can hold Blót rituals, make offerings of flowers and eggs, and hold feasts with friends and family. We can also perform spring cleaning rituals in our homes and gardens, and take part in outdoor activities that connect us with the natural world.

One way to honor the goddess Eostre is to create an altar or shrine dedicated to her. This can be as simple or elaborate as you like, and can include offerings of eggs, flowers, or other items. You may also wish to light candles or incense in her honor. Use them in meditation on her qualities of fertility, growth, and renewal.

Another way to celebrate the month of Harpa is to hold a bonfire or other outdoor gathering with friends and family. You can gather around the fire, share food and drink, and tell stories or sing songs that connect you with the natural world. You may also wish to perform a ritual or make offerings to the land spirits, asking for their blessings on the coming season.

Finally, you can connect with the spirit of the cuckoo during the month of Gaukamánuður by spending time outdoors and observing the signs of spring. You may hear the cuckoo’s call, or see other signs of wildlife returning after the winter. You can also plant seeds or tend to your garden, honoring the cycle of growth and renewal that is central to this season.

Consider Celebrating Harpa or Gaukamánuður

The month of Harpa or Gaukamánuður was a time of celebration and renewal in Old Norse tradition, marking the arrival of spring and the return of the sun’s warmth. As modern-day Heathens, we can honor this tradition by holding Blót rituals, creating altars to the goddess Eostre, holding bonfires or outdoor gatherings, and connecting with the spirit of the cuckoo and the natural world. By doing so, we can deepen our connection to the season and the cycles of nature, and honor the traditions of our ancestors in meaningful and relevant ways.

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The Viking Month of Þorri

March 14, 2023 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

The Viking month of Þorri, also known as Thorri, is a traditional Icelandic winter festival that is celebrated in January and February. This festival has been observed by the Icelandic people for over a thousand years and is a significant part of their cultural heritage. In this blog post, we will explore the history and significance of Þorri and its importance in modern-day Iceland.

Origins of Þorri

The origins of Þorri date back to the Viking Age, when Iceland was settled by Norse explorers. According to Norse mythology, Þorri was the god of winter and the hunt. He was revered by the Vikings for his strength and resilience during the harsh winter months. In honor of Þorri, the Vikings would hold a festival in the middle of winter to celebrate the end of the darkest period of the year and the beginning of the lengthening days.

In Norse mythology, Þorri is a personification of the winter season and the god of frost and cold. He was often depicted as an old man with a long white beard and wearing a fur cloak.

According to the Prose Edda, a medieval Icelandic text on Norse mythology, Þorri is the son of Fornjót, a giant who ruled over the northern regions of Scandinavia. Þorri is said to rule over the month of Þorri, which falls between mid-January and mid-February in the Icelandic calendar.

Þorri is also associated with the hunt, and it was believed that he would bring about the end of the darkest period of the year and the return of the lengthening days. He is often invoked during the winter months to help ensure a successful hunt and a bountiful harvest.

While Þorri is not as well-known as some of the other Norse gods such as Thor or Odin, he was an important figure in Norse mythology and played a significant role in the cultural and religious practices of the Viking Age.

Celebration of Þorri in Iceland

Some traditional Icelandic food (plate to the left: Hangikjöt, Hrútspungar, Lifrarpylsa, Blóðmör, Hákarl, Svið. plate to the right: Rúgbrauð, Flatbrauð). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license. Image by The blanz.Umm, doesn’t that look appetizing? Especially the sheep’s head…

The modern-day celebration of Þorri in Iceland is a continuation of this ancient tradition. It is a time for people to come together and enjoy traditional Icelandic food and drink, including fermented shark (hákarl), sour ram testicles (súrsaðir hrútspungar), and smoked lamb (hangikjöt). These foods were traditionally preserved during the winter months and served as a vital source of nutrition for the Icelandic people during the long, cold winter.

In addition to the food, Þorri is also a time for music, dancing, and storytelling. Many Icelandic folk songs and stories have been passed down through generations and are still performed during the festival. The traditional Icelandic instrument, the langspil, is also often played during Þorri celebrations.

While Þorri is deeply rooted in Icelandic tradition, it has evolved over time to reflect modern-day Iceland. Today, many Þorri celebrations include elements of contemporary Icelandic culture, such as art exhibitions and concerts. The festival also provides an opportunity for Icelanders to connect with their heritage and celebrate their unique identity as a people.

Þorri — A Controversy?

Despite its cultural significance, Þorri is not without controversy. Some Icelanders believe that the traditional foods served during the festival are outdated and unappetizing, and have called for a reimagining of the festival to include more modern cuisine. Others argue that the preservation of traditional foods is vital to the preservation of Icelandic culture and should not be abandoned.

A Popular Festival in Iceland

In recent years, Þorri has also become a popular tourist attraction, drawing visitors from around the world to experience traditional Icelandic culture firsthand. Many tour companies now offer Þorri-themed excursions, where visitors can sample traditional Icelandic foods and participate in Þorri celebrations with locals.

In conclusion, Þorri is a significant part of Icelandic culture and history. This ancient winter festival has evolved over time to reflect modern-day Iceland, while still maintaining its roots in traditional Icelandic food, music, and storytelling. Whether you are a visitor to Iceland or a local, Þorri is a time to come together and celebrate the strength and resilience of the Icelandic people during the long, dark winter months.

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The Month of Gormánuður or the Slaughter Month

November 26, 2019 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

By now, we’re in the midst of Gormánuður according to the old Norse calendar. It is the first month of winter according to the ancient calendar, and it is the month of slaughter or butchering. I figured that since I’ve talked about Haustmánuður, the Harvest Month, I should continue with the months…well,…monthly, so you can get a feeling of the ancient Norse year.

A Bit of History About Refrigeration (Stick with me on this)

Nowadays we have refrigeration, which is possibly why Gormánuður may be puzzling to some of you. After all, we can get meat year round and keep it in the freezer or refrigerator. And you’re probably quite aware that our ancestors didn’t have refrigeration until 1913–not that long ago–available for home use. Even then, owning a home refrigerator was expensive and it didn’t become popular until the 1930s. So, your recent ancestors probably had iceboxes–that is actual boxes that held ice to keep their food fresh. The icebox was invented and patented by a farmer in 1802. The original icebox was made from wood, rabbit skins, and lots of ice (duh!). The icebox took off, and there even was a market for harvested lake ice up until the 1930s. These required ice houses that kept the ice together even during the summer months until the lakes started freezing over again.

As an aside, as a child I did hear adults use the term “icebox” for refrigerator, even though the days of the icebox were long since gone. I assumed that they meant “freezer” because that’s where you kept the ice. Yeah, that makes me older than dirt. Deal with it.

How Did Gormánuður Get Its Name?

So, how did Gormánuður get its name? Well, if you didn’t have refrigeration or even an icebox, slaughtering an animal was a bit problematic. You had to either slaughter and prepare the

animal right there or risk spoilage, or you had to wait until the weather was cool enough to keep the meat fresh. Since it was very expensive to feed animals during the winter months (using up valuable resources of hay and grain), most farmers slaughtered all but their breeding stock for the next year. That required a way to preserve the meat so it would last during the winter and into the early part of the summer.

In many climes, Gormánuður was cold, but not brutally cold yet. Although the days were significantly shorter, there was still daylight left. And you could pretty much count on the weather keeping your food cold before you could salt it and preserve it further.

Common Practice Even into the 20th Century

Surprisingly, the idea of butchering meat in the fall was common practice until fairly recently. It wasn’t that uncommon for farms to slaughter pigs in the fall and store to have “pork sales” in the months leading up to Christmas and Yule. If you ever wondered why it’s still popular for people to have a Christmas ham, there you go. That, and our ancestors had a ham to celebrate Freyr during Yule and the increasing daylight. In fact, after hunting season, I’m going to be slaughtering goats and geese to reduce the herd. I suspect other farmers and ranchers out here do that out of necessity, too.

Nowadays, we see some of the remnants of this, but in the age of factory farming and a global economy, we can get foods we like anytime and don’t have to wait to get our favorite foods. All we have to do is shell out a bit more money to get what we want. When I buy foods, I tend to choose local, so the seasons are more apparent to me.

Ways to Celebrate Gormánuður

With Thanksgiving or Harvest coming up, celebrating Gormánuður is easy. Farmers and ranchers have raised turkeys to be slaughtered during the fall just in time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. While they’re not pigs, goats, or cattle, you can certainly go with the intent of the season. Here are some other ways to celebrate Gormánuður:

Look for deep deals on local pork.
Choose foods which would have been harvested in October and November as part of your Harvest meal.
Choose local foods over those imported from the gods know where.
Learn all you can about local farming and slaughter practices. Find those farmers who use sustainable methods and patronize them.
Hunt for your meat. You’ll have a learning curve if you don’t hunt, so if you can find a knowledgeable and ethical hunter who will let you tag along this year just to help them (and maybe get some yummy venison), do that.
Get your pantry stocked up for Yule.

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