Yule, Yuletide, and Its Historic Roots

December 21, 2023 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Yule has deep historical roots woven into the fabric of Germanic and Norse cultures, marking a significant celestial event and heralding the arrival of the winter solstice. In these ancient societies, Heathens celebrated Yule as a pivotal festival during the darkest time of the year. Yule symbolizes the rebirth of the sun and the promise of brighter days ahead.

Germanic Origins

Winter Solstice Celebration

Germanic tribes honored the winter solstice in the form of the Yule festival. Yule commemorates the moment when the sun, which had been growing weaker and lower in the sky, reaches its lowest point and then began its ascent. Yule promises the return of longer days.

Feasting and Merriment

Yule celebrations were marked by feasting and revelry, with communal gatherings to share food, drink, and festivities. The feast was a central aspect, symbolizing the abundance of the harvest and the hopes for a prosperous year ahead.

Yule Log Ritual

The Yule log held great significance. A large, specially selected log was ceremoniously brought into the home and burned in the hearth for the duration of the festival. It represented the continuity of life, warmth, and protection against malevolent spirits during the long winter nights.

Norse Traditions

Norse Mythology and Yuletide

In Norse mythology, the festival of Yule, known as “Jól,” includes the legends of Odin, the Allfather, and the Wild Hunt. Odin, whom we associate with wisdom, war, and poetry, leads the Wild Hunt across the skies during the Yuletide. The Wild Hunt is a spectral procession of warriors and magical beings.

Twelve Days of Yule

The Norse celebrated Yule over twelve days, a period known as “The Twelve Nights.” Each night represented one month of the upcoming year, foretelling events and omens for the months ahead.

Gift-Giving and Symbolism

Yule was a time for gift-giving among the Norse, symbolizing goodwill and fostering relationships. These gifts often held symbolic meanings, representing blessings for the coming year or tokens of appreciation.

Honoring Yule Today

Modern Heathens seek to honor the traditions of their ancestors while adapting them to fit contemporary lifestyles. Celebrating Yule in a way that echoes the ancient Germanic and Norse practices can be a meaningful endeavor. Here are some ways Heathens might celebrate Yule today.

Yule Blot and Rituals

Blot Ritual

Conduct a Yule Blot, a sacrificial offering ceremony to honor the gods and spirits. Offerings could include mead, ale, or food. Place them in a sacred space or outdoors, accompanied by prayers or spoken words of gratitude and intention.

Honoring the Ancestors

Dedicate part of the celebration to honoring ancestors. Set up an altar with pictures or symbols representing ancestors. Offer them food, drink, or light candles in their memory, acknowledging their influence and seeking their blessings for the coming year.

Feasting and Hospitality

Yule Feast

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.

Host a grand feast with friends and family, emphasizing traditional foods that the ancestors might have been eaten. Foods include roasted meats, root vegetables, bread, and mulled drinks. Consider using local, seasonal ingredients as a nod to ancestral agricultural practices.

Community and Hospitality

Emphasize hospitality by inviting others to share in the festivities. Open your home to friends, neighbors, or members of the Heathen community to foster camaraderie and a sense of shared celebration.

Rituals and Symbolism

Lighting the Yule Log

Light a special Yule log in the fireplace or bonfire outdoors to symbolize the warmth and light returning to the world. Decorate the log with runes, symbols, or herbs with significant meanings.

Evergreen Decorations

Deck the halls with evergreen boughs, holly, or mistletoe. These plants held symbolic significance for ancient Heathens, representing endurance, protection, and fertility.

Divination and Reflection

Reflective Practices

Take time for introspection, reflecting on the past year and setting intentions for the year ahead. Use divination tools such as runes to seek guidance or insights for the coming months.

Storytelling and Lore

Share tales from Norse mythology or stories of Yule traditions with family and friends, passing down cultural lore and fostering a deeper connection to ancestral wisdom.

By blending these ancient customs with a modern approach, Heathens can create meaningful and authentic Yule celebrations that pay homage to their ancestors while embracing the spirit of renewal, community, and the changing seasons. Adaptation and personal interpretation play key roles in shaping Yule celebrations for Heathens today, allowing for a vibrant continuation of these age-old traditions.

In both Germanic and Norse cultures, Yule was a time of deep spiritual significance, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life, the turning of the seasons, and the hope for renewal. These ancient traditions and customs, rooted in the observation of the winter solstice, continue to resonate in modern-day interpretations of the Yule festival within contemporary Heathenry and Pagan practices.

Happy Yule!!

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The Viking Month of Mörsugur, or the Bone-Sucking Month

February 8, 2023 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Well, it’s that time again to talk about the Viking Calendar. This month is Mörsugur, the second Yule month. Mörsugur is also known as jólmanoðr (Yule Month) and hrutmánuðr/hrutmánaðr (Ram Month). It is the third winter month. Yule proper occurs during Mörsugur.

Mörsugur: Why Bone-Sucking Month?

The name seems odd to our modern sensibilities. Mörsugur is the fat and bone-sucking month because that’s how our ancestors got their calories during this freezing time. By cracking open bones and sucking on them to get the marrow, the Northen ancestors were able to get enough nutrition to survive the cold.

Mörsugur, aptly translated to “the bone-sucking month”, is an ancient Viking month held in winter right after Yule (the winter solstice). It is the coldest, longest and darkest of all Viking months as the days near Yule are the shortest. This is because Mörsugur occurs at the end of winter and marks the point when the sun returns and the first signs of spring begin to appear.

Mörsugur ran from mid to late December into January. At this time, there weren’t any fresh vegetables or fruit. If you ate fresh food at all, it came from animals: meat, fat, eggs, milk, and products from those foods.

Bone-Sucking Tradition

The name may have originated from the traditions the Vikings practiced during Mörsugur, when the whole community would undertake a “bone-sucking” ceremony. The Norse practiced this tradition while they celebrated the longest night of the year, symbolizing the end of Yule. As part of the ceremony, everyone gathered around to “suck on bones”; they would pass around bones that had been cut up, the pieces containing marrow and fat. This practice was believed to bring good fortune for the upcoming year. Thus the Norse month of Mörsugur started. It was a month-long celebration that occurred during the winter months in Scandinavian and Baltic countries.

The month’s name may have also come from an ancient Norse practice called Haflgerðing, or “bone-worming”. Norse peoples carved a tiny hole in an animal bone using a knife, and then inserted a small object into the bone, either a piece of cloth or a tiny animal bone. They then buried the bone in the ground, and they believed that by doing this, the gods would more likely grant the wishes of the person who buried the bone.

Our Northern Ancestors Held Celebrations During Mörsugur

Mörsugur was a special month for our ancestors, as it was a time for families and communities to come together and celebrate the winter season. During Mörsugur, our Northern ancestors indulged in their traditions and ancient customs. The center of attention during the month was feasting, drinking, and games. They sang various songs and danced; families and friends enjoyed large feasts. People feasted while sitting around a fire and sipping drinks like mead. Meals included beef or pork, smoked or salted fish, legumes, vegetables, and cheeses.

Playing Games

The Viking played many games, including those played indoors and those played outdoors. Examples of outdoor ngames include rolling snowballs, skis, and sleighs. Indoor games included dice and board games and the Viking version of chess. Like today, people enjoyed parties, both indoors and out. Concerts and theatrical performances were also popular.

Religious Significance of Mörsugur

Mörsugur was also a month of religious observance. People dedicated the Mörsugur celebrations to Odin and Thor. They inscribed runes on tree branches to give luck for the new year. At midwinter, our ancestors lit sacred fires to celebrate the winter solstice. The celebrations emphasized joy over fear. People believed that a good harvest, success, and protection from natural disasters depended on the gods.

During this month, people made offerings of food and drink to the gods and wights. Our ancestors would also offer gifts of horses and weapons to their ancestors. The Vikings lived under the death’s constant threat, so this was the time to ask for prosperity from all those who could help them.

Mörsugur Today

Mörsugur was an ancient celebration, yet it still lives on today, through the culture and traditions that are celebrated throughout the Nordic region. In Finland, a special dish called Mustamakkara is prepared during this month, which consists of a black sausage. The Swedes serve a traditional drink called Glogg from Yule until Christmas. In Norway, there is still a tradition of sacrifice to the goddess Freyja during Mörsugur. This sacrifice is a small offering made by throwing coins into a bowl of water.

The month of Mörsugur is a month to celebrate the gods and ask for abundance. The ancient Norse people created these joyful celebrations which we can still enjoy today. The month of Mörsugur is just one of many special occasions in the Viking calendar.

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Happy Yule 2022!

December 20, 2022 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Happy Yule 2022! Welcome to the Rational Heathen’s Yule (b)Log–see what I did there? I want to wish you a happy Yule 2022.

Watch the Sunrise over Stonehenge on the Solstice!

Most of this post are roundups of past Yule posts, but I have a special treat for you! You can watch the Winter Solstice at Stonehenge live, which is way cool, thanks to the English Heritage site. The live video will happen the morning of December 22nd due to the timing of the winter solstice. Click on the link above to get access to the various channels, including their YouTube Channel. It’s all free and very cool.

The Month of Ýlir or the First Yule Month

Finally! I cover Ýlir as the first of the two Yule months. I also cover feasting and Yule.

The War on Christmas and Other Fallacies

So, this isn’t quite a post on Yule as it is on how Christians borrowed liberally from pagan celebrations to celebrate Christmas as we know it. Still, I count it with the season. Check it out.

Celebrating Yule with Non-Heathen Family Members

Yeah, everyone’s got them. And if they’re Christian, they may have a tough time with your Heathen ways (pun intended!). Here’s a way to make everyone happy.

8 Ways to Celebrate Yule for the Solitary Heathen

Yule can be a bit lonely for the solitary Heathen, so here are some cool ways to celebrate it by yourself.

What You Need to Know about Yule

Because I should be talking more about the history of Yule and how it relates to the modern Heathen.

When You Can’t Get in the Yule Spirit

Bah humbug! Are you the Scrooge around Yule? So am I. So, here are some ways to cope.

The Yule Goat Sneaks Heathen Tradition into Christmas

Heard of the Yule Goat or Yulebok? Well, if you haven’t, here’s your chance to add a little paganism to your relatives’ Christmas under the guise of Christmas.

Should a Heathen Teach Their Kids about Santa Claus?

Is Santa Claus Christian or Heathen? Should you teach your kids about him?

Yule as a Non-Event

When life intrudes and you can’t properly celebrate Yule.

Book Review: A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

I know many Heathens want to celebrate Yule, but don’t necessarily have an idea how to do it. This is a great book, if you’re looking for ideas.

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Enjoy! And have a Happy Yule 2022!

The Rational Heathen

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The Month of Ýlir or the First Yule Month

December 20, 2022 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

I had been meaning to write about Ýlir for some time, but life and everything has gotten in my way (blah, blah, blah, excuses, excuses). So, I’m looking at the end of Ýlir and wondering if I can pull off a post before Yule. well, here goes very little.

The Norse divided the year into two seasons: winter and summer. Ýlir is the second month of winter in the Old Norse calendar. It is also the first Yule month. It generally started late November and ran until late December, usually ending on the Winter Solstice. The Viking calendar was flexible because it was set to the lunar phases. So, the actual dates varied when compared to our own calendar.

Let’s Talk Yule and Ýlir

It seems a number of websites have different opinions on Ýlir and Yule. Some sources claim that Ýlir gets its name from Yule, which is named after Jólnir from the word Jól. Jólnir is one of Odin’s many names, so it stands to reason that Ýlir is a reference to Odin.

The problem with this is that an Icelandic site points out that this is debatable because in 8th century Old English, géol, means Christmas festival. England was in the middle of conversion to Christianity by the 7th century and was mostly converted by the 8th century. That being said, there were still holdouts and pockets of paganism, so it’s likely that géol is what was carried over from the pagan winter celebration.

The word géol is the Anglo-Saxon word for Yule. We know that Norse pagans celebrated Jul — the old name for Yule — and the Saxons were Germanic tribes with the same gods as the Norse. Now whether Ýlir references Yule is arguable, but I suspect it does.

Feasting during Ýlir

Now that we’ve beaten a dead etymological horse, let’s look at Yule. In many cases Norse and Germanic pagans held feasts that lasted twelve days and included the solstice. As I mentioned in my last post, land owners and nobles frequently used winter celebrations as a way of displaying their wealth and power. After all, what gave you more cred than hosting big feasts that had foods people normally didn’t have this time of year? The commoners loved it because it meant more food and celebrations. The nobles loved it because it was a good time, all around.

Not everything was about war during the Viking era, but even in the winter months, noblest tried to outdo each other. What better way to strengthen your people’s loyalty than show how generous you were?

What Yule was All About

December in Reykjavík, Iceland. Helgi Halldórsson from Reykjavík, Iceland, photographer. Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license. No, the Vikings didn’t have airplanes.

Yule was a twelve day celebration of the return of the sun. Even if you lived where you wouldn’t see the sun above the horizon, the winter solstice marked the last day of the year where the darkness was at its longest. After winter solstice, you could guarantee the days would start growing longer again.

In many ways, Yule signified the return of Baldr, the god of the summer sun. Just as summer solstice was the longest day before the northern hemisphere retreated into darkness, Yule marked the cycle of return to the light. So if Yule is Baldr’s return, summer solstice was the death of Baldr by Hodr’s hand.

I cover the history of Yule in this post, so I’m not really inclined to do so again. I also cover the Yule Goat and other Yule celebrations in previous posts, so check them out.

Have a wonderful Yule!

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Yule and Christmas

December 27, 2021 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

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Happy Yule 2021!

December 21, 2021 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Happy Yule 2021! Welcome to the Rational Heathen’s Yule (b)Log–see what I did there? I want to wish you a happy Yule 2021. No, this year sucked, just like the last one, but hopefully you didn’t have to deal with getting sick from COVID-19.

Watch the Sunrise over Stonehenge on the Solstice!

The War on Christmas and Other Fallacies

So, this isn’t quite a post on Yule as it is on how Christians borrowed liberally from pagan celebrations to celebrate Christmas as we know it. Still, I count it with the season. Check it out.

Celebrating Yule with Non-Heathen Family Members

Yeah, everyone’s got them. And if they’re Christian, they may have a tough time with your Heathen ways (pun intended!). Here’s a way to make everyone happy.

8 Ways to Celebrate Yule for the Solitary Heathen

Yule can be a bit lonely for the solitary Heathen, so here are some cool ways to celebrate it by yourself.

What You Need to Know about Yule

Because I should be talking more about the history of Yule and how it relates to the modern Heathen.

When You Can’t Get in the Yule Spirit

Bah humbug! Are you the Scrooge around Yule? So am I. So, here are some ways to cope.

The Yule Goat Sneaks Heathen Tradition into Christmas

Heard of the Yule Goat or Yulebok? Well, if you haven’t, here’s your chance to add a little paganism to your relatives’ Christmas under the guise of Christmas.

Should a Heathen Teach Their Kids about Santa Claus?

Is Santa Claus Christian or Heathen? Should you teach your kids about him?

Yule as a Non-Event

When life intrudes and you can’t properly celebrate Yule.

Book Review: A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

I know many Heathens want to celebrate Yule, but don’t necessarily have an idea how to do it. This is a great book, if you’re looking for ideas.

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Enjoy! And have a Happy Yule 2021!

The Rational Heathen

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The War on Christmas, and Other Fallacies

December 13, 2021 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

I hear you’re waging a war on Christmas. Guess again.

Once again, the so-called ultra-right have decided that there’s a war on Christmas this year. That somehow the unclean masses won’t know it’s the Christmas season when their favorite fast food joint wishes them Happy Holidays. Or their favorite coffee shop have red paper cups instead of “Merry Christmas” written on them.

Uh really? Seriously?

Happy Holidays or Merry Christmas?

I can just imagine the conversation at the local Denny’s:

Greeter: Welcome to Denny’s.

Ignorant Patron: I see Happy Holidays on the lectern. What does that mean?

Greeter: Excuse me?

Ignorant Patron: What Holidays are we talking about?

Greeter: Well, there are several this time of year. Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Yule, Solstice, and others I’m not familiar with.

Ignorant Patron. Wow! Christmas? I didn’t know Christmas happened in December! I bet I’d know if you had a Merry Christmas sign instead of a Happy Holidays sign. I guess I should be buying presents.

Greeter: […]

Okay, okay, that wouldn’t happen. At least not in the United States. But you get my point. In a country where the major religion is still Christianity, albeit waning, you can’t swing an Elf on the Shelf without hitting something Christmas-sy in local stores. And those who are Christian pretty much know who Christ was — if he existed at all.

Why Happy Holidays at All?

As much as our Christian citizens would like to batter people over the head with “Merry Christmas,” the reality is that we live in a diverse culture in the United States. Christianity is diminishing at a rapid rate, where it was maybe 70 percent of the US population around 2007 or so, it is now around 65 percent of the US population as of 2019 according to Pew Research. Yeah, that means that 35 percent of the US population worships something else, or nothing else.

Many of these people are “Nones,” meaning that they don’t belong to an organized religion and certainly don’t call themselves Christian. In many cases they’re not atheists, but may believe in a higher power or powers.

Given that there is a large number of non-Christians in this country, retailers have decided that it is better to be inclusive than divisive. Hence, “Happy Holidays.” I suppose one could get offended by the word, “Holidays” because it comes from the words, “holy days,” but I digress.

The Christians Weren’t the First to Celebrate Around Christmas

Bad news, Christian peeps. Christmas was established in the 4th century and decided upon by Church leaders so they could incorporate other pagan holidays such as Yule and Saturnalia into the celebration. The Romans practiced Saturnalia. It started on the 17th and originally went for three days. Eventually, it was made into a seven day feast and party days.

Saturnalia included gift giving, singing, playing games, decorating, dressing in costumes, and feasting. Slaves often got the time off and the master of the house served them (maybe where Boxing Day came from?). Each house had a “Lord of Misrule” who proceeded over chaos in the household. This person was usually low on the social ladder and could insult guests, play tricks, and award special cookies with coins in them to people.

Christmas naturally adopted the pagan trappings so that pagans would be more inclined to join the new religion. Since no one really knows when (or if) Christ was born, making up a date closest to the solstice made a lot of sense to win converts.

Our Ancestors Celebrated Yule

Yule is the winter solstice, here in the Northern Hemisphere. Our ancestors celebrated Yule because it was the return of the light. Solstice was very important part of living in the Northern Hemisphere, especially if you were farmers. If the sun did not return, it could spell the beginning of Fimbulvintr–the long dark winter before Ragnarok. So, having the sun return was a big deal.

I could go into all the myths surrounding Yule, but this post is getting off topic. So, let me get back onto it.

Why this Isn’t a War on Christmas in the United States

First, Christians are late-comers when it comes to holidays around the solstice. Humans have celebrated the solstices since Stonehenge, and probably before that. We don’t know how they celebrated it, but we know summer solstice was important enough to mark it with a menhir known as the “heel stone.” On winter solstice, archaeological evidence shows it was likely they sacrificed pigs then. A trilithon marked the sun setting on winter solstice.

Christmas is simply a made up holiday to keep the pagans in line. We know the Christmas stories have their roots in the Exodus, and therefore have pagan roots. So, if anyone ought to be screaming, it should be the pagans. But we don’t, because we aren’t assholes.

I doubt many people in Western countries are saying that Christians shouldn’t celebrate their made up holiday. What the rest of us are saying is be a bit more inclusive and less self-centered. You’re not the only people who celebrate around this time of year.

The REAL War on Christmas

Actually, there has been wars on Christmas in the past. Only problem was, Christians banned Christmas all by themselves. In 1647, the English parliament banned Christmas, which was rescinded when Charles II retook the throne. In 1659, Boston outlawed Christmas, but eventually that law was revoked in 1681. You got to admit, those Puritans were joys to be around.

Nowadays, if you want to see the real war on Christmas, look at any totalitarian government. The People’s Republic of China, for example, insists on atheism and has shut down Christian churches. The USSR in the past had persecuted Christians. So, calling a request for inclusiveness a “war on Christmas” is the right wing version of being a snowflake. Seriously.

Merry Whatever

Look, I certainly not offended if someone wishes me a Merry Christmas, especially if it’s heartfelt. I will wish my Jewish friends happy Hanukkah, if I know they celebrate it. Basically, if you aren’t an asshole, I’m good with whatever you celebrate. I put up a “Christmas tree” even though it’s really a Yule tree. I wish my Christian friends a Merry Christmas because that’s what they celebrate. I don’t go ape-shit if they wish me Merry Christmas back.

So, my friends, I wish you a happy Yule, or whatever you celebrate. Have a safe one.

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Happy Yule and a Post Roundup!

December 21, 2020 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Happy Yule! Once again, I find it’s Yule and I still haven’t done everything that needs to be done. This is probably going to become a tradition on Yule to offer a post roundup of all the articles I’ve written over the years about Yule (at least the ones that are interesting).

Check them out and enjoy Yule!

Celebrating Yule with Non-Heathen Family Members

Yeah, everyone’s got them. And if they’re Christian, they may have a tough time with your Heathen ways (pun intended!). Here’s a way to make everyone happy.

8 Ways to Celebrate Yule for the Solitary Heathen

Yule can be a bit lonely for the solitary Heathen, so here are some cool ways to celebrate it by yourself.

What You Need to Know about Yule

Because I should be talking more about the history of Yule and how it relates to the modern Heathen.

When You Can’t Get in the Yule Spirit

Bah humbug! Are you the Scrooge around Yule? So am I. So, here are some ways to cope.

The Yule Goat Sneaks Heathen Tradition into Christmas

Heard of the Yule Goat or Yulebok? Well, if you haven’t, here’s your chance to add a little paganism to your relatives’ Christmas under the guise of Christmas.

Should a Heathen Teach Their Kids about Santa Claus?

Is Santa Claus Christian or Heathen? Should you teach your kids about him?

Yule as a Non-Event

When life intrudes and you can’t properly celebrate Yule.

Book Review: A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

I know many Heathens want to celebrate Yule, but don’t necessarily have an idea how to do it. This is a great book, if you’re looking for ideas.

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Enjoy! And have a Happy Yule!

The Rational Heathen

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Book Review: A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

December 19, 2020 The Rational Heathen Comments 2 comments

A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule
Author: Jenn Campus
Available on Amazon and https://dreamsofydalir.com/
Price: $3.99 or Free for Kindle Unlimited Subscribers
Format: Amazon Kindle (eBook)

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For Yule, I decided to do a book review on celebrating Yule (seems appropriate). I’ve chosen A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule. I’ve recommended this book in the past, but maybe, you haven’t seen this little gem. This Yule, since you probably are spending it alone or with immediate family, due to the pandemic, it’s helpful to have a guide in celebrating it.

Not for Recons

Now, this book is pagan and not necessarily Heathen, but even Heathens can get good ideas from it. It’s not a primer on Heathen celebrations and you won’t necessarily find something that will be 100 percent Heathen. That being said, if you’re a reconstructionist, avoid this book, because these are not the droids you’re looking for. For the rest of us Heathens, who are simply looking for good ideas to incorporate into our Yule celebrations, this is beyond helpful. It may give you even more ideas on how to celebrate the season.

What I Liked About A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule

First, I’ll say that I like how this book is organized. She takes you through preparation and each day of Yule, and what she does to celebrate it. For those still starting out as a Heathen, this offers nice suggestions for each day and how to give offerings to the gods who preside over Yule. Some of the rituals are obviously the author’s design, but I look at them and think how wonderful it is that another Heathen has designed her own rituals according to her family. Other rituals, such as the Yule log and leaving oatmeal with butter out for the Tomte have their roots in Heathen tradition. She includes her prayers to different gods and goddesses as well as cool things like recipes for a Yule log cake, glog, and crispy roast pork with cherry sauce. It all sounds delicious.

What I Didn’t Like About This Book

It’s really hard for me to come up with something wrong about this book. Yes, it’s more pagan than reconstructionist Heathen, but I’m okay with that. If I could make a complaint to the author, it would be that a paperback version isn’t available, possibly because it is a short book at 66 print pages. Lots of people can complain that it’s not in other eBook formats or with other vendors. But given that the Amazon app is available for most platforms such as Android and iOS, not to mention Windows, you don’t need to buy a Kindle Reader or Fire device to read and enjoy it.

So, if you’re looking for modern ideas with Heathen influences for how to celebrate the 12 days of Yule, pick up a copy of A Guide to Celebrating the 12 Days of Yule HERE.

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Five things you can do for winter preparations

November 22, 2020 The Rational Heathen Comments 0 Comment

Every year in November and December, I go through typical winter preparations. This year has been no different. While I realize that my preparations for winter it’s probably vastly different from yours, given the fact that I live in a rural area, there are still some things you can do right now to prepare for the oncoming season.

1. Prepare your winter food

At this point, I tried to get as much food stocked up for the winter. Most of this entails drying fruits and vegetables that I get either from the Farmers Market or from the local food bank. Quite often in my area, they give you far more produce then you could possibly eat, so it behooves oneself to take advantage of the extra food. I have a dehydrator that I run a lot during this time.

A lot of people can and freeze — and I do this too — but I’ve found that I have a lot more room when it comes to dehydrating. You can store a lot more dehydrated food than canning or freezing — any you have the bonus of it staying good for a long time if stored in airtight containers.

I usually find that I have more peppers, carrots, and celery then I can possibly use in a few days. While root vegetables tend to stay pretty well for a while, I really find dehydrating them makes a lot more sense. When I make a stew or pot roast, all I have to do is grab my dehydrated vegetables from the cupboard instead of wondering what that nasty black stuff is at the bottom of my vegetable tray.

You can easily purchase a dehydrator for about $60, give or take, and save a boatload of money on produce you would have normally thrown away. You can dehydrate lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, carrots, celery, pineapple, cranberries, peaches, apples, oranges, lemons… just about anything you care to imagine.

2. Hunting

Fall means fall hunting. Hunting means excellent venison, turkey, and grouse, so I look forward to it. Unlike many people, my family relies on hunting for most of our meat. That means I make offerings to Skadi, Tyr, and Ullr, as well as the local wights for success.

Even if you’re a city dweller, chances are there are ways to hunt in your area. In the United States, you’d be surprised at the urban hunting opportunities available. Never hunted or shot a firearm? There are classes for hunter safety and for firearm safety. Prefer something more akin to our ancestors? Bowhunting is big.

Don’t think hunting means deer only. Small game such as rabbit, squirrel, and raccoon can provide decent meals (although I look at squirrel and trash pandas as a last resort for my food). Some people really love small game meat, so give it a try.

Also grouse, quail, chukar, duck, goose, and turkey are all excellent foods, and I find grouse better than chicken and goose remarkably yummy. Wild turkey (the bird, not the alcohol) is amazing if brined properly. I prefer it over store-bought turkey.

3. Gathering Food

Fall is usually the time I gather wild rosehips, elderberries, and any chokecherries I’ve missed. This year, we had a really bad cold snap early in Fall that pretty much killed off the berries. So, luckily I had gathered chokecherries and made syrup this summer, and I have a lot of dried rosehips and elderberries from the previous year.

I honestly stay within my comfort zone when it comes to foraging. I have a lot of book knowledge when it comes to certain plants, but I stay within the plants I know for certain. If I came across some morels, I’d go for them, but I don’t recognize other mushrooms and stay away from them. If this is something you’re interested in, I’d recommend finding a mentor or looking for a class on the subject. Get it wrong, and you could poison yourself.

4. Plan Your Yule

It’s not too late to plan Yule for yourself and your family. Even if you live in a Christian (or other faith) household, you can still plan on certain days/celebrate the Heathen holiday. There’s no reason why you can’t celebrate Mother’s Night and Solstice as well as Christmas Eve and Christmas. Sure, your family may look at you oddly when you suggest spending December 20th or 21st reminiscing about loved ones who are no longer with you. Or, they may appreciate it. I’ll try to create another post on things to do for Mother’s Night—hopefully before December 20th!

Don’t forget to plan Christmas Eve and Christmas as well. Yes, you may not believe in the whole mythos, but honestly, where’s the fun of being a spoilsport for your family? Kids love Santa Claus, and you can certainly enjoy a secular Christmas. Plus, the Tomte are looking for oatmeal with a pad of butter on Christmas morning.

5. Spend Some Time in Nature

Now, more than ever—especially with the pandemic—you need to go into nature and enjoy its beauty. (Bring a mask with you, in case you run into people.) If you live in the north where we have snow, enjoy the amazing beauty of a snowy forest. No snow? That’s okay. Even the stark beauty of barren branches and the shortening of days will remind you that on the winter solstice, the days will grow longer again. And warmer days will soon be here.

So, how are you planning on preparing for winter? Leave your thoughts in the comments.

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