Yule is upon us
Step aside Christmas for now is the time of 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 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. Perhaps the strongest connection with a deity and the time of Yule is found in the personage of Thor, God of Thunder.
Consider the following:
"That the Yule-log was only the winter counterpart of the midsummer bonfire, kindled within doors instead of in the open air on account of the cold and inclement weather of the season, was pointed out long ago by our English antiquary John Brand, and the new is supported by the many quaint superstitions attaching to the Yule-log, superstitions which have no apparent connection with Christianity but carry their heathen origin stamped upon them.
The old custom was to light the Yule-log with a fragment of it's predecessor, which had been kept throughout the year for the purpose....the remains of the log were also supposed to guard the house against fire and lightning. As the Yule-log was frequently of oak, it seems possible that this belief was a relic of the old Aryan creed which associated the oak tree with the thunder god."
-The Golden Bough by J.G. Frazer
Regardless, tradition is tradition and whether 'Santa' is dirivitive of Odin, Thor, or even St. Nicholas is mute. Now is a time to light a fire against the dark, to come together as a family and to share in the warmth of the love between kith and kin. Christ's birthday? Definitely not, as any study of ancient ciults and religions will tell you (Mithras anyone?)...A time to give thanks and to share in the past years bounty? Absolutely. Give honor where honor is due. Kiss and hug those that mean something to you and draw them close and be sure that they know you love them and are thankful that they are a part of your life's journey. That is the true meaning of this "Christmas Season".
~Bob 12/14/04
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 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. Perhaps the strongest connection with a deity and the time of Yule is found in the personage of Thor, God of Thunder.
Consider the following:
"That the Yule-log was only the winter counterpart of the midsummer bonfire, kindled within doors instead of in the open air on account of the cold and inclement weather of the season, was pointed out long ago by our English antiquary John Brand, and the new is supported by the many quaint superstitions attaching to the Yule-log, superstitions which have no apparent connection with Christianity but carry their heathen origin stamped upon them.
The old custom was to light the Yule-log with a fragment of it's predecessor, which had been kept throughout the year for the purpose....the remains of the log were also supposed to guard the house against fire and lightning. As the Yule-log was frequently of oak, it seems possible that this belief was a relic of the old Aryan creed which associated the oak tree with the thunder god."
-The Golden Bough by J.G. Frazer
Regardless, tradition is tradition and whether 'Santa' is dirivitive of Odin, Thor, or even St. Nicholas is mute. Now is a time to light a fire against the dark, to come together as a family and to share in the warmth of the love between kith and kin. Christ's birthday? Definitely not, as any study of ancient ciults and religions will tell you (Mithras anyone?)...A time to give thanks and to share in the past years bounty? Absolutely. Give honor where honor is due. Kiss and hug those that mean something to you and draw them close and be sure that they know you love them and are thankful that they are a part of your life's journey. That is the true meaning of this "Christmas Season".
~Bob 12/14/04
posted by Bob Freeman at 12:20 PM
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