Yule and the Heathen New Year
Yule is a time of the dead and the living. It is a time to celebrate the Ancestors and our ancestors. The historic context of Yule for the Saxons comes from Bede;
“They began the year on the 8th kalends of January [25 December], when we celebrate the birth of the Lord. That very night, which we hold so sacred they used to call by the heathen word Modranecht, that is “mother’s night,” because (we suspect) of the ceremonies they enacted all that night.”
According to Bede, the Saxon Yule began on the 25th of December and lasted 12 nights. In our modern tradition we have moved our start of Yule forward to the 19th or 20th of December and ending on the sunrise of January force. As Heathens we have adapted to modern standards.
The Barhelm Theod has structured our Yule in a fashion that fits the needs of our Cynn, both heathen and Christian.
December 15th – Tulya’s E’en (Releasing of the trolls in the Orkney Islands)
December 19th – Mother Night (start of Yuletide)
December 21st – Yule Eve Feast
December 22nd – Yule Day (High Feast of Yule)
December 24th – Jólnir Eve (Yule-being Eve)
December 25th – Family Day (aka Kindred Day)
December 31st – 12th-Night
Tulya’s E’en, a night seven days before Yule's start, marks the return of the dead. Tulya's E'en heralded the start of a period in which the supernatural spirits (trolls) were let loose - free to continue their age-old struggle with man. So feared were these spirits that it was not considered safe to venture outside after dark. At least not without first taking some protective steps. We mark this time with ritual drumming and howls to call out the trolls and the spirits of the dead.
Modranecht begins at sunset on the 19th of December. On this day we decorate with traditional greenery, a tree, and Yule log centerpiece. A special wéofod (Altar) is constructed in the home where Yule decorations, mead, wine, and offerings are kept for the twelve days.
On the 21st we hold a Yule Eve feast where we invite heathen and non heathen alike to join us in celebration. On this night we feast, drink, and sing. Oaths are made, gifts are given, and general night of revelry takes place.
On the 22nd of Yule we celebrate Yule with the High Feast. Feast preparations begin in early morning, by noon we are prepared for calibration, ritual, and feasting. Before our feast a great ritual is held.
The 24th is Jólnir Eve and normally a time spent with family. In some cases a small informal feast is held and a shortened blot with prayers to the gods and ancestors.
December 25th is historically was Modranecht and the pagan new Year that in the past was the start of Yule. According to Bede, " They began the year with December 25, the day we now celebrate as Christmas; and the very night to which we attach special sanctity they designated by the heathen mothers’ night — a name bestowed, I suspect, on account of the ceremonies they performed while watching this night through.". For the Barhelm Theod this is a day we call Kindred Day. Kindred Day is dedicated to the family and family members how are not heathens. In short we celebrate Christmas with our non-Heathen family members.
The final day of Yule is December 31st which has become known at 12th Night. On this night we celebrate much in the same fashion as is known on New Year's Eve. There is feasting, drinking, dancing, singing, and games. Two blots are held one at midnight and the other at sunrise. At sunrise we burn the Yule wreath in a bonfire and welcome the return of the sun.
The Trouble with Yule
Yule traditionally was a 12 day festival marked by feasting and ritual on all twelve days and nights. In our modern world were Christianity and its traditions have become the norm for so many, we as heathens are not granted a 12-day reprieve from work, school, and the everyday rigors of society for a 12-day party. Thus we are forced to scale back on our traditions and customs. In the past I was lucky enough to have a lot of vacation time and I have taken off the entire Yuletide period, but most of us cannot do this. We handle modernity through observance days. That is to say, we hold our rituals on the weekends or days we have off from work. The large scale celebrations are held on Fridays and Saturdays, while on the actual day we hold small blots and meals with family and close friends.
Hammerhof and Barhelm Theod has made an effort to reclaim or adapt to the modern world while maintaining the ancient traditions as we understand them. There has always been a struggle between old ways and new ways and the changing world around us.
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