Known as Yule in the present day, it is the turning of the year as after the shortest day the days begin to grow longer, in Norse mythology the goddess begins to blossom. In days past a white boar was led around the sitters, oaths were sworn and the meat eaten after it was sacrificed. Oft times an oath ring was also passed around and oaths made for the new year. The last log from the hearth was not burnt but kept to light the next years fire and gifts of food and drink were left for the Alfar and the Landvættir underneath trees and hollows. Traditionally Pine, Ivy, Holly and Mistletoe were displayed around the home. Runes that are associated with Jol are Jera and Dagaz, representing the turning of the year.

Ostara  Spring Equinox  March 21st

The festival of Ostara is based around the Norse/Germanic goddess of the same name. It is thought that she represents the goddess of fertility and light as the day and night are of equal length and the sun rises due east signalling the start of the summer months. As part of the ritual people walked through their fields blessing them and asking the goddess for fertility. This is also the time when hares and rabbits appear and eggs from the seacliffs are collected, both potent symbols of fertility. The eggs were likely decorated and eaten at the end of the festival. Good runes to use are Ingwaz and Berkano. A chant that could be used within the ceremony to raise power is as follows.

                        Light and Dark are equal

                        As the days become longer

Spiralling in growth towards the light

Miðsumar  Midsummer  June 21st

This festival marks mid summer, the longest day of the year when the goddess Sol is at the height of her power. So rightly it should be celebrated with the lighting of the needfire. Done specifically using two types of wood, one in the form of a bow, this is illustrated by the shape of the rune Nauthiz n As it is also close to the time of the thing the gods Tyr and Forsetti should be honoured. One could also use the runes Tiwaz and Sowilo honouring the god Tyr and Sol.

Winternights  Samahain  October 29th– November 2nd

With the nights drawing closer it was a time to cull the livestock that could not be supported in the coming winter months. The goddessess power is now waning. This then is a blot to mark the changing of the seasons and the sacrifices to be made. It is a good time for divination and to talk to ones kinfylga (ancestors) as the veils between the worlds are thinner at this time. Populary this festival is known as Halloween and is characterised by children dressing up, often as spirits, ghosts etc. and the lighting of a pumpkin/swede lantern. Ritually the altar should be decorated with fruits and food made from the harvest, with the nuts and leaves from the forest. Runes to use at this time would be Kenaz c to represent the campfire and creativity, and Gyfu g for sacrifice.

This then is the four main festivals that were held by the Norse peoples in their homeland. There are also a number of less important festivals these are Disabot, Thrimilci, Freysblot, Haustblot and Thorrablot.

Disablot  Imbolc    January 31st

The first of the fire festivals, it is the celebration of an increase in daylight hours signalling the coming of spring, and of the first snowdrops. It is a festival of fertility where the dormant aspects of nature come to life and the seeds are sown for the future. In the North, Sol the solar goddess illuminates the ground with a warming light that fertilises it,  and encourages the trees to bud up. Appropiate runes would be Thurisaz and Uruz.

Thrimilci  Beltane  May 1st

Beltane is the anglicised form of the Irish Gaelic word ‘Bealtaine’ (pronounced ‘b’yol-tinnuh) which is the name of the month of May. It also corresponds to the Scottish Gaelic word Bealtuinn (pronounced ‘b’yal-ten) meaning May Day.

The original meaning was ‘Bel-fire’, the fire of the Celtic God of light known as Bel, Beli, Belinus, Balar or Balor. This festival is also known as May  Eve, may Day, and Walpurgis night and celebrates the coming of summer. However in Old Norse the festival was connected to the nearest moon which was known as Hare or Merry Moon, it is known as Thrimilci. A festival celebrating the coming of summer and of joy and fertility. The name derives from being able to milk the cows three times in the month.

Incenses and herbs associated with Teitrblot are almond, angelica, ash, cowslip, frankincense, hawthorn, lilac, marigolds and roses for love. The ribbons to trees and for each ribbon tied make a wish. The rune Ehwaz which is connected to the horse has obvious fertility implications and Berkano the birch goddess.

Freysblot  Lughnasadh    July31st

This is a Celtic festival in honour of the sun God Lugh. It is also the time of the first harvest of grains and vegetables and as such the baking of bread would be Appropriate. The making of corn dolls to guard your home for the coming season.  With this in mind the runes Eiwaz and Jera are a good choice for this festival

In the Norse world Thorr and his wife Sif could be seen as the Lord and Lady. This is  especially relevant since Sif is the corn goddess. 

Lughnasadh is also known as Lammas, when the sheep are first sheared.                

Haustblot  Autumn Equinox  September 23rd

This is the second harvest festival where the emphasis is on rebirth as found in the harvest seeds. The days and nights are now of equal length, but day will soon give way to night and the goddess enters the Crone stage. It is a good time to walk in the forest and gather plants and berries for the altar and herbal magick, cornbread and cider are good additions to the festivities.

In the Northern lands this time also marks the suns final journey as she is not seen above the horizon for another six months. However the God image in the Northern Tradition  is the moon ‘Mani’. It is now the time of the start of winter.

There are also a couple of minor festivals that are observed as an Astratu festivals.

Thorrablot  Full moon of January

The Icelandic midwinter feast named after Thorri the month of January. Many modern heathens have adopted this feast as a special celebration of Thor held near the end of January. Also known as Thurseblot

Einherjar  11^th November

This matches with remembrence day and is sometimes taken as a festival of ancestors, where one would take time out to contact ones ancestors.

FACTSHEET 3     RUNIC CORRESPONDANCES

Fehu        f    The definition is described as cattle, which relates to material wealth and wellbeing. It is also related to

     primeval fire and is the rune used for the realm of Muspelheimr.

Uruz        u    It is the Norse word for the Wild Auroch, similar to a modern day Bison, it symbolises strength and

     vitality. With luck derived from the runes shape.

Thurisaz    T    Thorr’s rune, it means giant in Norse and thorn in Old English, it represents rapid and often dramatic

     changes and spiritual awakenings.

Ansuz       a    The rune of communication in all forms, but most especially from our intuition as this rune is the basis

     of the magical odhrerir.

Raidho      r    Known as the solar wheel, this rune represents travel through divisions of ordered time, and on the

     material plane travel in all its forms.

Kenaz       c      The rune of creativity and procreation, it is symbolised by the torch or campfire as controlled fire. As

     such the light attracts creatures to it.

Gyfu        g    This is odhinn’s rune and as such symbolises gifts and giving, and sacrifices made. Forming a kiss it is

     the rune of togetherness.

Wunjo       w    This rune represents the fire within, the true will and can be best described as harmony or joy. It is

     one of the four main solar runes.

Hagalaz     h    Rapid disruption, cleansing, wisdom from the past. Personal change due to impersonal circumstances.

     Connections to the past when wyrd is involved.

Nauthiz     n     Needfire, necessity, delays and constraints leading to future freedom, and strength of mind.

Isa            i      Stasis, delays, living in the present. Beauty, cooling of relationships, purifying of the self.

Jera           j    Year, harvest from the fields and of the self, fertility on all levels, fulfillment. Events occurring

     naturally not forced.

Eihwaz       I    Life and death, longevity, offensive rather than defensive protection. Spiritual awakening connected

     with past events.

Perthro       p    Mysteries of the Futhark, fate or wyrd, connected with the runes Hagalaz, Nauthiz and Isa in

     connection with the past, present and future, respectively. Feminine secrets and hidden knowledge.

Elhaz          z    Defensive protection, obscuring the truth. Spiritual awakening and seeing the whole.

Sowilo         s    Feminine nurturing influence, protective strength, success. Relative time during daylight hours

    and great importance at the summer solstice.

Tiwaz          t    Courage and fortitude, with a sense of justice. Victory against struggles. The male principle.

     Occasionally foolishness or deception.

Berkano       b   Hidden nature. Clearing away of unwanted forces. Fertility, pregnancy, birth, creating new beginnings

     or ideas. Deceit hidden by  a gloss.

Ehwaz           e   Duality, partnerships, hidden knowledge in the form of omens. Last journey, physical or symbolic

     travel.

Mannaz        m   Social structure, inheritance, awakening of the self. Rationality of the moon. Harmony between

     individuals and groups.

Laguz           l    Feminine/masculine principle, with a range of emotions. To be one with the flow. Connections with

      birth. A personal or group cleansing effect.

Ingwaz      N   Fertility, the seed of transformation, femininity, pregnancy and birth. Transformative doorway leading

     to other realms of reality.

Othala          o   Inherited wealth, within a tribal or family unit. Enclosure holding everything one owns. Blinkered

     mind.

Dagaz           d   New dawn, causing transformation and growth creating patterns for a brighter future. Completion of a

     cycle.

If you have problems with a font for the rune shapes then download the following TTF font. (runic.ttf)