"Winter Nights": The Nordic "New Year"

Hrafnarfjall - 31/ OCT/ 2020

This afternoon I received a truly unexpected invitation: Hrafnarfjall invited everyone present on his server to be part of a celebration of this nation, Winter Nights. A celebration that comes from ancient Norse culture. Hrafnarfjall has mixed a bit of Celtic tradition in its celebrations, as the King of Hrafnarfjall has both Nordic and Celtic heritage.

Winter Nights is one of the Great Blóts (the other being Jól, on the full moon in January and Sigurblót, on the full moon in April). In themselves, the Blóts are celebrations full of prayers and offerings; occasions to pay tribute to the ancestors, to the gods, and to be grateful for what one has, as well as to prepare for what is to come. Blót means "blood", since in this festival animals would be sacrificed in honor of the gods and a great feast would be made. Today this no longer occurs, and the sacrifices take the form of food.

Winter Nights is celebrated every October full moon every year. This year, it was a great coincidence that it happened at the same time as Samhain, Halloween and All Hallows Eve.

The ceremony began with an introduction to the attendees of what the celebration is about and what would happen later by the King of Hrafnarfjall. The King then said a few prayers and gave thanks for the past harvest, asking for blessings for the winter as well as the harvests to come. The Queen also offered a few words. A libation was made as well as sacrifices to the gods (this year they were sausage rolls).

Immediately, the time of “boasts” (showing off) began; which consists of presuming one's ancestry, past works and what one promises to fulfill for the following year. These promises are recorded and you will be remembered the following year. "Flyting" can also be done, which consists of creatively insulting another guest at the celebration.

A good "boast" contains a promise before the ancestors and gods (although depending on personal faith, this varies from person to person, as well as the prayers said); and personal commitments that are planned to have been fulfilled by the following Winter Nights. The participants wrote and said their boasts, in which the Queen of Hrafnarfjall recorded them.

The celebration ended with a light talk about how interesting this celebration is, and thanks from Their Imperial Majesties to the guests for having participated in this great celebration for Hrafnarfjall; commenting that they have plans to do it with all the "pomp and circumstance" in the future.

In presence, the Blót de Winter Nights would have been performed as follows:

1. Guest entrance to the Hall: Guests enter the hall.

2. Seating: The Host seats each person, then takes their position in front of the high seat.

3. First words by The Host: The Host opens the feast with words similar to those of the Béowulf lines 489-490: "Sit down now to the feast and relax your measures, heroes of victorious heart."

4. First words for the Ale Bearer: The Ale Bearer enters with horn / jug in hand. He greets those present, and offers the horn / jug to the Host with words like those in lines 1169-1175 of the Béowulf: "Take this full, my lord drohten, dealer of the treasure, be happy, golden friend of the warriors, and speak to the Geats with soft words ... "

5. Leader's Boast: The symbelgifa then says the words, followed by a memory toast to the ancestors. The Leader's Boast is the boast of past accomplishments that are included in the memory toast.

6. Gift Giving: The Host can give gifts to those present. Beowulf received gifts from Hrothgar during a feast.

7. Scops can sing a song, either in praise of the gods, the people, or the host.

8. Boasting / Toast / Random oaths.

9. Closure: The Host will close the Ancients with a final boast when the random boasting / toasts / swearing ends.

With information from SMI King Thomas of Hrafnarfjall.

Photograph of Max Goodrich from Pexels