ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ

Winterfylleth was the Old English name for the winter equinox. According to Bede, the Anglo Saxons called the beginning of winter Ƿinterfylleþ, a term comprised of winter and full moon. The Germanic peoples only recognized summer (ON: Sumar) and winter (ON: Vetr), and the full moon of what would now be October marked the beginning of winter; the six months where the days were longer than the nights were counted as summer, and the other six as winter. 

From the Sagas, Haustblót was observed at this time. In the Gísla saga Súrssonar, a feast and a sacrifice to Freyr on the Winter-Nights (Vetrnætr) is mentioned twice. 
“Summer drew to a close and the Winter Nights began. In those days it was the custom to celebrate the coming of winter by holding feasts and a Winter Nights’ sacrifice. Gisli no longer sacrificed after he left Viborg, but he still held feasts and showed the same magnanimity as before.”
“Thorgrim decided to hold a feast at the end of autumn to celebrate the coming of the Winter Nights. There was to be a sacrifice to Frey, and he invited his brother, Bork, Eyjolf Thordarson and many other men of distinction.”

The Saga of Saint Olaf attested this practice enduring in Norway, 
“As long as heathenism prevailed, Sigurd usually had three sacrifices every year: one on winter-night's eve, one on mid-winter's eve, and the third in summer.”
 
In the Ynglingasaga, Odin prescribed a sacrifice at the beginning of winter for a good year. 
“On winter day there should be blood-sacrifice for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good crop; and the third sacrifice should be on summer day, for victory in battle.”

Álfablót followed, being held at home with one’s family. The full moon is coming up this year on October 17th. Bledsian Ƿinterfylleþ!
ⴲ

www.tgoop.com/sagnamadr/2330

738 viewsedited  Oct 13 at 01:56

Winterfylleth was the Old English name for the winter equinox. According to Bede, the Anglo Saxons called the beginning of winter Ƿinterfylleþ, a term comprised of winter and full moon. The Germanic peoples only recognized summer (ON: Sumar) and winter (ON: Vetr), and the full moon of what would now be October marked the beginning of winter; the six months where the days were longer than the nights were counted as summer, and the other six as winter. 

From the Sagas, Haustblót was observed at this time. In the Gísla saga Súrssonar, a feast and a sacrifice to Freyr on the Winter-Nights (Vetrnætr) is mentioned twice. 
“Summer drew to a close and the Winter Nights began. In those days it was the custom to celebrate the coming of winter by holding feasts and a Winter Nights’ sacrifice. Gisli no longer sacrificed after he left Viborg, but he still held feasts and showed the same magnanimity as before.”
“Thorgrim decided to hold a feast at the end of autumn to celebrate the coming of the Winter Nights. There was to be a sacrifice to Frey, and he invited his brother, Bork, Eyjolf Thordarson and many other men of distinction.”

The Saga of Saint Olaf attested this practice enduring in Norway, 
“As long as heathenism prevailed, Sigurd usually had three sacrifices every year: one on winter-night's eve, one on mid-winter's eve, and the third in summer.”
 
In the Ynglingasaga, Odin prescribed a sacrifice at the beginning of winter for a good year. 
“On winter day there should be blood-sacrifice for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good crop; and the third sacrifice should be on summer day, for victory in battle.”

Álfablót followed, being held at home with one’s family. The full moon is coming up this year on October 17th. Bledsian Ƿinterfylleþ!
ⴲ

BY ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ