Saturnalia

By Lady Gwenfrewy Llangynog

 

 

Norse Yuletide Traditions

By Lord Aidan the Hostile

The Norse celebrated this time of year before Christianity came to the north. They called it Yule. Yule commonly falls on the Winter Solstice, which is the shortest day and longest night of the year. It is a time when the wheel of the year turns and the days start to get longer in preparation for spring. In ancient times, Yule was celebrated with a feast to commemorate the returning of the light and the rebirth of the earth. Evergreens, like holly were cherished for they represented life among the harsh winter landscape. Holly, Yew and other evergreens were brought inside to “deck the halls”. Other evergreens were decorated outside with “gifts” for the tree spirits.

 

Drinking Wassail at Yule is another custom. 'Wassail' comes from the Anglo-Saxon Wes Hal, meaning "to your health". It is made from ale, wine, cider or mead with fruit and spices added. Traditionally libations were poured over the roots of trees as thanks and in offering for their continued fruitfulness.

 

The Norse also would burn a Yule Log. This was typically Oak, one of Thor’s trees. A massive tree would be cut and one end put into the fire. As it burned it would be slowly fed in. This was done as an offering to Thor, one of the Gods of Yule.

 

Many of these traditions were to encourage the Sun to come back and once again warm the Earth. Some of them, no doubt, were to chase away those winter doldrums that to this day, afflict us all.

The feast of Saturnalia was a pagan festival celebrated by the ancient Romans on December 17th.  It was such a popular festival that the length of the celebration was expanded to 7 days.  Saturnalia commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn, and celebrated the bounty of the harvest. 

During the celebration, there was a school holiday, and the making and giving of presents.  There was also a reversal of the social order, and slaves were not punished during Saturnalia.  Candles were lit to combat the darkness of Saturn’s chaos.  At the feast of Saturnalia, each household chose a king who presided over the festivities.  The masters dressed in informal dinner clothes and wore a pileus (freedman’s hat), and served the slaves.  There was a public banquet that was held at the temple of Saturn.

Some other activities done during Saturnalia were gambling and playing games. 

Parts of Saturnalia were brought into the Christian celebration of Christmas, which included gift-giving and candle–lighting. 

Sources:

1. Oxford Dictionary of Classical Myth and Religion

2. Life and Leisure in Ancient Rome, by Balsdon