Welcome!
The Solstice Approaches (Unit 1)
Many believe the Yuletide season of old began around Halloween (or Samhain/All Souls Day) and ended in January or February (Imbolc). The build up to the winter solstice (occurring on December 21st in the northern hemisphere) was a time of growing darkness and increasingly challenging weather. The harshness of European winters meant that folks spent much more time indoors and monitoring supplies and conditions to ensure the survival of their families.
The following holidays were a means of appealing to supernatural forces to aid in the journey through the dark and cold. While Alfablot may only be observed in the present day by Heathens and other Norse pagan revivalists, Martinmas is still often observed in Germany and other Germanic regions. In this unit, you will not only learn the history and customs of these pre-solstice holidays, but also some simple crafts and traditional recipes to aid you in your celebrations as we approach the rebirth of the sun (and Unit 2).
We begin with exploring two holidays that marked the beginning of the winter half of the year: Álfablót and Martinmas. For context, I have also added information about elves, and I do recommend you read/listen to the course introduction first to ensure you understand the cultural framework for many of the concepts discussed.
You are welcome to listen to the full recording (1 hour) of the material, or to take it subject by subject. Each section is provided as both a beautifully-crafted, printable PDF handout, and also as an mp3 audio recording.
Missing the introduction? You can find it here in the course portal.
The following holidays were a means of appealing to supernatural forces to aid in the journey through the dark and cold. While Alfablot may only be observed in the present day by Heathens and other Norse pagan revivalists, Martinmas is still often observed in Germany and other Germanic regions. In this unit, you will not only learn the history and customs of these pre-solstice holidays, but also some simple crafts and traditional recipes to aid you in your celebrations as we approach the rebirth of the sun (and Unit 2).
We begin with exploring two holidays that marked the beginning of the winter half of the year: Álfablót and Martinmas. For context, I have also added information about elves, and I do recommend you read/listen to the course introduction first to ensure you understand the cultural framework for many of the concepts discussed.
You are welcome to listen to the full recording (1 hour) of the material, or to take it subject by subject. Each section is provided as both a beautifully-crafted, printable PDF handout, and also as an mp3 audio recording.
Missing the introduction? You can find it here in the course portal.
Below you will find all of your goodies for the first unit of the course covering the November festivities! I have arranged them in the order I feel is best suited for learning (this order is reflected in the master recording above) but of course, you may go in whatever order suits you. Each topic has a downloadable PDF and audio file.
It's time for your goodies!
