John Lucas

December 21 is officially the first day of winter, and it also marks the first day of Yule. What exactly that means depends on who you ask, since historians seem pretty divided on whether Yule refers to a pagan solstice celebration that predates Christianity or is really just another name for Christmas.

Whatever the case, most modern people—whether they call themselves pagans, Christians, or something else entirely—would likely not want to have anything to do with a traditional Nordic Yule celebration, at least not as it is described in the Saga of Haakon the Good:

It was ancient custom that when sacrifice was to be made, all farmers were to come to the heathen temple and bring along with them the food they needed while the feast lasted. At this feast all were to take part of the drinking of ale. Also all kinds of livestock were killed in connection with it, horses also; and all the blood from them was called hlaut [sacrificial blood], and hlautbolli, the vessel holding the blood; and hlautteinar, the sacrificial twigs [aspergills]. These were fashioned like sprinklers, and with them were to be smeared all over with blood the pedestals of the idols and also the walls of the temple within and without; and likewise the men present were to be sprinkled with blood. But the meat of the animals was to be boiled and served as food at the banquet. Fires were to be lighted in the middle of the temple floor, and kettles hung over the fires. The sacrificial beaker was to be borne around the fire, and he who made the feast and was chieftain, was to bless the beaker as well as all the sacrificial meat.

That’s a lot of blood and fire! I think I’ll stick with eating rum balls and watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the 1966 original, naturally).

I suspect that Camille and Kennerly Kitt, the American duo known as the Harp Twins, probably wouldn’t be too keen on slaughtering horses and smearing their blood all over every conceivable surface, but you can never tell.

The sisters did write a song about the Nordic Yule, though, sort of. “Norsk Jul” is not so much about horse-blood showers in heathen temples as it is about family gatherings with cakes and pies and a tree and candles on the mantle. Oh, and then there’s that line that says “Because He came we’ll once again be together (in glory).”

So…it’s a Christmas song. Sorry, pagans. It’s really hard to find a decent tune about animal sacrifice these days.