Holy Tides and Offerings: A reconciliation of what was and what is
By Aundrea Grooms
When a person first considers implementing a spiritual tradition of their pre-conversion ancestors one of the first questions that comes to mind is when and how am I to practice this tradition, what am I to do and, as equally important, when? In this essay I will put forth to the reader concepts and quotes to consider and implement in their practice of modern Heathenry. We will first look at what information we can find regarding the practices of our Native European ancestors. Then we shall take a critical and honest look into how these practices can be implemented and in what place and to what purpose in our modern lives these practices may serve. Next we shall consider at what times of the year our ancestors considered most important to take notice and why. We shall then take at look at how important the acknowledgement of these particular moments in the yearly cycle may be too us today and how it would effect our modern lives. Once we have collected and considered this information all we shall need is to mark our calendars and set ourselves in motion. First let us examine the types of offerings that were made and then why.
According to the Yglinga Saga, “twelve chief priest of the temple [were] to direct the sacrifices and to judge between men.” The kind of offering first mentioned in the Saga of the Kings of Norway are “blood offerings.” The time of the year mentioned to make such offerings were near the fall equinox, on the winter solstice, and near the spring equinox. The reasons mentioned for the sacrifices at those particular time of the year was during the onset of winter the people were to make offerings to ensure a “good season”, on the winter solstice to ensure up coming “good crops” and near the spring equinox in order to achieve success. H.R. Ellis Davidson, a specialist in the field of early northern religion, states in one of her books that “regular rituals were organized to renew and strengthen communication with the supernatural world. The communal feast which included the hallowing of ale or mead to the gods was of major importance, and the sacrifice of living creatures was linked with this. Animals had to be slain and meat and drink had to be shared with the powers in whose honor men came together. There might also be offerings of booty taken in war, sacred animals, part of the harvest, or perhaps food and drink set aside as a token gift to the supernatural beings from whom help was awaited. Such sacrifices, as well as the killing of victims, might take place on private occasions or at special times of crisis and danger, but always sacrifice formed an essential part of the communal feast held regularly in honor of the gods.” While the purpose for individuals of the modern heathen community may not have changed the practices most certainly have evolved.
In our modern culture we still come together to honor particular deities, request a victory over a challenge introduced to our lives or perhaps simply to recognize the turning of the seasons the manner in which we sacrifice has changed. Not all of us live on homesteads where the daily, monthly or even yearly ritual slaughter of an animal is required much less easily performed. Most modern heathen purchase their meat products from the local supermarket or butcher. Also we no longer engage in war the same way our ancestors did so the individual care and execution of prisoners of war is not left up to us as individuals but to our federal government after of course the individual has gone through due process. This due process is also extended to our criminals whose termination is carried out only by our local state governments and not by the common people. Today heathens have substituted mead in the place of blood. Mead is a type of wine brewed in the same manner as beer from water and fermented honey. Other types of offerings to the ancestors, land spirits and gods may be in the form of hand crafts, jewelry and precious coins. It is within this fashion that making holy offerings to our gods has changed and only on a very rare occasion will someone who owns their own ranch or small farm will invite a number of the heathen community to partake in a winter or summer ritual slaughter. When something like this takes place it is held with absolute respect for the animal and done so in as human fashion as possible. Now we turn to when such offerings and sacrifices were held.
Sacrifices were held upon arrival at a holy place, setting up a new home, victory, the opening of sacred meetings such as Al-Thing and funerals. Particular times of the year were acknowledged as mentioned above in the quote from the Yglinga Saga. They were held at the beginning of each season in which it was commonly believed there to be only two, summer and winter. Each twenty-six weeks in length were marked by rituals and feast. This passage of time was important to recognize in early aggregate and hunter gathering cultures and were usually marked by a lunar calendar. For the Celts the beginning of winter was held on November 1st called Samain while the Germani celebrated the coming of winter as Winter Nights held in late October. The onset of summer was celebrated by the Germani in April called Sumarmal, while the beginning of summer for the Celts began with Beltene on May 1st. The Celts and Germani also held quarter festivals with the Celts adhering to an August feast called Lughnasad and in February a feast called Imblog was held while the Germani honored the midwinter feast, Yule, held in December. These auspicious occasions were held to acknowledge the turn of the season, signify the harvest crops or sew the new seed. The reason the dates of these seasonal changes and holidays are different from one culture to another was mostly due to their location and climate.
Location and climate is one of the reasons heathens who no longer live in the countries of their ancestors, who no longer live in regions anything like the land of their peoples origins, celebrate these special events at different times of the year than the exact dates their ancestors adhered. In most cases, because modern heathens no longer plant or harvest their own crops, they are not as aware of the slight changes in sea surface temperature or soil and may miss the exact time the season should be held. For most modern heathen recognizing the holidays on the dates our ancestors held them has become a Tradition of remembrance. For others who want to still be a part of the request for good crops, good season and harvest it is sufficient to check for the local times for the equinoxes and solstices. Such use of modern science should not be considered a slight against the Traditional practices of our ancestors for they would marvel at the advancements, exploration and achievements we have made and would more than likely delight in such an accurate gage making our lives much easier. Our ancestors were just as practical as many of us modern heathen are today.
In conclusion, our ancestors were a practical people who cherished life and the measure of life. This is signified in the holy rites held when life had to be terminated, when the products of hard labor were crafted or harvested. It is no wonder that such behavior can be found in us today. All that is left for us to do is to pick up this years calendar and look for the dates signifying our local seasonal changes as well as the dates our ancestors held near and dear due to the seasonal changes of our ancestral lands. Consider the difference or similarities between what and where you are today compared to where and when your ancestors thrived. Mark your calendar and start brewing the golden honey. You have holidays to celebrate and feasts to prepare and there is no better time than now.