Vetrnætr – Winter Nights
The first three nights of winter, called Winter Nights or Vetrnætr, are dedicated to Freyr and those connected with him. This is the festival of Vetr that Óðinn tells us to celebrate in Ynglingasaga ch. 8. We have a description of the Vetrnætr feast in several sources, including Gisla Saga ch. 10: Það var þá margra manna siður að […]
Types of Þings
Now we turn to how these clans sustained their representative governments through the hierarchy of the clan system. We begin with the House, or Hús, which corresponds to the immediate family. In ancient times, the Húsþing was a small council or assembly held by a king, jarl, or family-head (hǫfðingi) with his household or […]
Let’s talk calendars
Let’s talk calendars. We have as a community developed research and concepts that help us to reconstruct a fully heathen calendar. Some camps choose to follow a lunisolar system, while others focus on the Misseri calendar that is based on the earlier weekly system. Both of these are perfectly valid, and both have […]
Reconstructing Our Law
In order to fully reconstruct the law of our religion, we must first determine how that law has worked throughout the millennia, and then explain how we can utilize it today. The primary function of law is to limit human behavior in a way that develops social and spiritual cohesion and thus allows us to […]
Law Man
The Lawmen (Lǫgmaðr) of ancient Heathenry were not merely those who upheld the law of the people; they were also the final bulwark against the rise of tyrannical kings. It is noteworthy that as European monarchs consolidated power under Christendom, the position of the Lawman was gradually dissolved. Having regional districts led by influential individuals […]
The Herdrengr
The warrior is the man of action. He is the one who protects the people and sees to it that all are safe. He embodies the strength and courage needed to uphold his family and his folk’s honor and survival. This was not a role reserved for a specific class, or warrior class, of […]
Heathen Communities: A Culture of Tradition and traditions
The topic of culture, Tradition, and traditions has been a center of discussion for many years. To provide clarity, let us briefly explore the distinctions between these concepts and their relevance to understanding the Germanic worldview. Culture can be understood as a system of beliefs, customs, values, and a way of life. These cultural traits […]