Category: Specials
Snowflakes!
Snowflakes not only remind us of Winter, but also of Hagalaz the rune for Winter and regeneration.
Donar’s Hearth OR Yule Booklets
Every year Donar’s Hearth OR and the Odinic Rite Vinland host a Yule Celebration. The following booklets contain Yule Carols, Crafts, and stories to use through out the Yule Season. We use them every year at our gathering, an everyone – young and old alike – enjoy them. We hope you do too!
Scandinavian Stars
Do you need a star for your tree? Or just need some lovely straw stars for your tree? Keeping with the traditional straw crafts of Scandinavia, the star below is simple enough for kids, yet complex in their lovely design.
Danish Yule Heart (Julhjarta)
The Danish Yule Heart (Julhjarta) is a beautiful symbol of Freya and Frigga. The loving caresses of our Goddesses warm our hearts and souls through the cold dark season.
Winter Nights Feast!
A winter nights would not be complete without a scrumptious feast to celebrate. The recipes below are tried and true from Acorn Hollow families! Enjoy, and remember to set a plate out for your ancestors and the wights!
Harvest Wreath
The Harvest Wreath beautiful reminder is a potent symbol of the cycle of life. It is an infinite loop representing our connection – past, present, future. The addition of natural items collected from your neighborhood and local wild areas adds to the unique quality of this craft.
Apples!
Apples are a consummate symbol of autumn. From Idunna in Northern Europe to Pomona in the South, the apple is a holy symbol of fertility and luck. The following are some great crafts to help celebrate life, fertility and the lovely little apple!
Winter Nights and the Healing of the Soul
In ancient times, our ancestors lit bonfires during this time year. It was called, among the Celts, the Winter Fire. It was thought that these massive fires would light the path home for their passed kin, a beacon to attract the spirits of their loved ones. Around these fires the Folk would gather and tell stories of their kin and their adventures.
The Jack-O-Lantern
The Celts would make these lanterns with scary faces to frighten off malevolent spirits.
Bobbing for Apples
Bobbing for apples has become a staple in Halloween celebrations all over Midgard. Children look forward to this seemingly harmless tradition every year. Although great fun in modern times, bobbing for apples begins with the ancient Celts and Romans.
Ostara Feature
“Now is the time of awakening. The frosts are drawn back and the earth bursts again into green life. Life is color, warmth and light and the striving for these things. All that is holy we hail, hail to joy and life. May we know the timeless wisdom and strive to give strength and healing. Ostara, may your light shine from us, hail to you fruitful goddess, may we ever love your bounty. This is the time of remaking, the trees unfurl their new foliage. Soon will come the high Midsummer, and we will be reminded of a time years beyond recall, when Earth knew only summers: the dawn time. Sacred Ostara whispers to us of this time and a promise for a bright future we hear. Stir us to achieve that brightness.”
Yule
Yule, an ancient tradition, a time when families gather to exchange gifts, and enjoy the time they have together, a time when the days are short and in some places our Folk reside the sun never, or rarely, shows herself. What are the origins of Yule, the traditions, spiritual foundations, continuations, and finally, modern celebrations by those who still hold true to the ways of Our Ancestors? In the following these questions will be answered, so the reader can understand this beautiful expression of the hospitality and giving nature of Our Folk past and present.
