The Troth
The handbook Our Troth in its second edition, published by The Troth in 2006, likewise lists eight festivals: Yule, Þorrablót, Idis-Þing, Ostara (Sigrblót), Waluburg's Night, Midsummer, Loaf-Fest (Freyfaxi) and Winter-Nights (Alf-Blessing, Idis-Blessing, Frey-Blessing). These eight festivals are not, however, evenly distributed throughout the year as the Wiccan "Wheel of the Year". The handbook takes as its starting-point the statement in the Heimskringla on the three major holidays, Winter Nights, Yule, and Sigrblót (identified with Ostara), set in October, December and April, respectively. Midsummer is added as a fourth festival in the absence of Eddaic evidence because its popularity in modern Scandinavian folklore. The remaining four holidays are listead as the "lesser blessings". In addition, Our Troth cites a number of "Days of Remembrance" dedicated to various Eddaic heroes introduced by modern Ásatrú in the United States.
| date | holiday | significance |
|---|---|---|
| late December (winter solstice) | Yule (Midwinter) | one of the "three greatest blessings of the year" mentioned in the Ynglinga saga |
| late January / early February | Þorrablót | one of the "lesser blessings"; mentioned in Hversu Noregr byggðist, in modern Icelandic folklore associated with Thor |
| late February / early March | Disting | one of the "lesser blessings"; the Heimskringla mentions this as a Swedish tradition originally lasting for a week during the month of Góa, but later moved to Candlemas and reduced to three days' duration. |
| 9 February | Remembrance for Eyvindr kinnrifi | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance", dedicated to a "martyr" of the Christianization of Scandinavia |
| 14 February | Feast of Váli | The US Valentine's Day celebrated as an Ásatrú-specific "Day of Remembrance"; by folk etymological connection of Váli with Saint Valentine |
| 28 March | Ragnar Lodbrok's Day | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| 9 April | Remembrance for Haakon Sigurdsson | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| April | Ostara (Sigrblót) | Sigrblót is one of the "three greatest blessings of the year" mentioned in the Ynglinga saga, celebrated "for victory". Ostara in Wiccan tradition is set at vernal equinox; the historical Sigrblót marks the beginning of summer and the campaign season. The historical lunar month of Eostre may coincide with the Paschal Full Moon. |
| 9 May | Remembrance for Guðröðr of Guðbrandsdál | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance", dedicated to a "martyr" of the Christianization of Scandinavia |
| late May | Einherjar Day | the US Memorial Day celebrated as an Ásatrú "Day of Remembrance" |
| 9 June | Remembrance for Sigurd | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| late June (summer solstice) | Midsummer | included as part of Scandinavian folklore |
| 9 July | Remembrance for Unnr the Deep-Minded | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| 1 August | Lammas (Freyfaxi) | one of the "lesser blessings"; The name Lammas or "Loaf-fest" refers to an Anglo-Saxon festival of the wheat harvest; the name Freyfaxi refers to a tradition of horse sacrifice to Freyr. |
| 9 August | Remembrance for Radbod, King of the Frisians | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| 9 September | Remembrance for Herman the Cheruscan | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| mid October | Remembrance for Leif Ericson and his daughter | The US Columbus Day celebrated as an Ásatrú "Day of Remembrance" |
| mid October | Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) | one of the "three greatest blessings of the year" mentioned in the Ynglinga saga. The historical festival marked the beginning of winter, and involved sacrifices to the elves and the dísir. In Neopaganism also observed as a Festival of the Dead and as such associated with Wiccan Samhain on 31 October. |
| 28 October | Remembrance for Erik the Red | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| 9 November | Remembrance for Sigrid the Haughty | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
| late November | Wayland the Smith's Day | The US Thanksgiving celebrated as an Ásatrú "Day of Remembrance" |
| 9 December | Remembrance for Egill Skallagrímsson | one of the Ásatrú-specific "Days of Remembrance" |
Read more about this topic: Heathen Holidays
Famous quotes containing the word troth:
“An honest soul, i’faith, sir, by my troth he is, as ever broke bread. But God is to be worshipped; all men are not alike.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)