Norse Christmas celebration
Christmas celebrations in Norway started a long time before Jesus was born. Historians and researchers are not sure exactly when Christmas celebrations started, but we do know that celebrations took place between November and mid-January. The Norse Christmas was called jól or jólablót. The celebrations were also called mid-winterfest.
For the Vikings, jólablót was a celebration to really look forward to. Hard physical work, cold and draughty houses and dark evenings were finally rewarded with a celebration. For most people, this meant gatherings where families and neighbours got together and everyone contributed with food and beer.
⬅ Håkon den Gode i juleblótet på Mære (Haakon the Good at the juleblót in Mære), painted by Peter-Nicolai Arbo.
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Håkon den Gode i juleblótet på Mære, malt av Peter-Nicolai Arbo
Freyr’s sacred animals are sacrificed
Jólablót means sacrifice. Sacrifices were made to the gods Odin, Thor and Freyr. The god Njord was also often honoured. One of the traditional rituals was to sacrifice animals in honor of the gods. Statues of the gods were smeared in animal blood and the meat was eaten. Before anyone tucked into the meat, the food had to be blessed. One of the common animals to be slaughtered was the pig, which was the sacred animal of Freyr.
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