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Germanic Paganism - Blog Posts
Finally re-doing my altar after so many months not getting to it. I miss praying. Sure, nobody needs anything to pray, but last months were very stressful and now finally it becomes easier, so, it’s time to reconnect again. Religion is beautiful when not abused.
Sónargöltr: the Yule Boar.
One historical Yule practice was, a boar would be led into the hall, and the people would lay their hands on it and publicly swear solemn oaths for the year ahead, known as heitstrenging, after which it was sacrificed and eaten. It was connected with the worship of Freyr, hence the boar.
This practice is attested in the Hervarar Saga ok Heiðreks; every year, King Heiðrekr would sacrifice the largest boar he could find to Freyr on the eve of Yule. Beforehand, his men would lay their hands on its bristles and take oaths. Heiðrekr vowed to let any man go who could defeat him in a riddle contest; a vow he later breaks in the Saga when Odin defeats him and he strikes at him with his sword, and he dies shortly after.
It is also attested in the Helgakviða Hjörvarðssonar, wherein King Hjörvarðr’s men swear oaths on a sacred boar at the king’s Yule feast, and Héðinn vows to marry Sváfa.
We see a similar practice today in one form of Hindu Puja, where a coconut is used in place of a sacrificial animal.
In the later Middle Ages, an enduring tradition was serving a boar’s head at Christmas feasts; Jacob Grimm believed this may have been a holdover from the ancient sacrifices, wherein the head would often be severed.
While some of you may (understandably) not want to get and sacrifice a live boar, one day this winter, this could be observed with a ceremonial feast (maybe a ham?) and an offering to Freyr, and by making vows for the year ahead. ᛝ
In the Middle Ages, the Feast of Saint Stephen took the place of Sónargöltr on December 26th, where a boar’s head would be served. Saint Stephen allegedly raised six people from the dead, which may have lead to an association with Freyr, and his roles in renewal and rebirth, and as a keeper of the dead. ᛝ
Via https://t.me/sagnamadr
