We princesses are off princessing with kith and kin this week in celebration of Yule. But we have a few things to share in case you need your week to be extra regal.
A few weeks ago, I shared my pride in the Pagan roots of Christmas. It’s lovely to think this holiday season is a blend of many traditions. And while there are many Pagan parts to Christmas, there are also parts that are specifically Heathen. Here are few gems for you to enjoy.
Santa Claus is an amalgamation of several figures: St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Myra (modern-day Turkey), the Norse god, Woden, and the Celtic Holly King primary among them. The beard, the cloak, the reindeer… these are associated with the aforementioned figures.
Mistletoe was a sacred plant to both the Druids and the Norse. According to Norse myth, when the god Baldur was killed by a mistletoe arrow, his mother Frigga wept white berries which brought him back to life. The mistletoe was then blessed by Frigga so that whoever stood beneath it received a kiss.
Santa’s reindeer are based upon the eight-legged Sleipnir, the Norse god Woden’s flying horse.
— from “Ten Things You Might Not Know About Christmas“
And in case you are a more visual person, here is a great resource for the Odin-Santa and the Sleipnir-reindeer link. [Click on this image to get to the full comic.]
Much hope and happiness from our homes to yours this Yule!
