Thursday, December 25, 2014

Viking Christmas


Now that I know I have Viking blood - percentagewise, second only to the Irish in me - I've been wondering about Viking/Norse Christmas traditions.

My brief reading so far points to a number of Christmas traditions that may have horned-hat origins.

The wreath may have grown out of the "sunwheel" - a burning wheel intended to help entice the sun to return. But that link is tenuous,.

The Yule log is a Viking tradition, though. So is decorating evergreen trees. The Vikings also had myths about mistletoe - though as far as I can tell none of them involve kissing. too bad.

One tradition that's not necessarily Christmas related per se is drinking mead. That they did drink mead is a fact, as is the fact that I like a glass of mead. So one of my traditions is to toast Christmas with a glass of honey wine.

Skoal!

Pax et bonum

2 comments:

Do Not Be Anxious said...

Mead? Hmmm. Personally I think egg nog is a perfect Christmas drink, although it is not necessarily a Polish drink. I particularly like the nog put out by a company called Christian Brothers; it has a nice flavor to it.

I hope that you have a wonderful New Year. It is a privilege to follow a follower like you.

A Secular Franciscan said...

I like eggnog - but mead makes a nice treat!