The Blót was the pagan Germanic sacrifice to Norse gods and Elves. The word is related to the English word bless and they are derived from blood, an important component in the rites. Norse gods Divided between the Æsir and the Vanir, and sometimes including Jotun, the dividing line between these groups is less than clear. ... For alternate meanings, see Lightning (disambiguation). ... Red blood cells (erythrocytes) are present in the blood and help carry oxygen to the rest of the cells in the body Blood is a circulating tissue composed of fluid plasma and cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets). ...

Midwinter blót (at the Temple at Uppsala), by Carl Larsson (1915)

the sacrifice of king Domalde, by Carl Larsson. ... the sacrifice of king Domalde, by Carl Larsson. ... The Temple at Uppsala was a Temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times. ... Carl Larsson (May 28, 1853 – January 22, 1919) was a Swedish painter and interior designer. ...

Rites and beliefs

The verb blóta meant to "strengthen" and the intention was to strengthen the powers (gods and Elves). The most powerful means was the sacrificed object or being. It was usually animals and in particular pigs and horses. The meat was boiled in large cooking pits with heated stones, either indoors or outdoors. The blood was considered to contain special powers and it was sprinkled on the statues of the gods, on the walls and on the participants themselves. Binomial name Sus scrofa Linnaeus, 1758 The domestic pig is usually given the scientific name Sus scrofa, though some authors call it , reserving for the wild boar. ... Hurs or Hors is the Slavic god of the winter sun. ...

It was a sacred moment, when the people gathered around the steaming cauldrons to have a meal together with the gods or the Elves. The drink that was passed around was blessed and sacred as well and it was passed from participant to participant. The drink was usually beer or mead but among the nobility it could be imported wine. Larger quantities of beer foam than shown atop this glass caused a stir in 1990s England when people received less than a pint (568 ml) of beer for the price of a pint. ... Mead Mead is a fermented alcoholic beverage made of honey, water, and yeast. ... A glass of red wine This article is about the beverage. ...

The godi, the chief who was the head of the sacrifice, offered the drink to Frey if it was spring blót or autumn blót and to Odin if it was summer blót. Then they drank for the dead of the family, whom they thought took part in the blót. When they were drunk, the participants believed they felt the power of the gods (see sumble). The term gothi (goði), in Norse mythology, refers to the person who administered the Blóts. ... Chief can refer to The chief engineer of a naval vessel or anyone with the rank Chief Warrant Officer in the Canadian Forces In heraldry, a chief is a band of colour or metal making up the top (usually the top third or slightly less) of a shield. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ... Odin, Icelandic/Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden, Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon Woden, Old Franconian Wodan, Alemannic Wuodan, German Wotan or Wothan Lombardic Godan. ... Symbel (from Proto-Germanic *sumlan banquet, continuing *sm-lo-, i. ...

The old prayer was til árs ok friðar, "for a good year and frith" They asked for fertility, good health, a good life and peace and harmony between the people and the powers. Meaning 1. ...

Dates for the blóts

The autumn blót was performed in the middle of October, the great Midwinter blót, or Yule, at the winter solstice. The dark winter was a harsh time for the people of Scandinavia, and special means had to be undertaken to help nature pass the critical phase. Frey was the most important god at the Midwinter and autumn blóts, and Christmas ham (the pig was for Frey) is still the main Christmas course in Scandinavia. The Summer blót was undertaken in April and the vernal equinox and it was given to Odin. Then, they drank for victory in war and this blót was the starting date for viking expeditions and wars. October is the tenth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ... Yule is the winter solstice Blót (celebration) in Asatru, the pagan practices of the Germanic peoples prior to the arrival of Christianity. ... In astronomy, the winter solstice is the moment when the earth is in a point of its orbit at which the northern or southern hemisphere is most inclined away from the sun. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ... The Christmas Ham is an ancient traditional ingredient in the Scandinavian Christmas celebration (Yule) and remains as important as the Christmas tree. ... April is the fourth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four with the length of 30 days. ... Illumination of Earth by Sun on the day of equinox In astronomy, the vernal equinox (spring equinox, March equinox, or northward equinox) is the moment when the sun appears to cross the celestial equator, heading northward. ... Odin, Icelandic/Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden, Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon Woden, Old Franconian Wodan, Alemannic Wuodan, German Wotan or Wothan Lombardic Godan. ...

Locations

A building where the blóts took place was called a hov (cf. German Hof) and there are many place names derived from this in e.g. Scania, West Götaland and East Götaland. Churches were usually built on such hovs and excavations at the medieval churches of Mære in Trøndelag and at Old Uppsala testify to this (see Cultural continuity). Scania (Skåne) is the southernmost historical Province (landskap) of Sweden. ... Westrogothia (Västergötland) is a historical Province (landskap) in the southwest of Sweden. ... Ostrogothia (Östergötland) is a historical Province (landskap) in the south of Sweden. ... Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the middle of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ...

There were also other sacred places called Horgr, Ve, Lund and Haug. Horgr means "cairn" or "mountain". Lund means "Sacred grove" and Ve simply "sacred place". The Christian laws forbade worshiping haug and consequently the mounds of the ancestors. . The origin of modern place names such as Harrow in England and Harge in Sweden. ... A cairn to mark the way along a glacier A cairn is a manmade pile of stones. ... Sacred groves were a feature of the mythological landscape and the cult practice of Old Europe, of the most ancient levels of Scandinavian mythology, Greek mythology, Slavic mythology, in Rome and among Druidic practice. ... Alternate meanings of barrow: see Barrow-in-Furness for the town of Barrow in Cumbria, England; also Barrow, Alaska in the U.S.; also River Barrow in Ireland. ...

Uppsala, Sweden

Main articles: Old Uppsala and Temple at Uppsala. Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... The Temple at Uppsala was a Temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times. ...

The German chronicler Adam of Bremen has described how it was done at the Temple at Uppsala at Old Uppsala in Sweden, ca 1070: Adam of Bremen (also: Adam Bremensis) was one of the most important German medieval chroniclers. ... The Temple at Uppsala was a Temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... For alternate uses, see Number 1070. ...

Thor was the most powerful god and ruled over thunder and lightning, wind and rain, sunshine and crops. He sat in the centre with a sceptre (Mjolnir) in his hand, and on each side were Odin, the god of war, in full armour and Frey, the god of peace and love, attributed with an enormous erected phallus. All the pagan gods had their priests who offered them the people's sacrifices. If there was disease or famine, they sacrificed to Thor, if war to Odin and if weddings to Frey.

Every ninth year, there was a nine-day blót, a common feast for everyone in Sweden. Then, they sacrificed nine males of each species, even men (totalling 72 corpses), and the bodies were hanged from the branches of a sacred grove near the temple. No one was excempt from this blót and everyone sent gifts to the shrine, even the kings. Those who were Christian had to pay a fee not to take part in the blót, something that Adam of Bremen considered to be a very harsh punishment.

It is possible that the last nine-day blót was performed in 1078. The Temple at Uppsala was probably destroyed by king Ingold I in 1087. For quite some time there had been civil war between Christian and pagans every nine years, and this was the year of the last battle. Thors battle against the giants, by Marten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor, Þór (ON), Þunor (OE), Donar or Donner (German) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder and lightning in Germanic and Norse Mythology, the son of Odin and Jord. ... Mjolnir has inspired many works of art, such as this drawing. ... Odin, Icelandic/Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden, Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon Woden, Old Franconian Wodan, Alemannic Wuodan, German Wotan or Wothan Lombardic Godan. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ... The phallus usually refers to the male penis, or sex organ. ... Thors battle against the giants, by Marten Eskil Winge, 1872 Thor, Þór (ON), Þunor (OE), Donar or Donner (German) is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder and lightning in Germanic and Norse Mythology, the son of Odin and Jord. ... Odin, Icelandic/Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden, Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon Woden, Old Franconian Wodan, Alemannic Wuodan, German Wotan or Wothan Lombardic Godan. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ... Sacred groves were a feature of the mythological landscape and the cult practice of Old Europe, of the most ancient levels of Scandinavian mythology, Greek mythology, Slavic mythology, in Rome and among Druidic practice. ... Adam of Bremen (also: Adam Bremensis) was one of the most important German medieval chroniclers. ... Events Romanesque church begun at Santiago de Compostela, Galicia, Spain Anselm of Canterbury becomes abbot of Le Bec William the Conqueror ordered the White Tower to be built Births Deaths Categories: 1078 ... The Temple at Uppsala was a Temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times. ... Inge Stenkilsson (king 1079–1084 (?) and 1087–1105) ruled with his half-brother Haakon the Red, until Haakon died, in 1080. ... Events May 9 - The remains of Saint Nicholas were brought to Bari. ...

According to Snorri, there was a main blót at the Temple at Uppsala in February, the Disablót, during which they sacrificed for peace and for the victories of the king. The blót was also performed to see how large the next harvest would be. Then the Ting of all Swedes was held and there was a grand fair, the Disting. The Disting survived Christianity, and the tradition has never been interrupted. The fair is still held every February in Uppsala, even though the date has sometimes been moved within the month. In 1968, the tradition of discussing official matters was resumed. Snorri Sturlason (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), formerly known as the Defense Communications Agency is a combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for planning, developing, fielding, operating, and supporting command, control, communications, and information systems that serve the needs of the President, the Secretary of Defense... A ting, also þing or thing, was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community. ... February is the second month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... This article is about the modern city of Uppsala. ... 1968 was a leap year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1968 calendar). ...

In the year 2000, the blóts were resumed at Old Uppsala after more than 900 years, by the Swedish Ásatrúar. 2000 is a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... Ásatrú describes a variety of revivals of the indigenous, pre-Christian religions of the Teutonic tribes of Northern Europe. ...

Lejre, Denmark

The German historian Thietmar of Merseburg wrote that the Daner had their main cult centre on Zealand at Lejre, where they gathered every nine years and sacrificed 99 people but also horses, dogs and hens. However, there is no archaeological support for this. Thietmar (modern spelling Dietmar), ( 969- December 1, 1019) was bishop of Merseburg and a chronologist. ... The Daner were an ancient North Germanic tribe residing in Terra Scania and on the Danish islands. ... This article is about the Danish island. ... Lejre is a municipality in east Denmark, in the county of Roskilde on the peninsula of Zealand. ...

Mære, Norway

Snorri Sturluson relates of a meeting between the peasants of Trøndelag and king Haakon I of Norway, a meeting which ended in a religious feud centered around the blót. Haakon was raised at the Christian English court and had returned to claim the throne of his father Harald Fairhair (the unifier of Norway) and intended to Christianize the country. In spite of the fact that the peasants had elected Haakon king at the Ting they opposed his religious ideas. One of the peasant chiefs declared to Haakon: Snorri Sturlason (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... Trøndelag is the name of a geographical region in the middle of Norway, consisting of the two counties Nord-Trøndelag and Sør-Trøndelag. ... Haakon I (c. ... Harald I (b. ... A ting, also þing or thing, was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community. ...

We bondes (peasants), King Hakon, when we elected thee to be our king, and got back our udal (yeoman) rights at the Thing (Ting) held in Throndhjem, thought we had got into heaven; but now we don't know whether we have really got back our freedom, or whether thou wishest to make vassa1s of us again by this extraordinary proposal that we should abandon the ancient faith which our fathers and forefathers have held from the oldest times, in the times when the dead were burnt, as well as since that they are laid under mounds, and which, although they were braver than the people of our days, has served us as a faith to the present time. We have also held thee so dear, that we have allowed thee to rule and give law and right to all the country. And even now we bondes will unanimously hold by the law which thou givest us here in the Frosta-thing, and to which we have also given our assent; and we will follow thee, and have thee for our king, as long as there is a living man among us bondes here in this Thing assembled. But thou, king, must use some moderation towards us, and only require from us such things as we can obey thee in, and are not impossible for us. If, however, thou wilt take up this matter with a high hand, and wilt try thy power and strength against us, we bondes have resolved among ourselves to part with thee, and to take to ourselves some other chief, who will so conduct himself towards us that we can freely and safely enjoy that faith that suits our own inclinations. Now, king, thou must choose one or other of these conditions before the Thing is ended.[1] (http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/heim/05hakon.htm)

The King had to fold, and during the great blót that was held, he had to drink of the mead that was offered and consecrated for Odin, Njord and Frey. The peasants also wanted him to eat of the meat, but he only gaped over the handle of the cauldron and held a linen cloth between his mouth and the meat. The peasants were not at all satisfied with a king who would not participate fully in the blót. The King had however, been seriously humiliated and later he converted to the old faith. The tradition says that he was buried in the old ways. Yeoman is an antiquated term for farmers, tradesmen and other members of the early English middle class. ... A ting, also þing or thing, was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community. ... Odin, Icelandic/Old Norse Óðinn, Swedish Oden, Anglo-Saxon and Old Saxon Woden, Old Franconian Wodan, Alemannic Wuodan, German Wotan or Wothan Lombardic Godan. ... Njord (Old Norse Njǫrðr) is one of the Vanir and the god of seamanship and sailing in Norse mythology. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ...

Elven blót

The Elven blót was small scale and was celebrated at the homestead and led by its mistress. We don't know much about the rites, since it was surrounded by secrecy and strangers were not welcome during the time of the rituals. However, since the Elves were collective powers closely connected with the ancestors we can assume that it had to do with the ancestor cult and the life force of the family.

Sigvat, the skald of Olaf II of Norway has related an event connected with the blót. Once, Sigvat and his men arrived at a farm in Vermland late at night. They were glad and expected to be received according to the laws of hospitality. However, they were rejected and were offered neither food nor sleeping quarters. The mistress said that they were having the Elfen blót and strangers were not welcome, especially not Christians. The skald was a member of a group of courtly poets, whose poetry is associated with the courts of Scandinavian and Icelandic leaders during the Viking age, who composed and performed renditions of aspects of what we now characterise as Old Norse poetry. ... Olav II Haraldsson ( 995 – 1030), king from 1015–1028, called during his lifetime the Fat and afterwards known as Saint Olaf, was born in the year in which Olaf Tryggvesson came to Norway. ... Wermelandia, or Värmland, is a historical province or landskap in the west of middle Sweden. ...

The Völse blót

The Völse was the penis of a stallion, and the rites surrounding it are described in Flateyjarbók. It was taken from a stallion during the autumn butchering, and it is said that the mistress of the homestead considered it to be her god, and kept it in a coffin together with linnen and onions. In the evening everybody gathered in the main building. Even the thralls and the farmers daughter and son took part in the sacred rite. The mistress presented the penis from the coffin greeted it with a prayer and let it pass from person to person. Everybody greeted it with the religious phrase may Mornir receive the holy sacrifice. The strange word Mornir may mean female Jotuns and the rite may have represented a marriage between Völse and a female Jotun, i.e. Frey and Gerd. It is obvious, however, that the rite concerned fertility and that even the giantesses were worshiped with special rituals. The Flatey Book, (in Icelandic the Flateyjarbók Flat-island book) is one of the most important medieval Icelandic manuscripts. ... For other uses of the word thrall, see Thrall (disambiguation) Thrall (Thræl for men, Thír for women) was the Scandinavian name for slave during the Viking Age. ... In Norse mythology, the giants were a mythological race with superhuman strength, described as standing in opposition to the gods, although they frequently mingled with or were even married to these, both Æsir and Vanir. ... Freyr is a very important god in Old Norse religion. ... Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD, or GORD when -oesophageal, the BE form, is substituted) is injury to the esophagus that develops from chronic exposure of the esophagus to acid coming up from the stomach (reflux). ...

The last traditional blóts

Main article: Trollkyrka Trollkyrka (Trolls church) is a tall and secluded mountain in the heart of the National Park of Tiveden, Sweden, which served until the 19th century as a pagan sacrificial ground (horgr, see also blót). ...

In the forest of Tiveden, Sweden, local tradition presents a poem describing what appears to have been the last traditional blóts at a mountain called Trollkyrka, in the 19th century. It also shows that the farmers in the area still knew how to perform such a rite. Tiveden is a Swedish forest famous for its scenery and notorious throughout history for its wilderness and dangers. ... Trollkyrka (Trolls church) is a tall and secluded mountain in the heart of the National Park of Tiveden, Sweden, which served until the 19th century as a pagan sacrificial ground (horgr, see also blót). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Lines 12-18:

Note that blood is sprinkled on the participants and that the best parts are given to the spirits whereas the participants eat the remainder themselves. The information that nine kinds of wood was used to lit the fire is only found in this poem, but it fits very well the significance of the number nine in Norse mythology, and may simply have been overlooked by Medieval sources. Numbers are significant in Norse mythology although not to the extent which they are in some traditions e. ...

Internal links

• Odinic Rite

The Odinic Rite is an organization whose aims are to promote all aspects of Odinism, a modern name for the spiritual beliefs and way of life of the Germanic peoples of pre-Christian Northern Europe. ...

External links

• The Blot - The Principle Religious Observance of Ásatrú (http://members.iquest.net/~chaviland/blot.html)
• Worship: Blot and Housel (http://www.ealdriht.org/blot.html)
• Definition of Blót - Zöega dict. (http://www.northvegr.org/zoega/h060.php)
• Blót explained according to Heithni (http://www.northvegr.org/intro/blot.php)

Sources

• Steinsland, G. & Meulengracht Sørensen, P. (1998): Människor och makter i vikingarnas värld. ISBN 9173245917