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The God of Yule... Freyr

by Alfta Óðinssen
© 2000 Alfta Óðinssen
       It is Mother's Night once again and the feasts of the Yule season begin. You will see plenty of discussion about Mother's Night, the burning of the Yule log and Odinn/Holda leading the Wild Hunt. One thing you probably will not find much mention of is honoring of the god Freyr during this time. Although this may seem strange to some, I think there is ample evidence in the lore to support this almost lost tradition. Of course it is well known to most Heathens that the boar is an animal that is sacred to the god Freyr. In Sweden there was a tradition of baking boar shaped loaves of bread and boar shaped cakes on Yule Eve. These "Yule-boars" are described as made of rye or wheat meal and "up to a foot and a half long complete with eyes, nostrils and bristles." Traditionally this large Yule-boar was brought out at noon on Yule (midnight on Yule Eve?) and the mother of the house would cut a sun wheel into it before it was layed before the father of the house. There was also a tradition that Swedish peasants would dry the Yule-boar and save some of it for spring planting at which time they would grind it up and add it to the seed corn and give some to the horses that would do the plowing and the men that would hold the tail plough. Presumably this was done to bless the field for a bountiful harvest. It is interesting to note that the wild hunt was thought to bring fruitfulness to the fields so that in spring they would bring a good harvest.
       In Germany there is a popular belief that survived into christian times that surely has it's origins from Freyr's golden boar, Gullinbursti. Thuringia was the belief that if one did not eat until suppertime on christmas eve, they would catch the sight of a young golden pig and it was traditional that the roasted pig was the last to be brought out at the feast on that eve. This tradition was most likely derived from the earlier and very much similar tradition of Vinkbuch.
       Another christmas eve tradition in Germany most likely has it's origin in Freyr and his golden boar Gullinborsti. On christmas eve it was traditional to be sure to get all implements of husbandry secured in doors lest "Theoderic", riding a golden boar, would trample the instruments and make them unfit for use.
       At Oxford there is a tradition in which on christmas day they exhibit a boars head and carry it around solemnly singing: "Caput Apri defero, Redens laudes Domino". Loosely translated it means, "We honor the head, to keep us mindful of God."
       In parts of Gothland there was a tradition in which young men/boys would perform a sacrificial play in which they would blacken their faces and one of them would be wrapped in fur and sit in a chair as the victim. He would have finely cut straw in his mouth to represent the bristles of the boar and he represented the boar to be sacrificed on yule. In England it would be decked with laurel and rosemary.
       Yule eve, especially at midnight was thought to be the most powerful time to swear oaths during sumbel. Oaths were also sworn in the evening of Yule Eve on the sacrificial boar. We find this in the Helgakvida Horrvoardssonar- "In the evening was the swearing of oaths. The sonargöltr (sacrificial boar) was led forward, folk laid their hands upon it, and folk swore their oaths at the bragar-cup..." In Hervarar saga ok Heidreks the yule boar is specifically names as a beast of Freyr or Freyja depending on which manuscript you read it from. Also In Västergotland is a tradition which most likely has it's origin in the sonargoltr. A block of wood was covered in a pig-skin and the man would put both hands on it and swear to be a good father and husband. The wife and servants would also swear similar oaths. One has to wonder if the modern customs of New Years resolutions have their origin in this Heathen custom.
       So this Yule take some time out and honor Lord Freyr. Bake some boar shaped cookies on Yule Eve. Hold a sumbel to honor Freyr and ask for his blessing for a fruitful year to come and make a vow. Freyr will surely bless you in the year to come.

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This page last updated on 27 January 2000.