Yol (or jól) is a pagan season of feast, celebrating the coming of the new year and the sun's return. It takes place during midwinter, about the same time as Christians celebrate Christmas. The word is a cognate with the English word yule, and is rendered jul in modern Scandinavian languages.
In History[]
One of Odin's many names is Jólnir (meaning "the Yule one"). In the Ágrip, a history of the kings of Norway written in the 12th century, jól is interpreted as coming from one of Odin's names, Jólnir. In Old Norse poetry, the word is found as a term for "feast." Yule lasted somewhere around two months, falling along the end of the modern calendar year between mid-November and early January. According to the Saga of Hákon the Good, King Haakon I of Norway is responsible for rescheduling Yule to coincide with Christian celebrations. According to the saga, Yule had previously been celebrated for three nights from midwinter night.[1]
The saga described a Yule celebration as involving all the people in a village or area would come to the temple and bring all the food and items needed while the feast lasted. At this feast all were to drink ale, and all kinds of livestock were killed. One of the animals typically killed was a boar, in sacrifice to Freyr who, along with his sister Freyja, symbolizes fertility. The animals' blood was to be smeared on the pedestals of the idols, the walls of the temple, and the men present. Fires were lit in the middle of the temple floor. These fires symbolized the continuation of light despite the darkness outside, as well as providing warmth. The chieftain would bless the food and drink. The saga also describes three toasts that were to be drunk. The first toast was to Odin "for victory and power to the king." The second to Njord and Freyr "for good harvests and for peace." The third toast was to be drunk to the king himself. In addition, toasts were drunk to the memory of departed kinsfolk, these were called minni.[2]