Solstice and Yule: The Grandfathers of Christmas

Everyone knows the story of Christmas, but actually celebrations of this time of year go back thousands of years into the past. Two cultures, the Celts and the Norse each contribute to some of the world’s original festive celebrations at the Christmas time of year.

Two drawings of the Oak king and the Holly king.

The Oak and Holly Kings of the Celts. Image © Anne Stokes 2020.

The Celts celebrated the Midwinter Solstice (and so do the Zuñi and Hopi peoples of America), whereas uniquely the Celts feature the Green King which was even used in the later Medieval Period, despite the greater popularity of Christianity.

It centred around the dawning of the new solstice, when the sun would return from the darkness during Winter and the use of two figures namely the Holly King and the Oak King. These two deities would battle one another, triumphing for six months of the year to rule over the seasons until the next fight (in which the victorious king would then reign). This would be celebrated at Midwinter (and Midsummer) when the respective king for the season was at the peak of their powers and thus claim victory over the other.

The Druids of Britain would use holly as a sacred symbol of life during the dark Winters, and offered it as a blessing (BBC, 2006).

Image of the Norse God Odin riding Sleipnir during the Wild Hunt

The God Odin and Sleipnir during the Wild Hunt.

The Norse would celebrate the Wild Hunt, where the God Odin (or the All-Father) would hunt down trolls and other creatures as he gave gifts to children across settlements during Mid-Winter.

The winters in Northern Europe were dark and foreboding, and so it lent itself to the idea that Odin and his gang would ride across the winds, amid much howling and shrieking of the trolls and other creatures as they were hunted down by the party. Along the way, Odin – similar to and pre-dating Santa Claus – would send little gifts to the children he passed through the villages and towns during the Viking Age.

Odin could be seen riding on the winds, with his horse Sleipnir, the eight-legged child of the God Loki. He was the fastest and strongest horse in the world. Every year when the Midwinter sun came over the lands, it was said to be Odin and his party hunting down trolls and other nasty creatures. On this night in particular, Odin would leave gifts out for the children, and they in turn would leave a small parcel of food for Odin and of course a carrot or bits of hay for the horse Sleipnir.


If you’re browsing the shelves at your library for books on the Celts and the Norse, you can use the Dewey Decimal system to help you find the right book. Dewey Decimal numbers are magical numbers that help us organise which books go where. Here are some useful numbers for this topic:

And here are some of our favourite books in the collection about the Celts and the Norse:

Celts / Newland, Sonya
“Who were the Celts and who were their leaders? Why did they come to the British Isles and how did they live? Explore this ancient civilisation to understand how prehistoric people have influenced the way we live today. Discover the artefacts that give evidence of their way of life, and how historians have pieced together the evidence of their lives. Learn about the homes and communities that they lived in, the food that they ate, how they travelled and worshipped, and the influence of the Romans on their society.” (Adapted from Catalogue)

Myths and civilization of the Celts / Martell, Hazel
Myths and Civilization of the Celts focuses on life during the Iron Age period when the Celts dominated much of Europe before the rise of the Roman Empire. The book looks at their way of life, their arts and crafts, trade and transport, religion, food and entertainment. It also includes a map of the Celtic tribes of Europe. Using double-page spreads, Celtic myths are retold & followed by historical & cultural background material.” (Catalogue)

Norse myths and legends / Ganeri, Anita
“The world’s myths are filled with characters, creatures, and stories that have fascinated people for thousands of years. This series mixes dramatic retellings and non-fiction information to give a full picture of a culture’s myths.” (Catalogue)

Illustrated Norse myths / Frith, Alex
“A brand-new collection of Viking myths that tell the story of the Norse gods from creation to the story of how the world will end, including Odin’s quest for wisdom, the battles of Thor the thunder god, and the tale of Sigurd the Dragonslayer and the curs A collection of Viking myths that tell the story of the Norse gods from creation to the story of how the world will end, including Odin’s quest for wisdom, and the battles of Thor the thunder god.” (Catalogue)

Top 5 New Non Fiction of 2017 – Part Two.

Hey kids! Check out the latest instalment of top 5 junior non fiction of 2017! This post features books filled with tasty treats, help you master skills on how to be a professional football player and some good old folk tales fashioned folklore that teach moral lessons.

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndeticsEnid Blyton Jolly Good Food.

Jolly good food, indeed! Reading this cookbook makes my mouth water! With this cookbook, inspired by Enid Blyton’s stories, you master the perfect way to share the pleasure of making and eating food with your child. Jam packed full of yummy recipes, beautiful artwork and extracts from Enid Blyton’s writing that will inspire children – and the whole family – to get busy in the kitchen. Ideal for picnics, kids’ parties and barbecues. Librarian’s choice all the way!

image courtesy of syndeticsGoal!

Who is the greatest striker ever to play football? How do you do the Cruyff turn? Where is the perfect place is to put a penalty? How far do players run during a match? Goal! doesn’t just tell you the answers – it shows you. With bright, imaginative info-graphics and eye catching artworks, football facts leap off the page. Did you know that more than 40 million footballs are produced each year?! Packed with vital tips and tricks, as well as astounding, mind-boggling stats, from the origins of football to the FIFA World Cup, it focuses on information that won’t date. Goal! is a vibrant, visual guide to everything you need to know about the world’s most popular game – football!

image courtesy of syndeticsThe Rough Face Girl.

In this Algonquin Indian version of the Cinderella story, the Rough-Face Girl and her two beautiful but heartless sisters compete for the affections of the Invisible Being. A beautifully told story that ensures that the good are rewarded and the wicked are punished. Librarian’s choice all the way!

 

image courtesyNorse Myths.

The stories of dazzling magic and thrilling journeys tell of the creation of the nine worlds and follow Odin with his one eye, Thor with his mighty hammer and Loki the shape-shifting trickster on their adventures until the final great battle of Ragnarok. In this stunning collection of myths, the strange world of ancient magic, gods, giants and dwarfs is unforgettably imagined.

image courtesy of syndeticsCrazy about Cats.
“Did you know that the fishing cat has partially webbed paws for catching fish? Or that pumas can leap over 15 feet into trees? There are roughly 38 species of cats today, each one superbly adapted to their environment – whether that be in the rainforest or the desert!”–Publisher.

New Non Fiction on Folk Tales, Myths and Legends.

Hey kids! There is more new Junior Non Fiction available at your local library. The theme for this post is Folk Tales, Myths and Legends, where you will encounter books where you go on magic carpet rides, fight mythological beasts, encounter gods and goddesses and much, much more!

Enjoy!

image courtesy of syndeticsTales from the Arabian Nights.

Tales from the Arabian Nights consist of a collection of Persian, Arabic and Middle Eastern tales cleverly told by Scheherazade, where she begins to tell the Sultan a tale, but does not end it. The Sultan, curious about how the story ends, is thus forced to postpone her execution in order to hear the conclusion. The next night, as soon as she finishes the tale, she begins (and only begins) a new one, and the king, eager to hear the conclusion of this tale, postpones her execution once again. So it goes on for 1,001 nights

image courtesy of sydneticsUsborne Illustrated Myths from around the world.

Some wonderful stories that reconstruct the daily life and customs of several cultures. A great selection from around the World.

Including stories about my favourite Trickster Gods Maui and Anansi, who knew they were capable of getting up to so much mischief!

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