Raud the Strong`s Day

January 9th is a day of remembrance for Raud the Strong. Here's his story:

When Raud refused to give up Asatru (Icelandic  for "Æsir"), King Olaf tryggvason of Norway executed him by making him swallow a snake. His land and all his wealth was then confiscated.

Praise Raud the Strong by lifting a horn (or cup or glass) in his honor, and by doing something deliberate to spread the religion King Olaf tried so hard to stamp out. Alternatively, you might...

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Raud the Strong's Day

Festival of Odin

This ritual is held on or about the day of St. Martin, a Catholic saint who was given many of Odin's original attributes. There is strong evidence that this day (Nov 12) was originally a festival time devoted to Odin and to Cernunnos, who has many similarities to the Wanderer.

This is a time of festival for several families gathered together, each bringing food and drink for the potluck feast. Prior to the time of the rites, have a day of games and feasting. The ritual should be held out of doors if possible, with the area appropriately decorated for the season with grain, fruits, maize, vegetables, nuts, leaves and flowers...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Festival of Odin

Honoring The Thunder God

Today, July 29, is the festival of the Anglo-Saxon god Thunor and the Norse god Thor, a time of ascendant power and order. The great thunder-God Thor was honoured on this date with prayers for protection of the crops against destructive storms in the older times in Europe.

Prayer to Thor for Strength

by Seawalker

Thunder rolls, lightning strikes,

And the hammer flies across the sky...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Honoring the Thunder God

Day of Unn the Wise Person

July 9th is  the Day of Unn the Wise person. Also known as Aud the Deep-Minded, Unn was a great matriarch who established dynasties in the islands Orcadas, Feroe and Iceland.

Example to follow: Make our own families grow strong, maintain the memory and traditions of our alive ancestors. Remember the great women of your own clan on this Day of Remembrance for Unn the Deep Minded. 

About Unn:

Unn was a powerful figure from the Laxdaela Saga who emigrated to Scotland to avoid the hostility of King Harald Finehair...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Day of Unn The Wise Person

Feast of Ullr

The Feast of Ullr was traditionally a hunting festival. Ullr, god of hunting, and the bow was honoured and a feast was shared by the tribe of the spoils of the hunt. I remember hearing somewhere about Skathi also being honoured on this day but I can’t recall where… Anyway, in addition to being the goddess of skiing, she also governs hunting and bows.

The tribe (or family) on this day would take a portion of the meat from the hunt and have a large and joyous feast before the winter sets in hard...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Feast of Ullr

Feast of the Einherjar

Today is the Feast of the Einherjar: The chosen heroes who sit in Odin’s Hall are the Einherjar. Today we honor those dead kin who gave their lives for Family and Folk. If you have friends or family who died in battle, visit their graves today, if that is not possible, drink a libation in their memory....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Feast of the Einherjar

Doom of Odin

"I find no comfort in the shade
Under the branch of the Great Ash.
I remember the mist
of our ancient past.
As I speak to you in the present...

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com) and can be found in it's entirety here: Doom of Odin

Day of Hel

The Anglo-Saxon and Norse Goddess of the Underworld is honored annually on the Day of Hel (July 10th) with prayers, the lighting of black candles, and offerings of rose petals.

• Also known as: Hella, Hela
• Origin: Norse
• Colors: Black and white
• Rune: Hagalaz
• Mount: Hel rides a black mare

Spirit allies: Hel's staff includes servants named "Delay" (male) and "Slowness" (female)...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been divided up and moved to The Pagan Calendar and The Powers That Be. Those posts can be found here: Day of Hel and here: Hel - Goddess of the Underworld

Vidar's Day

This day (June 14) is sacred to the Viking god Vidar, son of Odin. According to Viking tradition, leather workers should put aside all of their off-cuts for Vidar's boots, so that the god can combat the demonic wolf, Venris...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Vidar's Day

Honoring the Einherjar

Memorial Day is the day meant to be set aside to specifically honor the war dead. As such, it is an appropriate day to observe rituals to honor the Einherjar: the battle-slain warriors who are taken to Valhalla. Of course, not all of the battle-slain go to Valhalla some also go to Freya’s Hall, but many modern pagans will honor the war-dead, especially their ancestors who served at this time. Others will honor the Einherjar on Veteran's Day instead, even though, technically Veteran’s Day is intended to first and foremost honor those living Veterans from past military service, it is also used to honor those currently serving, and to a lesser degree those soldiers now dead....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found in its entirety here: Honoring the Einherjar