It is also notable that Christianity did not manage to change the name of winter solstice holiday to Christmas or something similar, Christianity is notable for taking over local traditional holidays, and rename them so they become completely absorbed as Christian holidays.
But Scandinavian countries still call Christmas “Jul”, so their is a strong trace of the original tradition.
Luckily Scandinavian countries are also the first to abandon Christianity, and are among the least religious countries in the world.
Yule or jól was new year for the Vikings. First day of Yule was the first day of the new year.
This was probably the biggest holiday for the Vikings, and celebration started the evening before, just like we start celebrating New Years Eve in the evening before new year today.
In Scandinavian countries Jul is still celebrated December 24 as “Jule aften” (Christmas evening).
The Vikings celebrated with food and mead, and it was a 3 week “holiday”.
In 1575 new year celebrations were finally moved to December 30, and the Christian church tried to rename Jul to “Kristmesse” similar to Christmas for English speaking countries.
Today Jul is still a mix of the old traditions and the celebration of the fable of the birth of Christ.
We have many traditions that include “nisser” (pixies) and children’s songs about them. “Nisser” are a more popular imagery of Christmas than anything Christian.
So yule was not religious, it was a new years celebration.
It is also notable that Christianity did not manage to change the name of winter solstice holiday to Christmas or something similar, Christianity is notable for taking over local traditional holidays, and rename them so they become completely absorbed as Christian holidays.
But Scandinavian countries still call Christmas “Jul”, so their is a strong trace of the original tradition.
Luckily Scandinavian countries are also the first to abandon Christianity, and are among the least religious countries in the world.
Any idea what jul stood for?
Yule or jól was new year for the Vikings. First day of Yule was the first day of the new year.
This was probably the biggest holiday for the Vikings, and celebration started the evening before, just like we start celebrating New Years Eve in the evening before new year today.
In Scandinavian countries Jul is still celebrated December 24 as “Jule aften” (Christmas evening).
The Vikings celebrated with food and mead, and it was a 3 week “holiday”.
In 1575 new year celebrations were finally moved to December 30, and the Christian church tried to rename Jul to “Kristmesse” similar to Christmas for English speaking countries.
Today Jul is still a mix of the old traditions and the celebration of the fable of the birth of Christ.
We have many traditions that include “nisser” (pixies) and children’s songs about them. “Nisser” are a more popular imagery of Christmas than anything Christian.
So yule was not religious, it was a new years celebration.