Yule - The Pagan Winter Festival of the Anglo Saxons

[@bethmarriott9292]

One of the things I love about the Icelandic sagas and other sources about the Norse is that the context of the sources is as interesting as the content in them ❤️

[@AlexIlesUK]

I know - you can't take them at face value, you've got to look in depth and understand where they come from :)

[@user-wk1mw9nj3i76]

This is great! It’s so nice to find your in-depth, detailed and highly educated presentations, especially in the midst of the KZbin jungle of misinformed and crazy interpretations.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Hi Martha, I'm really glad you've liked it! I try to come at it with evidence and understanding. I know how easy it is to come at things with a Romantic point of view to history, but I find the reality is much more interesting!

[@leah890]

Great information. I enjoy the information about horses and cattle

[@SacredSingingLondon]

Really enjoyed that. Any thoughts on the timing? Recently I have heard that Jol or Yule was actually on a full moon in mid Jan (timing as I understand on full moon after first dark moon after the shortest day)

[@AlexIlesUK]

I have to say, I've not heard that! I'll have to read more about it!

[@kaylasmith3304]

If you read Nordberg's paper about Yule, which is the credible source about Norse Yule dating, he states that the Norse calendar is skewed, so their date for Midwinter was later. He says that this is because of their particular economic conditions and climate. At no point in his paper does he even imply that his conclusions apply to other Germanic societies. People who have only read the abstract, one in particular who has a big following, are running around spreading the "all Heathen tribes" misinformation.

[@AlexIlesUK]

If you could send that to me I'd be happy to look at it. I've not come across it or heard of it before so I'd be happy to look into it. Thanks agian! Alex

[@redbeard8996]

@@kaylasmith3304 The thing is, that according to Bede's account of the Anglo-Saxon calendar in his 'De temporum ratione', the point of Midwinter for the Anglo-Saxons would have been exactly identical to Nordberg's Midwinter for the Scandinavians. Winter begins at the full moon of Winterfylleþ and lasts for six lunations. Therefore midwinter is three lunations after the full moon of Winerfylleþ, i.e. the full moon of Æftera Gēola, i.e. exactly when Nordberg says it was in Scandinavia. So unless you're asserting that the Yule feast in England was at a time other than midwinter...?

[@AlexIlesUK]

@Redbeard - did you have a message to me? I got a pop up but can't find your message now. If you want to contact me directly please use [e-mail]

[@THINKincessantly]

I hope this is as good as the thumbnail implies, Happy Yule 🎄

[@AlexIlesUK]

I believe so. But you tell me what you think once you have watched it!:

[@daveb1223]

25th?

[@chrisd1]

wasn't there a papal reference about stopping the English heathens eating horse flesh

[@AlexIlesUK]

More than likely! Now you've said it it's making me think think but I'd need to search for it!

[@kayumochi]

I ate horse flesh once: picked it up in a grocery store in Japan not knowing what it was and fried the thinly sliced light pink meat in a pan and ate it with rice. After I finished it I took a closer look at the label and saw this: 馬

[@AlexIlesUK]

What did it taste like?

[@waynemcauliffe2362]

Thanks again.Yeah i`m sure Christians would be having a go at the old ways as they wrote it down.They did the same in Ireland with Cu Chulainn and Fionn Mac Cumhaill

[@AlexIlesUK]

While I'm sure there was a bit of animosity I think a great deal of it would be a lack of understanding of the culture and what was going on.

[@avion1963]

Thanks

[@AlexIlesUK]

You are welcome!

[@valofalconery]

No mention of Woden, Thunor, Tiw?

[@AlexIlesUK]

No because he's not mentioned in the sources to do with Yule.

[@valofalconery]

@@AlexIlesUK i understand but the germanic counterparts for the norse deities would have surely been worshipped no?

[@AlexIlesUK]

Ah sorry i misunderstood your question. I used th Norse names as people know them better than the Anglo-Saxon ones. Blame Marvel!

[@valofalconery]

@@AlexIlesUK Completely understandable lol! when i say i worship the old pagan gods like Thunor (Thor) they usually say "The marvel character?!" Shared this video on Facebook. Hope it helps! keep the Anglo Saxon/Viking history videos coming!

[@AlexIlesUK]

Thank you! I've got some unedited videos on the Anglo-Saxon capital of Northumbria for the new year and will be doing a series on the Roman god's of Hadrian's wall too! So lots to come. Plan on also doing s 'Viking' series too!

[@Tom_Tribe]

The 21st December, (the day I'm leaving this comment), is the winter solstice, (on a non leap year), and so is the shortest day of the year. This is when 'Geol', (yule), starts. However, this lunar month was 'Geol-monath', (yule moon/month). And so other yule related celebrations occurred. So 21st is the new year. Then as you mention 25th is 'modrasniht' , (mothers-night). The Christians use of the 25th actually comes from the Pagan Roman God - Mithras. Who's story is almost identical to that of Jesus... Great video though! You're additional research is very interesting!

[@AlexIlesUK]

Hi Thomas, I realised after it was posted I had said 23rd rather than 21st. Sorry for that one. In regards to Christmas bring a copy of the Mithras worship that's not correct. It was a falsehood. If you read Mithras mythology there's nothing at all similar to Christ's life. Sadly that story has persisted much more than it should have!

[@tombullish3198]

Was looking for this comment. =)

[@SheildWall-gu4gn]

Surely North western Germanic peoples Germany Denmark( as it was the home of Jutes Saxons and Angle religion would be basically the same with the Scandinavian as they are the same people's. So what is lost through Christianity and cultural errotion, Historians look to the Scandinavians history to fill in the gaps of Anglo-Saxons. Yule was hijacked by the Christians, and turned into Christmas. Another thing is Hengest and Horsa were though to be horse deities so is this why Anglo-Saxons never ate horse. Kent still has a horse as it's emblem. Thank you for your video on the subject.

[@AlexIlesUK]

Archeological evidence shows a lot of difference of belief and method of expressing that belief across all the Germanic peoples. As for Christians hijacking it, no midwinter festivals occur across the world, I would say that we have well documented evidence of Anglo-Saxon Christian Christmas and it's practices so I would say that it wasn't a rebranding of a older festival.

[@karriewade1500]

They sinned so much against God…

[@AlexIlesUK]

No one had yet started to explain the Christian message to them.

[@heathenhammer2344]

Yule isn't the winter solstice

[@AlexIlesUK]

Made a mistake and replied in depth above.