Viking Christmas Tree
Yule or yuletide yule time or yule season is a festival historically observed by the germanic peoples scholars have connected the original celebrations of yule to the wild hunt the god odin and the pagan anglo saxon mÅdraniht.
Viking christmas tree. Later departing from its pagan roots yule underwent christianised reformulation resulting in the term christmastide. It was a miniature version of yggdrasil and a stately landmark in the courtyard. I ve come across a few sources that say decorating a christmas tree with small carvings and gifts for the gods was a part of viking yule. The people represented yggdrasil by planting what was called a care tree or guardian tree in the center of the homestead.
Vikings decorated trees with food gifts and small carvings particularly in honor of their gods. Real christmas trees are grown on farms just like any other agricultural crop. Christmas tree scandinavians used to decorate evergreen trees with statues food clothing and runes as tribute to the gods. The tradition of lighting candles on trees was not documented until the early 19th century and so we can hope that the ever practical vikings had better sense than that.
The care tree was a figurative expression of the interdependence of the world around us. Christmas tree farms beautify the landscape prevent soil erosion and preserve open space. Blafitance christmas ball ornaments transparent shatterproof realistic viking ship xmas hanging ornament christmas tree decorations for holiday wedding party 13 59 13. Decorating a christmas tree is a viking ritual that is performed worldwide every year.
Additionally it was believed that spirits living in the trees but went away during the winter months and could be coaxed back with household offerings. In the corners of millions of houses throughout the christian world and sometimes even outside of it in the case of japan for example one finds the modern version of the vikings tree the christmas tree which remains green reminding people that light will return. In a book from the nineteenth century i read that in germany there was an ancient custom of decorating evergreen trees with apples and nuts in honor of the norse god freyr. The wheel of the sun vikings would use holly leaves and berries to make into circular wreaths these wreaths would then be used to decorate their houses during the yule festival.
Viking glass tree dalzell viking art glass christmas tree green starrroadretro. Read more about the environmental benefits of real christmas trees.