VFTWT S01E15: Yule
Air Date: 2021.12.19
Welcome to the public show notes for VFTWT season 1, episode 15
News:
- Adam:
- NYC put a moratorium on natural gas connections for all new construction in an effort to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Are they jumping the gun?
- Steve:
- New building in Denver
- Done with work until 2022
Main Topic: Yule
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When was Yule?
- Discussion on dates, Julian calendar drift, and historical sources
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What was yule historically?
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Multi-day party full of feasting, drinking, games, and offerings to the gods. Swearing of oaths for the coming year. Time of reflection, looking back at the previous year and forward to the next.
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5 Gods of Yule
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Odin
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Freyr
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Njörðr
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Thor
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Sol
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Minni – the memorial toast to the ancestors, is a way to include them in the celebration
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What would a modern Yule celebration look like?
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Potluck bonfire with friends, re-living deeds of the past year
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Solo – Small meal outside near a campfire, reflecting on the past year and reading stories and histories of our departed ancestors
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In the city – light some candles and have a contemplative meal with friends, reflecting on the past year
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Did Christianity “steal” yule traditions?
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There’s a modern grudge that claims Christianity stole traditions from paganism, things like the evergreen tree, presents, Santa Claus, etc.
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I feel that this view is divisive and incorrect – I think that Hakon moving yule to coincide with Christmas has actually helped preserve these traditions. Evergreen trees, yule logs, Christmas ham, yule goat, tomtenisse, Santa Claus, etc.
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Moving yule to Christmas allowed these traditions to be incorporated into Christianity, and now that the crusades are over and religious tolerance is becoming mainstream, paganism has seen a resurgence, modern day pagans can appreciate these traditions again mostly because they were preserved as part of Christmas
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Mindfulness Moment:
Robert Frost: Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening
Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.
He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there is some mistake.
The only other sound’s the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.
The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.
Next Episode Sneak Peek:
Join us next week as we climb to the highest region in the world in search of a monster so feared that Tibetan monks use its hair in their ceremonies. That’s right…. next week we are searching for the truth behind the yeti.