Traditional Celebrations at Heimbu

A few little nuggets of information about how Yule is celebrated at Heimbu, or at least was in the past. I hope that you find it interesting and get something from it. The information comes from an interview with Ivar Hafskjold.

• The tree will be taken in and decorated on the 23rd around 6pm and a large bowl of porridge will be made and left out for the "nisser" (the land spirits)
  
• All families in Scandinavia used to put out a sheaf of oats for the birds during Yule, and this is still done at Heimbu.
  
• Around noon on the 24th the neighbourhood is invited in for flat bread (mölje) which is softened in hot fat dripping.
  
• The Yule starts at 6pm, the traditional start of the day.
  
• The Yule meal is at 8pm and consists of roasted pork belly, sausages and minced pork patties.
  
• The meal is made ready, and then the family leaves for awhile to allow the ghosts of the ancestors to have the first share.
  
• After the meal the family will often walk in a ring around the tree holding hands, singing a hymn to the tree.
  
• After the meal "Julenissen" will arrive and give out the presents to individuals in turn with everyone watching to see what the others have got.
  
• Julenissen ­ the first ancestor of the family,(Hos/Odin) who brings the presents is dressed in gray and blue (or what would be appropriate to the individual deity colours of each family)
  
• On the morning of the 25th the head of the family will read the runes for the family to see what the coming year will bring.
  
• Between Christmas Day and New Years Eve children used to go dressed as ghosts and went trick or treating (Julebukk ­ Yule Goat)
  
• Yule lasts until the 7th January. Before 6pm the tree will be thrown out but a basket of goodies for the children will be taken to a neighbourhood gathering where there will be another party.
  
• Julefried is observed and this is when no hunting or killing of animals is allowed and it lasts from the 24th to the New Years Eve.