Erik Olsen

October 23, 2026

Pagan Holidays, Winter, Norse

Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) : Norse Festival

Erik Olsen

October 23, 2026

Pagan Holidays, Winter, Norse

Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) : Norse Festival

Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) takes place from Sunday, October 25, to Monday, November 9, 2026. It marks the transition from summer (sumarr) to winter (vetr) in the Old Icelandic/Nordic calendar. At this time only two seasons were recognized, summer and winter.

Like many of the winter celebrations, it is one of coming together as a community and boosting the morale of everyone to aid in the survival of winter with drinking, feasting and games. This would have been a time when anxieties peaked, a time that your physical and mental strength was truly put to the test. Luckily today, thanks to our technology and food availability it is not as stressful.

Today as modern Heathens we celebrate this time. Learn all about Winter Nights and how you can celebrate.

Erik Olsen

November 13, 2025

Pagan Holidays, Norse

Thorrablot January 22 - February 20, 2027

Erik Olsen

November 13, 2025

Pagan Holidays, Norse

Thorrablot January 22 - February 20, 2027

This year we celebrate Thorrablot ( Þorrablót) from January 24, 2021 to February 20, 2021. This Nordic holiday celebrates the Vikings and the Ancient Norse Gods with a mid-winter feast.

The “main” festival is held in Iceland with smaller festivals held throughout Scandinavia and wherever Nordic residents reside. Traditional music, dancing, and games are popular.

Featured

Winter Nights (Vetrnætr) : Norse Festival

Today as modern Heathens we celebrate this time. Learn all about Winter Nights and how you can celebrate.

Celtic Month of Ash: February 18 - March 17

The Ash is a beautiful tree in the same family as olives and lilacs. It is widespread throughout the world and is common in North America, Europe, and Asia. The Celtic Month of Ash celebrates the strength and power of the ash tree.

Parentalia: Festival To Honor The Dead And Family Ancestors

Parentalia is celebrated between February 13 - 21. This Ancient Roman festival resonates with modern pagans as a way to connect with our ancestors.

During Parentalia the Ancient Romans honored their ancestors and thanked them for continued protection over their homes and families.

Days of Horses: Rodnovery Winter Festival

Days of Horses are a multiday Rodnovery festival celebrating this animal that starts on February 13th and ends on February 17th. Like most multiday holidays and festivals in Slavic Native Faith, this one also ends with a celebration of a deity, the three-headed god Triglav.

Veles: Rodnovery Deity

Veles, also known as Volos or Vlas, is a major Rodnovery deity, a Slavic God of earth, waters, livestock, farmers, and the ruler of Prav - the underworld. He’s wooly, bearded, and dark and is associated with animals, cattle, harvest, wealth, music, magic, and trickery.

Disablot and Charming the Plow

Morana: Slavic Goddess of Death and Rebirth

Morana (Mara, Marzanna, Mora, Mare) is one of the Major Rodnovery deities. The Slavic Goddess of winter and darkness is associated with seasonal rites based on the idea of death and the rebirth of nature.

As the Goddess associated with winter’s death, rebirth, and dreams her death marks the end of Winter and the birth of Lada and Vesna, the deities of Spring.

Vodokres: Rodnovery Celebration of Water

Vodokres, or Vodice, is a Rodnovery nature holiday in the midst of the cold days of January, at the very beginning of the New Year.

Rodnovery pagans go outside in the cold and snow and honor the natural waters, celebrating them and everything connected to them with very odd rituals!

Celtic Tree Month Birch: December 24 - January 20

The birch tree symbolizes starting over, fertility, rebirth, and regeneration. In fact, birches are one of the first trees to grow back after a forest fire.

Birch or Beithe, is the first tree of the Ogham, the Celtic tree alphabet. Beithe (pronounced ‘bey’) is the Gaelic word for birch and means inception or existence.

Two Faces of Janus: Roman God of Beginnings and Endings

In ancient times, Janus was a god of beginnings and endings. He also represented the year's transitions from one season to another. In modern times, we recognize him as the god of doors and gates. He is depicted in art with two faces looking in opposite directions - one facing forward and one facing back."

The Celtic Month of Elder (November 24 – December 23)

The Elder Month marks the final turn of the Celtic tree calendar, a time when the natural world slides into winter rest inviting us to reflect, release, and prepare for spiritual renewal. I

Thorrablot January 22 - February 20, 2027

This year we celebrate Thorrablot ( Þorrablót) from January 24, 2021 to February 20, 2021. This Nordic holiday celebrates the Vikings and the Ancient Norse Gods with a mid-winter feast.

The “main” festival is held in Iceland with smaller festivals held throughout Scandinavia and wherever Nordic residents reside. Traditional music, dancing, and games are popular.

Day of Danu: Celtic Mother Goddess

Danu is a mother goddess in the Celtic and Irish traditions. She is the goddess of fertility, creation, water, and the land.

We celebrate the Day of Danu on January 18.

Yule Plants and Ethnobotany

I love plants and as a pagan, they are deeply integrated into my spiritual practices. Walks in the woods, vegetable gardens, and rooms filled with herbs and succulents.

Yule holds such a special place among pagans. Our ancestors yearned for the light of spring and the warming of the earth.

10 Fun and Easy Yule Decorations

Get Ready! Yule is right around the corner.

I love holiday decorating - as long as it’s fun and easy. I also like when it is inexpensive!

These decorations will bring joy and meaning to your holiday. For those of you in the broom closet - these are perfect because only you will know the true meaning of the decor!

Navajo Night Chant

The Navajo Night Chant also referred to as the Yeibicheii Ceremony, happens in late fall or early winter and extends for nine nights. Native communities in the southwest have been having Night chant ceremonies since 1000BCE. Numerous Night chants are held throughout the season.

Saturnalia: Roman Precursor To Christmas?

What came first? Saturnalia or Christmas?

Saturnalia is an ancient Roman pagan holiday in honor of the god Saturn. Held on the 17th of December it has evolved from a one-day holiday to a week-long festival, ending on the 23rd.

Saturnalia also has a big influence on modern-day religions such as Christianity. Many Christmas traditions come from pagan celebrations such as Saturnalia.

Hogmanay: Scottish New Year

Hogmanay is a centuries-old New Year celebration originating in Scotland. It is associated with the giving of gifts, good luck, and the saining of households in the spirit of out with the old and in with the new.

Originally, Hogmanay was celebrated at Samhain to rejoice in the harvest. It was later moved to coordinate with Yule and the Nordic influences.

Heliogenna: Helios God of the Sun

Helios, Greek sun god, drives a horse-drawn chariot across the sky. His warmth makes this planet habitable, his light determines the rhythm of our lives, and every week pivots around the day that's dedicated to him.

Imbolc

Imbolc, also referred to as Candlemas or Oimelc, occurs on February 2, 2021. This is an exciting holiday of the returning light. Spring is coming!

The Celtic holiday honors Brigid, the fire goddess of healing, inspiration, and smithcraft. The mantra is refresh, renew, rededicate!

Imbolc is a cross-quarter holiday, midway between winter and spring. It’s one of the eight Wiccan Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year and one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals.

Celtic Month of Rowan: January 21 - Febuary 17

The Rowan Month is from January 21 – February 17 and is associated with the Celtic goddess Brigid. The month of Rowan is associated with power, success, and travel. During Rowan, we celebrate the holiday Imbolc.

Sementivae

This year Sementivae falls on January 24, 2020

This Roman festival was also called Feriae and the exact dates were made by the local priests or magistrates. During this time, we honor Tellus (Mother Earth) and the Goddess of Agriculture Ceres. Sementivae is a grain-oriented festival that celebrates the preparation of the fields for sowing.

Celebrate Yule: Pagan Families

Yule is the celebration of the winter solstice the shortest day of the year. It typically happens on or around December 21. Modern pagans consider Yule a sabot and major holy day.

On Yule, we celebrate the end of dark times both physically and metaphorically. As I write this in 2020, we certainly can use an end to dark times.