Yule rooted in ancient paganism, over the course of a centuries-old history, many additional names appeared. This day, besides the Yule holiday, is also called the Bonfire festival. On special sites outside the city and on its outskirts, residents burn huge bonfires in which they destroy together with old unnecessary items and garbage all their troubles and misfortunes. In the new year, they are traditionally updated. In this holiday there is still much interesting, we will get acquainted in more detail.
Yule - Winter Solstice
The word "yule" was used by the Vikings, the Germans, it means "wheel". The Celtic celebration of the winter solstice is very similar in tradition to our Christmas time and Christmas. Many are interested in the question of what date (holiday) Yule in Iceland. The holiday is celebrated for 13 days. Its date falls on the eve of the winter solstice on December 22. It also captures Christian Christmas. These two holidays have long been intertwined, the richer the traditions and rituals of celebration. In Iceland, Yule is called the Christmas holiday, which is celebrated in the west on December 25. Previously, Yule was a pagan holiday in the middle of northern winter, it receded into the background after the baptism of the northern peoples. Rituals and traditions migrated from one holiday to another, and this is easily seen in Iceland. People go to church services, worship biblical characters, but they fully believe in the existence of ancient trolls and the mystical power that awakens on the longest night on Yule.
Iceland
Iceland is an amazing country. It is here that the flames of volcanoes and eternal glaciers coexist nearby. There is no normal summer in our concept, but winter is very warm for these latitudes. In hot springs, the swimming season does not stop all year round. The inhabitants of this area have no surnames, there are no railways in the country. But it is in these parts that there is a great chance to admire the whales in the summer, and in the winter - the aurora borealis.
And in this country, as nowhere else, the most ancient traditions that the Vikings brought here more than a thousand years ago are preserved. The whole population is fighting for the purity of the Icelandic language , because it is so similar to Old Norse. And this makes it possible even to read medieval sagas without translation. Such an amazing country. And from those very ancient times, Yule has been carrying its history - a holiday in Iceland.
Folklore
In the tradition of celebration, there is always a Christmas tree, which, like ours, dresses up with various decorations symbolizing wealth in the house. Everything is clear with the Yolka, but other folklore traditions are very curious. Yule is a holiday in the middle of winter, and it was at this time that a variety of dangers await people. The most mysterious stories tell about this. Dangers emanate from mystic powers and trolls, the main one being the cannibal Grill. The giantess these days comes down from the icy mountains, taking with him a big bag. In it, she collects her favorite treat - naughty and lazy children. The Church of Iceland disapproved of such “horror stories” during the period of Christmas and even issued prohibitive decrees in this regard. But this did not stop Grill and her trolls from surviving to the present day. Grila’s household members are very curious, she lives with her third husband, a bummer, whose name is Leppaludi (what happened to the first two, the story is silent). For people, Leppaludi is not dangerous, he is very clumsy and lazy.
Yule guys
A poorly married couple has thirteen sons, who are called Yule guys, or brothers. The Vikings considered them terrible monsters, but over time they turned into harmless little thieves and pranksters. Now (progress is evident!) They are competing with Santa Claus himself. The latter still has not become popular in Iceland. The idea of the good-natured Santa, giving everyone presents for Christmas, fell in love with the Yolsky guys, they came up with. Following the model of Santa, they now wear white beards, can wear red coats, but more often appear in peasant costumes. In every house, Icelandic Christmas figures are figurines of these guys. By tradition, the brothers preserved the funny names Sausage Thief, Gorshkoliz, Beggar and others.
Yule - a holiday whose date falls just on Christmas, is celebrated for thirteen days. On each of these days, the guys descend from the mountains. Icelandic children receive not one gift like the others from Santa Claus, but as many as thirteen from each of the Yule guys. You can only envy. Of course, we are talking only about obedient children, mischievous people can find rotten beets or a piece of coal in their boot.
Yule cat
The most colorful character of the holiday is, of course, the Yolsky cat. He lives in the Grills family in the mountains in an ice cave. The cat does not look like our pets at all. This huge scary monster with fangs and claws catches those who were left without a new wool for the holiday. Trusting the tales, in the best case, a person will lose a Christmas dinner, but in the worst, a cat will drag his children, and even himself to his cave. This legend arose a long time ago, when sheep were sheared in the fall and all the wool had to be processed by winter. The Yule holiday falls just in the middle of winter. Good workers at that time already had new woolen clothes, but lazy fell into the clutches of the Yule cat. The tradition has survived to this day. For Christmas, Yule holidays it is obligatory to give gifts from wool, whether it be socks or just mittens. The idea is wonderful, everyone is happy to receive such gifts in this northern country.
Ritual bonfires
Yule is a holiday, the rituals of which the inhabitants of Iceland honor today. One of them is the Yule bonfire. It was once believed that bonfires drive away evil spirits from dwellings on dark nights. Later, in the fire, they began to burn all the old things, symbolizing goodbye to the old and the transition to the new. Now bonfire is a good reason to have fun on the beach with songs, dances in a good company of friends. Everyone can bring small rubbish and burn it, observing the old ritual, this means that the house is clean, everything is ready for the holiday.
Nowadays, fireworks have become more popular, which also symbolize the cleansing of evil spirits. They look especially beautiful against the backdrop of Icelandic landscapes. The bright lights of bonfires and amazing fireworks make the northern night brighter. You can not be afraid of evil trolls and other Icelandic monsters at these moments.
Signs on the winter solstice
If you believe the signs, then concluded on the Yule holiday various contracts, agreements will be the most faithful. At the end of December, namely in the 20s, a good omen in Iceland was to get a job, although it would seem that the date is not entirely convenient. All proposals presented during this period should be accepted without a doubt, the results will meet expectations. Love explanations will lead to a happy marriage.
The day following the solstice is especially important; it determines what the whole year will be like. You need to listen to everything that is said and what is happening around. You know, this is a fortune-telling: a question is asked, and then look for the answer in the environment - what is said on TV or in a crowd of strangers to you. For example, you won the lottery that day, without hesitation you need to carry the winnings to the exchange, you will be lucky again. But this, of course, is from the realm of miracles. But if you are thinking about your relationship with a soul mate and suddenly you saw a nice couple of old people on the tram. What do you think, what in this case are hinted at by Celtic spirits?
Fortune telling for the Yule holiday
To try their luck, many divine on December 21. On the night of this antiquity, braids were woven from a variety of colored threads and before bedtime they placed their creation under the pillow. Dream should come prophetic and magical.
Who had an insoluble, difficult problem, took tangled yarn and unwound it. Sleight of hand played a big role, it depended on how soon the tangle of problems would unravel.
The girls prepared two different logs for this night: one flat, the other crooked with knots. They threw them into the fire. If knotty was the first to light up, then the future did not bode well, it was not worth marrying this year. If an even log burned brightly, then the girl had to meet a good guy who would become a caring husband.
People betrayed dreams in these thirteen nights, each of them could foreshadow the events of life.
Acting plot
Conspiracy and fortune-telling for the Yule holiday have tremendous mystical power, which is why many resort to them in our modern world. Until now, many people make an amulet and conspire to attract money. To make it, you need nine coins, six green candles, a copper tray (or any shiny one), a piece of green silk and a dry basil. On a tray you need to create a circle out of candles, put coins in its middle, light candles and utter a conspiracy: “This day it arrives at me, it spills with golden rain on my money. Sunlight will come and wealth will come to me! ” Candles need to be moved so close together that the wax flows onto the coins. Let the candles burn to the end. After the wax has hardened, cut it from the tray with the coins and sprinkle it all with dry basil. The amulet should be left in a place so that light falls on it during the day. He must lie there day and night. After that, wrap everything in a silk patch and hide in a cache where you store documents. Many believe this ritual, and, perhaps, such a silk patchwork can be found in many hiding places of Icelanders.