Redbad's Hall

Woden and his Yule band assembled last night to feast on horse meat!

Happy New Year Everyone! May it be full of positive momentum and new opportunities! Hail and may the Gods bless you and yours!

Pagan Families In recent months, I’ve had the privilege of talking to not just many Pagans (for which there are many), but whole Pagan families. It has been a joy to see men, women and children; all believing, all practicing, identifying with our faith and upholding the traditions of old. I have been involved in the community for some time now and can see the marked difference of those I interact with day-to-day. The number of honourable young men who have taken up the flame of the Northern Spirit can be measured since the day I first professed – „I believe in the Gods; as my fathers of old did, as my sons anew shall so“. Honourable beyond measure as they are, they stand as the seed yet to be planted. The contrast to the Pagan families that we’ve interacted with is simply awesome (in the literal sense!). It’s been kin after kin; cousins, brothers, wives and husbands, children and elders. There are more folk faithful to the Gods now, supported on the shoulders and in the hearts of their blood-bonded, than I have ever seen. These burgeoning kindreds are just another step in the revival of the ancient Clanships; the seed planted, the sprout is forthwith. Paganism is defined and shaped in the image of the Gods. Their pantheon is not just as a group, but as a family – a clan! They act not in the interests of strangers and lukewarm sentiments of others, but in the inner-fire passions and desires of their kinsman. Just as the mighty World Tree Yggdrasil binds and stitches reality into cosmic order, your family tree is what binds, stitches, shapes and defines your reality. They are, as are we, bound by blood, as sure as one can be bound by oath – for blood is the unwritten oath we all should revere. Fate is an unlocked door, we just need to have the belief and will to push on it. Hail the Gods. #family #families #kin #kinship #clan #clans #paganfamily #paganfamilies #opinion #advice #december #anglosaxon #english #heathen #pagan

POV: we found you sneaking around on the streets at night during the Yuletide (lmao bad decision buddy)

This weekend I had the pleasure of celebrating midwinter with the wonderful people from Swesaz. It was very cozy and blessed. Sacred ritual performed with a sibbe has a truly indescribable healing and refreshing power. Hail and a blessed midwinter to all!

Winter Masquerades in the Low Countries 1/X Holy Man’s Masking When the days grow short, the fog falls over the land and the cold creeps into the homes, all the children in the Netherlands and Flanders are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Sinterklaas and his helpers. During the early days of December, Sinterklaas goes around the country with his troop of Zwarte Pieten to deliver sweets and gifts to all the well-behaved children, whilst naughty children are threatened to be taken away by Black Pete. Sinterklaas wears an old bishop’s garb and has a long white beard. Black Pete resembles an African, in old-fashioned pageboy clothing. All throughout the Low Countries the holiday is celebrated similarly, and the Sint and his Petes look the same. However, in far-flung corners of the land peculiar traditions, rooted deep in the unconscious of the people, persist to this day. Traditions which are hard to explain with the commonly accepted narrative of the origins of the Sinterklaas holiday. In the book 'Klozum, de oeroude wintermaskerade van het eiland Schiermonnikoog', Jan Kooistra describes the winter masquerading traditions on the island Schiermonnikoog. He also explains how in distant days, these traditions were common in all of the Low Countries. During the “Klozuming”, the older youth of the island goes through town dressed in costumes and wearing masks, entering houses wherever the people welcome them. With twisted voices they ask if the children have been behaving well, and they enjoy the treats or a drink offered by the family. Accompanied by the necessary chain-clanging, horn-blowing and bell-jingling, this lasts the entire evening. A drawing published in 1923 portrays the Klozums very traditionally: with beard and mask, chains, bells, stick and spear. The caption calls them “Schiermonnikooger Sinterklazen”. In the magazine ‘Hamer’ from 1940 we find an image of the so called “Zwarte Klaas van de Veluwe”. This figure has a blackened face, an unkempt beard, a chain around the ankles and a broom in his hands. In 1863 the Dutch author Eelco Verwijs writes the following: “For example on St.-Nicholas evening in Franeker, the so-called St.-Nicholasmen show themselves, who, dressed up and disguised in the most horrible ways, with terrible screaming and noise, travel around the region and engage in all sorts of wantonness.” From these and many other descriptions, we see that Sinterklaas used to look very differently: a terrifying apparition, masked, dressed in rags or animal skins, accompanied by a terrible noise of chains, bells, horns and the growling, unrecognisable voice. What is the explanation for this? This figure isn’t the Sint, but someone different. We’ll call him the Old Servant. During the christian reformations, Sinterklaas was banned in the Northern Netherlands as being a “papish naughtiness”. But the holiday itself proved impossible to forbid; it was too deeply rooted. So the servant carried on, without master! Through the centuries the Old Servant adopted certain traits of his master, most notably the beard and of course the name, which is apparent in the many descriptions of the servant figure, in name of Sinterklaas. We can say with certainty this is the servant figure and not a strange version of the Sint, because in many south German and Austrian sources (where the reformation had little impact) the two often show up together: the wild servant and the proper saint. The modern appearance of the duo was born in 1850. A book was written in which the servant was portrayed as an African in pageboy clothing. The book proved very popular, and in many places the appearance of the servant was changed to match it. This change in the appearance can be explained by the fact that most people had forgotten the true purpose of the holiday. They thought the servant figure only existed to scare kids into good behaviour, and many people called for a “friendlier” alternative.. But then we have to ask ourselves, what is the original purpose of the Old Servant? Where is he from? -TO BE CONTINUED-

This is late night gnome, here to say THANK YOU to all 224 of you for subscribing. I hope you're in the mood for midwinter effortpoasting 👀🗿🍄🌲

I’d like to give a few personal shout-outs to some channels that are owned by men I am fortunate to have met face-to-face. Germanic Paganism: Order of the Sacred Mannerbunde: I am very fortunate to be able to call C.N.J. Cornwell, the owner of this channel a close friend. I have attended several of his group’s events and the man is passionate about Anglo-Saxon paganism. I would also like to emphasise his value as a friend, he is a compassionate man who truly cares about the wellbeing of his peers. Survive the Jive – Tom is an expert in the world of all things Anglo-Saxon and pagan, he knows his stuff and I’m sure most of our followers know him already. I would also like to add I have practiced with him and he is a sincere believer and I am grateful to have been guided by him in pagan practice. Sigmund’s Metaphysical Männerbund – I have spent many hours with the man who runs this channel, he is a generous friend who knows tonnes about Anglo-Saxon paganism. He is also a fantastic musician, writer, and craftsman. Definitely follow him if you don’t already. Redbad's Hall – This dutchman is charming and knowledgeable, certainly check this smaller channel out. The Fyrgen • ᚫᛚᚢ:ᚢᛚᚫ - I’ve had the pleasure of briefly meeting Dan, after hearing him perform his inspiring music in person. I’m also a fan of his podcast which he regularly posts episodes of right on telegram. Certainly follow the Fyrgen if you don’t already. Vaishnavism: Modern Kshatriya – One of the kindest gentlest souls I have met. This man follows the Dharma so closely. He’s well-spoken and hugely knowledgeable about various Vedic scriptures. If you are at all interested in Vaishnavism, Vedanta, The Bhagavad Gita etc – check him out. Buddhism: Egbert Moray-Falls – This man has grown to be one of my close friends. I consider him my go-to if I have any questions about anything Buddhism. I have spent time with him morning until night, and he is meditating and practicing throughout the day, perhaps the most devoted religious practitioner I know. If you’re at all interested in Tantric Buddhism, I’d strongly recommend following this channel. - Owen, The Sun Riders @Solarcult

Thank you very much to Owen. If you don't follow the Sun Riders already, please do so especially if you are interested in Indo-European and Celtic religion. The Sun Rider crew is very knowledgeable and dedicated. Hail!

Fijne Sinterklaas aan allen!

If you are Dutch or speak Dutch, please subscribe to the Dutch version of this channel. https://t.me/yngrsum

"Quietly may you step outside now No blackened head With hides around the body draped And horns on top. No chains are clattering on the cobbles As from a circus bear, You hear no door, no fences rattling Terror-cries you hear no more." Are you ready...... for the night of the Klozum...... https://t.me/yngrsum/3

Some sea stories of the Flying Dutchman tell of the phantom ship, doomed to never make port. Crossing paths in her wake is a terrible omen. The ship appears before hurricanes, and Its crew floats barrels of letters to passing sailors, begging them to deliver them. All are addressed to people long dead

Wieland, de smid. In 1948 werd er bij werken in Schweindorf, Oostfriesland, een kostbaar gouden muntstuk gevonden. De munt zou tussen 574 en 625 n.Chr. zijn gemaakt en heeft een opschrift in Friese ruinstaven. De ruinen (in omgekeerde volgorde) lezen als volgt: ᚹᛖᛚᚩᛞᚢ of 'wela[n]du', de Oudfriese naam voor de held Wieland. Wieland stond bekend als de beste smid in mensenheugenis. Er zijn verschillende versies van zijn verhaal maar over het algemeen komen ze overeen. Zijn vader zou ofwel de watergod Wate of een koning zijn geweest, die hem had leren smeden. Verlaten door zijn vrouw, Wieland werd tot slaaf gemaakt door koning Nidud. Deze maakte hem kreupel en beval hem wapens te maken voor hem. Wraakzuchtig, Wieland vermoordde de zonen van Nidud, maakte bekers van hun schedels en bezwangerde zijn dochter. Toen hij de koning hiermee confronteerde, ontweek Wieland zijn aanvallen door, met vleugels, hoog in de lucht te vliegen. Deze munt is de oudst gekende verwijzing naar de smid.

I will add to these comments that the Old English noun blōt 'sacrifice' refers mainly to the spilling of the blood of a sacrificial victim, and since, for various reasons, most modern sacrifices are of alcoholic drinks rather than blood, which is a fitting substitute with mythic equivalents as I have demonstrated in my videos, the libation of mead or other alcohol in a ritual context is not merely part of a toasting ceremony like Symbel but can be the main sacrificial offering for many - with the mead becoming blood just as wine does for Catholics in their Mass. Let us also keep in mind that the English word 'god' itself derives in all likelihood from PIE *ǵʰeu̯- "to pour, libate" surviving in modern Dutch 'Giet', meaning, 'to pour' The pouring out of a sacred liquid is a primordial act which allows us to participate in the action of the gods.

check out these links for more info about this particular May Day celebration. Looks wonderful. https://www.lustleighvillagehall.co.uk/event/may-day-4 https://www.lustleigh-society.org.uk/lustleigh-may-day-a-history/

Another one from this summer. Small village in Dartmoor where they had this massive rock with a throne for the May Queen, and all the names of previous May Queens hewn into the stone. Very cool to see.

With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children, England mourns for her dead across the sea. Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit, Fallen in the cause of the free. Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres. There is music in the midst of desolation And a glory that shines upon our tears. They went with songs to the battle, they were young, Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow. They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted, They fell with their faces to the foe. They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. They mingle not with their laughing comrades again; They sit no more at familiar tables of home; They have no lot in our labour of the day-time; They sleep beyond England's foam. But where our desires are and our hopes profound, Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight, To the innermost heart of their own land they are known As the stars are known to the Night; As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust, Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain, As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness, To the end, to the end, they remain.

This day is also celebrated in the Netherlands, mainly by kids going from door to door with a little lantern, singing songs and getting candy in return. Connections to Halloween? Álfablót? I think it likely