The Norse tradition of celebrating Yule (Yuletide=Yule Time) influenced many of the later traditions now associated with Christmas. "Yuletide" appears in Christmas carols, is often used interchangeably with "Christmas", and many still celebrate the holiday with a yule log. The Christmas tree also owes something to Norse traditions as it represented Yggdrasil, the World Tree.
Yule was a New Year's festival celebrating the end of the darkness of winter and the return of the sun. It was also a time to reflect upon the past, future, what one had done during the year that was now ending, and what one resolved to do better in the days ahead. The evergreen tree symbolized the World Tree, and so the life force, and the hope of renewal and rebirth, as did the bonfire which came to be known as the Yule fire and then Yule log. A part of the Yule log was always saved to start next year's fire, symbolizing the cyclical nature of life and continuity.
Odin, the king of the gods, was known as the All-Father or "Father of All" and was thought to ride through the sky during Yuletide on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir, distributing gifts to the deserving. Odin, with his flowing beard, influenced the development of the modern image of Santa Claus. One of the best-known works related to the Christmas season, A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (published on 19 December 1843), also owes much to Norse tradition as it was believed ghosts were especially active during Yuletide and might bring harm – or messages from the afterlife that could improve one's character.
A famous example of this is the medieval belief in the wild hunt, a parade of spirits, sometimes led by Odin, which reminded those who witnessed it of the brevity of life and what awaited them after death, giving the person the opportunity to change their ways, live a better life, and avoid becoming an unwilling participant in the hunt. The traditional British Christmas meal featuring roast beef developed from the roast boar of Yule (now largely replaced by turkey), although Christmas cake and Christmas pudding are thoroughly English.
As Christianity became more widespread throughout Scandinavia, the old traditions became fused with the new religion, influencing many of the other traditions long associated with Christmas today, including gift-giving and celebration through song.
The following gallery presents various images of the Norse deities and the traditions, which were practiced long ago by their adherents and, in some cases, continue to be today.
