December 21st, the shortest day and longest night of the year, marks the beginning of the 12 Rauhnächte, the “wild hunt” of Wodan, who rides with his warriors against the powers of darkness.
The Rauhnächte, also known as the Holy Nights, symbolize the transition from life to death and from death to life—a fresh start and rebirth. These nights also serve to bring closure to the past year, to reflect, and to leap into the new—never to slide into it, especially not on one's knees—which seems alien to us, the freedom-loving Germanic people, like “Rosh Hashanah.”
The new beginning as the birth festival of the sun, symbolized by the wheel cross / sun wheel, which turns in the course of the sun toward the return to life—the time of light begins!
We set up the Yule tree, light candles, and give gifts, especially to those close to us.
This year, we once again have many gift ideas for the festivals of the seasonal cycle and traditional customs:
- Christmas tree ornaments (Yule tree baubles with Thor's hammer)
- Tea lights and beeswax candles
- Yule lanterns, solstice lanterns, and traditional custom lanterns
- God figures of Norse mythology and the light goddess Lucia (who is of great importance for the festival of lights, not only in Scandinavia)
- King chains and other jewelry made of precious metal (stainless steel, silver, and gold-plated silver), amber, and wood with triskeles, Mjölnir, or Irminsul
- Wotan's ravens as Germanic jewelry pendants
Accessories for a festive table:
- Plates with runes
- Glasses with Irminsul, Thor's hammer, or other symbols from the Viking Age
Board games:
- “In the Name of Odin”
- “A Feast for Odin”
- “Odin's Ravens”
- Hnefatafl, rune games, and others (not only for the time of the Rauhnächte)
Books on the cultivation of customs and Germanic cultural life
- “Cooking like the Vikings or Alemanni”
- Viking smoked salt (for Viking cuisine)
- delicious mead (honey wine) and honey beer
- “Viking Blood and Arminius Blood”
- Drinking horns
To all our customers: Have fun browsing—and finding... on our website.
The Nordwelt-Versand team wishes you a wonderful Yule festival and a happy New Year!
