Introduction

The Asatru tradition, rooted in the myths and beliefs of the Norse peoples, follows the great rhythms of nature: the seasons, light, the earth, and the dead. While the Eddas and sagas evoke certain rites, the Asatru calendar as we know it today is a modern reconstruction—informed by ancient sources, pagan symbolism, and contemporary needs.

This calendar distinguishes between main festivals , linked to the solstices, equinoxes and major community rites, and secondary festivals , often local, family or esoteric. Together, they form a spiritual framework allowing the year to be lived according to sacred cycles. Some modern practices are also inspired by lunar cycles, notably to adapt rituals to the rhythm of full moons or new moons, although this is not explicitly attested in medieval sources.

Some names used in this article, such as Midsommarblót, Helblót, or Landblót, are modern terms coined as part of the contemporary reconstruction of the Ásatrú calendar. They do not appear in medieval texts, but draw on attested practices or deities (Hel, the spirits of the earth, the solstice, etc.) to structure a coherent seasonal spirituality.

I) The main festivals

These major festivals correspond to key moments in the solar and agricultural cycle, when light, fertility, victory, protection, and the memory of ancestors are celebrated according to classical Norse traditions. They are attested in the sagas and the Eddas, sometimes with a contemporary reinterpretation of the rituals.

1. Jól (Yule) — Winter Solstice

Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025

Meaning :
Although the word jól Although it is mentioned in various sagas as an important winter festival, its origins predate Christianity. In the Ynglinga saga ( Heimskringla , chap. 8), Snorri Sturluson notes that this festival honored the gods for future abundance. Chapter 35 of the Gylfaginning complements this perspective by describing the cycle of seasons established by the gods. Associated with Odin, it symbolizes the rebirth of light, the memory of the dead, and the promises of renewal. It is also a time to honor the ancestors, called upon to watch over the community.

Traditional rituals:
Light a fire or candles to symbolize the return of the sun. Offer sacrifices (mead, beer) to Odin and the ancestors. Recite verses from the Poetic Edda , especially Hávamál (stanzas 77 to 81), evoking wisdom, remembrance of the dead, and prudence during the winter.

Contemporary ritual inspired by traditions:

This custom, although not attested in ancient texts, is inspired by the Nordic symbolism of fire and runes.

1. Choose a natural wood log (ash, oak, birch).
   
   
2. Engrave runes related to your intentions for the coming year (see Elder Futhark).
   
   
3. Optionally write a wish or oath in runes.
   
   
4. On the evening of Jól, burn the log in a sacred fire or on an altar, while reciting a formula or meditating.
   
   
5. The burning releases the power of the runes, carrying your intentions into the seen and unseen worlds to be realized in the coming year.
   

2. Dísablót - Sacrifice to the Dísir

Date: Saturday, February 1, 2025

Meaning :
In Heimskringla (Ynglinga saga, chapter 4), Snorri describes the Dísablót as a ceremony honoring the Dísir, female spirits who protect the clan and family. These rituals seek to ensure protection and fertility.

Traditional rituals :
Offering meat, grain, and beer on an altar. Resting in silence to listen for signs from the Dísir. Reading stanzas from the Völuspá ( Poetic Edda ), about destiny and hidden powers. Sharing a sacred meal together.

3. Várblót — Spring Equinox

Date: Thursday, March 20, 2025

Meaning :
Snorri mentions Freyr, god of fertility, honored particularly in spring ( Prose Edda , Gylfaginning , chapters 35-36). A festival of balance, where light and darkness share the day equally, heralding growth and prosperity.

The term Várblót itself is not used by Snorri , but devotion to Freyr in spring is attested ( Skírnismál in particular).

Traditional rituals :
Plant seeds as a sign of hope and renewal. Offer prayers to Freyr for a bountiful harvest. Recite passages from the Poetic Edda , such as Skírnismál , where Freyr sacrifices for love and growth.

4. Sigrblót — Sacrifice for Victory

Date: Sunday, April 13, 2025

Meaning :
The Sigrblót (victory blót) marks the opening of the summer season and the campaigns. Described in Snorri Sturluson's Ynglinga saga , this ritual was intended to ensure victory and success in future endeavors. It is traditionally dedicated to Odin, god of battles and fate, or to Tyr, symbol of justice and courage.

Traditional rituals:
Lighting a fire in honor of Odin or Tyr. Offerings of warrior symbols (miniature swords, victory runes). Reciting verses from the Sigrdrífumál (Poetic Edda, stanzas 5 to 11), especially the victory runes. Sharing a toast or a communal meal.

5. Midsommarblót (Miðsumar) — Summer solstice

Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025

Meaning :
The summer solstice celebrates the sun's power at its peak. Freyr and Freyja are celebrated for their connection to fertility, joy, and light (cf. Edda , Gylfaginning , chapter 24). This festival also symbolizes the abundance to come.

Midsommarblót is a reconstructed name.

Traditional rituals :
Open-air bonfires. Offering flowers, fruit, or water as offerings. Reading stanzas from Lokasenna or Völundarkvida . Dancing or singing in a circle.

6. Haustblót — Autumn Equinox

Date: Monday, September 22, 2025

Meaning :
Snorri mentions autumn sacrifices to thank the harvest gods ( Edda , Gylfaginning ). This is a crucial time to ensure protection and abundance during the winter.

Snorri mentions agricultural cycles , but the word Haustblót does not appear explicitly in the Edda.

Traditional rituals :
Plant offerings and fermented foods. Organize a community thanksgiving banquet. Reading from Hávamál stanzas 57-64 (hospitality and prudence)

7. Vetrnætr — Winter Nights

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025

Meaning :
Marking the beginning of winter, this festival is dedicated to the protection of ancestors and gods. In Heimskringla and the sagas, the remembrance of ancestors and divine protection are central to the ritual.

Traditional rituals :
Lighting candles in memory of the deceased. Telling stories from Norse mythology. Reading Baldrs Draumar.

II) Secondary festivals

These festivals, although less universally celebrated, enrich the Asatru tradition. Their forms vary according to families, clans, or regions. Only those with a clear historical basis or attested in the sagas have been selected here to preserve fidelity to medieval Norse sources.

1. Þorrablót — Icelandic Midwinter Festival

Date: Friday , January 24, 2025

Meaning :
A traditional festival marking the month of Þorri in the Icelandic calendar. Of medieval origin, it celebrates survival, community strength, and endurance during the harsh winter.

Sources: Mentioned in several medieval Icelandic sagas such as Flateyjarbók (late 14th century), this festival is also well attested in modern Icelandic folk traditions.

Traditional rituals :
Feasts consisting of fermented foods (sheep's heads, gamy shark, liver pudding, etc.). Tales of ancient myths. Raising of horns in honor of Þórr or the figure of Thorri.

Modern reference: L. Byock, Medieval Iceland: Society, Sagas, and Power (1993).

2. Landblót — Blessing of the land and the seeds

Date: Saturday, April 12, 2025

Meaning :
Spring ceremony dedicated to the nourishing earth Jörð, associated with the first sowing.

Sources: The Landnámabók mentions rites related to the land, as do agricultural practices mentioned indirectly in the Ynglinga saga (Heimskringla).

Reconstruction based on the sacred connection to the land in ancient Nordic societies. Landblót is a reconstructed name.

Traditional rituals :
Blessing of the fields and plant offerings (grains, flowers). Prayers for the fertility of the soil.

3. Helblót — Rite of the Dead

Date: Friday , October 31, 2025

Meaning :
A somber celebration in honor of Hel, goddess of the dead. A festival conducive to introspection and paying homage to the departed.

Sources : Gylfaginning , chap. 34, where Snorri describes Hel, daughter of Loki, and her kingdom ( Helheimr ).

A modern celebration inspired by the myths associated with Hel. Helblót is a reconstructed name.

Traditional rituals :
Offerings of dark beer or dark bread. Sacred silence. Meditation on the cycle of life and death. Reading of the Helgakviða Hundingsbana II .

4. Álfablót — Sacrifice to spirits and ancestors

Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025

Meaning :
A domestic, intimate rite dedicated to the álfar (nature spirits and deified ancestors). It was traditionally celebrated in family secrecy.

Sources : Explicit mention in the Kormáks saga (chapter 10), where access to a house is refused during a private Álfablót.

Historical reference attested.

Traditional rituals :
Private celebration. Offerings of milk or beer. All-night vigil.

5. Interesting secondary holidays

Freyfaxi (early August) : Icelandic medieval festival in honor of Freyr, marking the end of summer and gratitude for the bounty harvested.

Freyablót (late July – early August) : A major sacrifice to Freyr, focused on fertility, prosperity, and growth, especially in agricultural societies.

Týrblót (end of August) : rite dedicated to Týr, god of oaths and justice, often invoked for moral strength and legal protection.

Þingblót (June/July) : celebration linked to public assemblies ( þing ), where the gods are asked to bless political and judicial decisions.

Ættablót (October/November) : family or clan blót, centered on ancestors, strengthening memory and lineage cohesion.

Njörðrsblót (spring or late August) : coastal festival in honor of Njörd, god of the seas and prosperity, particularly celebrated by maritime communities.

Skaðiblót (mid-February) : winter sacrifice to Skaði, goddess of the mountains and the hunt, invoked for survival, protection and resources.

Many other festivals exist in some modern branches of Asatru. This article has chosen to retain only those rites that are historically attested or originate from medieval traditions in order to adhere to a line faithful to ancient sources.

Conclusion

This Asatru calendar, woven between ancient traditions and modern practices, offers much more than a series of festivals: it is a way to inhabit the year in connection with the earth, the gods, and the ancestors. It is not a fixed dogma, but a common thread that each person can adapt, expand, or simplify according to their practice.

By honoring these important times, we reconnect with a deep-rooted spirituality, punctuated by nature and ancient stories. May each celebration be for you a gateway to the sacred, an offering of meaning, and a further step on your path.

Main sources for this article:

Snorri Sturluson . The Edda: Tales of Norse Mythology . Translated by François-Xavier Dillmann. Paperback – February 21, 1991.

Snorri Sturluson . History of the Kings of Norway . Translation by François-Xavier Dillmann. Paperback – Large book, April 25, 2000.

Henry Adams Bellows . The Poetic Eddas: The Mythological Poems . Paperback – August 27, 2004.

Jesse L. Byock . Viking Age Iceland . Penguin, 2001.

Wikipedia (consulted to contextualize the authors, poets, books and poems cited).