Putting Odin Back Into the Yule Tide Season

Many Christians freely acknowledge that holidaysnever left. It's not a matter of reviving something
such as Christmas are largely derived fromthat has died, merely reawakening a sleeping
ancient "pagan" customs. For this reason, somecultural giant from within. The exact forms and
conservative Christian churches, such as thecustoms, although many have survived albeit in
Jehovah's Witnesses and at one time theoften "Christianized" forms, are not as important
Worldwide Church of God, have shunnedas the spirit and knowledge with which the
Christmas because of its association withcelebration is approached.
paganism.[C.W.] What is some of the Germanic symbolism
Others, however, have argued just the opposite:in Yule that you still see today in Christmas
that it is the very "pagan" elements withindecorations and customs and whatnot?
Christmas that makes the season special. Some[S.F.] The most important symbols of Christmas
have gone so far as to attempt to recapture thetime, such as the "Christmas tree" and Santa
original pagan or heathen meanings of ChristmasClaus both have pagan origins. The tree was
or "Yule-Tide" season, as it was called in Germanicoriginally one in the forest, an ancestral tree,
countries.which received sacrificial gifts during the Yule-Tide
One such person is Dr. Stephen Flowers, who hasand was illuminated and decorated with symbolic
been instrumental in attempts to revive the oldsigns and tokens to attract the ancestral spirits.
Germanic culture and religion. Flowers is one ofWhen the church banned such practices the tree,
the world's foremost experts in the ancientor a symbol of it, was simply brought inside,
"magical" writing of the German and Norseaway from the prying eyes of the churchmen.
peoples, the runes. Flowers, of Smithville, Texas,Santa Claus is a "jolly old elf," as we all know. In
holds his Ph.D. in Germanic Studies and hasthe Germanic world, elves are ancestral spirits.
published numerous scholarly articles on theSanta dresses in red, which is the traditional color
Germanic revival movement as well as severalof the garments of the elves. He is also related to
books on the runes that have become classics ofthe old gods Thor and Odin he lives in the North
the runic revival. Among his books are Runelore: APole, he flies through the air distributing blessings
Handbook of Esoteric Runology, Futhark: Aand his sled is drawn by reindeer called Donner
Handbook of Rune Magic, and The Nine Doors ofand Blitzen, German for "thunder' and "lightning."
Midgard. I interviewed Flowers on the subject ofOne of the most important aspects of the
efforts to revive the original meaning of theYule-Tide is economic. In ancient times all the best
Yule-Tide season.things were saved for Yule-Tide celebrations and
[C.W.] A lot of Christian fundamentalists realizethen splurged during those celebrations. This has
that there is a lot of "paganism" in Christmas (nottranslated to our whole worldwide economy,
to mention commercialization) , and so they comewhere a huge portion of business is done in and
up with slogans like, "let's put Christ back infor the so-called "holiday season."
Christmas." But wouldn't it be more accurate to[C.W.] What is the esoteric (secret) meaning that
say, "let's put Odin back in Yule?"Yule had for the German and Norse peoples?
[S.F.] Christians who have educated themselves[S.F.] This is the end of the year, and the rebirth
on the history of these things know as well asof the sun and of the new cycle of the coming
anyone that there is nothing originally Christianyear. This is why it was traditionally celebrated
about the late December holiday. Jesus was bornover twelve days, to symbolize the twelve
in the spring and all of the particulars of thecoming months, as well as to reflect over the
"Christmas season" are pagan in origin. To putpast twelve.
Odin back in place would be an act of culturalIt was a time when the inner seeds of action
restoration.were planted for the coming year, and
[C.W.] When and why did the Christian churchreconnection with the ancestors was firmly
begin to adopt the customs of Yule Tide andestablished. The Yule-Tide is a time to remember
incorporate them into Christmas (as well asancestors, and to celebrate their rebirth in the
customs related to Mithraism and the Sol Invictussmall offspring. The old belief in rebirth, or
mysteries)?"reincarnation" if you will, is behind the hidden fact
[S.F.] Most people are slow and reluctant tothat all holidays originally celebrating the ancestors
change, especially when their culture is workingwas also a "children's festival." This can be
well for them. In general the Germanic culturefavorably compared to the effect of Halloween in
was working well as it encountered Christianity. Itthe Celtic world.
took almost a thousand years before the whole[C.W.] What kind of effect would it have on
of the Germanic world from Germany to Englandsociety to reclaim or remember some of the
to Scandinavia could be Christianized.original meanings of the Yule-Tide Season?
This process started in the 300s among the[S.F.] As I have said, our culture is sick. Most
Goths and ended in 1100 in Sweden. The churchpeople recognize this on some level but don't
did not want to accept pagan practices; it simplyknow how it got this way. Most blame
had to do so in order to be successful. Their"permissiveness" or "ungodliness, " but the
"prime directive" was to be successful - at allproblems have much deeper roots. The problems
costs. In the end it was more a matter ofbegan with the coming of Christianity because it
Christianity being paganized than it was a questiondemanded that we abandon our traditions, our
of pagans being Christianized.ancestral authenticity and many other priceless
[C.W.] Have you seen any effort in the generalaspects of culture. (This was historically done
public to reclaim the "pagan" roots of holidays,mainly to gain economic benefit from trade and
such as Christmas?relations with the richer Christian countries of the
[S.F.] Not in the "general public." Only a relativelyearly Middle Ages.
few educated and dedicated individuals to myTo cure our radical, fundamental cultural sickness
knowledge have attempted to restore our culturalit is required for us to discover it cause and treat
authenticity and thereby radically heal our culturethe illness at its root cause. This necessitates the
of its deep-seated malady.restoration of cultural authenticity and traditional
[C.W.] Can a genuine Yule celebration ever happenmythic values, which are our own, and not those
again? How much of the original meanings can beimposed on us from the outside. Restoring the
reconstructed versus how much was lost?Yule-Tide is just one step in the great act of
[S.F.] Certainly it can. The true spirit of the timecultural healing.