The Origins of Yule

Yule is a midwinter celebration that goes back to (as early as) the 4th century. The Germanic-Saxons called it Jólaboði (Jól), and the Scandinavians called it Jul. Both translate to the English word 'Yule.'

The exact dating of the pre-Christian Yule celebrations is unclear and debated among scholars. Historians have deciphered that Yule starts during the longest and coldest time of the year, Dec 21. Snorri in Hákonar Saga Góða describes how the three-day feast began on "Midwinter Night," however, this is distinct from the winter solstice, occurring approximately one month later.

In his Saga about the Norwegian King Hákon the Good, the famous Icelandic author Snorri Sturluson mentions that the King had decided that the Yule celebration should be moved and placed on Dec 25, when the Christians celebrate Christmas. This was an unpopular action, but the King attempted to Christianize Norway.

Typically, the Old Nordic people would have celebrated Yule on the first full moon, after the new moon, following the winter solstice. Andreas Nordberg proposes that in the Early Germanic calendar, the month that started on the first new moon after the winter solstice could range from Jan 5 to Feb 2 in the Gregorian calendar. Nordberg positions the Midwinter Nights from 19 to Jan 21 in the Gregorian calendar, falling roughly in the middle of Nordberg's range of Yule dates. Nordberg's dating is also consistent with the German bishop Thietmar of Merseburg, who wrote in the 11th century that the most enormous Yule feast was held in January in the village of Lejre in Denmark.