This section on Ásatrú was contributed by Jayde.
What is Ásatrú?
Ásatrú is a living religion, currently practiced by a growing number of people
The word Ásatrú means Faith in the Aesir and the Vanir,
Ásatrú is open to everyone, and there are many different sorts
Ásatrúers often form local groups for the same reasons that people
The Ásatrú Way of Life esteems: courage, honor, hospitality,
An Ásatrú religious ceremony is called a Blot. Eight major Blots are
Disfest (Disablot) 31 Jan
Other Blots are held for special events, such as weddings,
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in the United States, Canada, and elsewhere. Ásatrú is separate from,
and not connected to, any other religious faith
(although there may be superficial similarities in some respects).
who are best known to most people as the Gods and Goddesses
of the Old Norse legends, although these same Deities
were once worshiped by most of the peoples of pre-Christian Europe,
and others as far east as India (they are the Deities of the Rig Veda).
However, because the Old Norse legends provide the best knowledge of them,
we usually refer to them by their Old Norse names -- Frigg and Odinn,
Tyr and Zisa, Sif and Thorr, Freyja and Freyr, and so on.
Traces remain in modern English: Tuesday means Tyr's day,
Wednesday means Odinn's day, Thursday means Thorr's day,
and Friday means either Frigg's day or Freyja's day
(scholars debate which).
of Ásatrúers (members of the Ásatrú Religion).
Anyone who wants to join Ásatrú can do so --
regardless of gender, race, color, ethnicity, national origin,
language, sexual orientation, or other divisive criteria.
Ásatrú today is no more "European" than Christianity is "Jewish"
or Islam is "Arabic" etc.
of other religions band together. These Ásatrú groups are sometimes
called Hearths, or Kindreds, or other names. However, many Ásatrú believers
live too far away from any of their coreligionists to be able to join such a group.
independence (and liberty), individuality (with self-reliance and
self-responsibility), industriousness (and perseverance),
justice (including an innate sense of fairness and respect for others),
loyalty (to family, friends, and the society of which one is a part),
truthfulness, and a willingness to stand up for what is right.
celebrated by Ásatrúers each year. These are listed below, with the
modern English name of each given first, followed by its Old Norse name
in parenthesis, and the date -- although the usual practice is to hold
the Blot on the nearest weekend.
Ostara (Ostara) 21 Mar
May Eve (Valpurgis) 30 Apr
Midsummer (Midsumarsblot) 21 Jun
Freysfest (Freysblot) 31 Jul
Fallfest (Haustblot) 23 Sep
Winter Night (Vetrnaetr) 31 Oct
Yule (Jol) 21 Dec
or on occasions such as the Feast of Vali (14 February).
Besides the Blot, there is another kind of Ásatrú ceremony,
called the Sumbel, which is a kind of formalized religious toasting.
Sumbels are held whenever people want to hold them.
There are also numerous social and cultural activities.
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Corresponding Links
Frigga's Web
A Frithstead for All Heathen Folk
Ring of Troth Official Web Site
Our Troth online - Table of Contents
(an excellent book, now out-of-print,
only partially (mostly, but not all) on-line)
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