THE YULE SACRIFICES. 



345 



It was also said that cattle and horses were slaughtered there, the 

 altars reddened with blood, and sacrifices made for the bettering 

 of the year. Also it was said that they all thought it evident 

 that the gods were angry because the men of Halogaland 

 had become Christians " (St. Olaf, 113. Heimskringla). 



The second Midsvetrarllot (Mid-winter sacrifice), also called 

 Julablot 1 (Yule sacrifice), was held at mid- winter, or in the 

 beginning of the mouth of Thor (middle of January), to ensure 

 a good year and peace, and lasted three days ; at this feast 

 it was customary to make vows to some of the gods, especially 

 Frey, at Yule-eve. It seems to have been the greatest and 

 most important of all, and many animals were slaughtered at 

 it. 2 The 12th of January is still called mid-winter in Norway. 3 

 This sacrifice plainly shows that the blessings of peace were 

 appreciated by this warlike race. The Swedes, as we have read, 

 wept over the death of Njord, for during his time there were 

 good years and peace. 



" King Fornjot ruled Jotland (Jotunland) which is called 

 Filmland and Kvenland, that is east of the arm of the sea which 

 goes on the opposite side of Gandvik and which we call Hel- 

 singjabotn (Bothnian Gulf). Fornjot had three sons : Hler, 

 whom we call Aegir, Logi, and Kari, who was father of Frosti, 

 the father of Gnar the old ; his son was Thorri, who had two sons, 

 Nor and Gor ; his daughter was Goi. Thorri was a great 

 sacrificer ; he had a great sacrifice every year at mid-winter 

 which was called Thorra blot ; from this the month was named 

 (Thorri). One winter Goi disappeared at the Thorri sacrifice; 

 she was searched for and not found. When the month had 

 passed Thorri had a sacrifice in order to find out where Goi 

 was; this they called Goillot, but they learnt nothing about 

 her" (Fornaldar Sogur ii., p. 17). 



On the Yule-eve it was the custom to lead in procession a 

 boar, consecrated to Frey, called Sonar golt (atonement-boar), 

 and on this those present placed their hands, made solemn 

 vows, and drank the Bragi toast. 



" King Heidrek had a boar fed ; it was as large as the largest 

 bull, but so fine that it seemed as if every hair on it was of 



1 This was also sometimes called 

 Thor's sacrifice. 



2 It seems that at this season other 

 sacrifices than those to Frev were some- 



times offered. Cf. HalfJaii the Old. 

 Skaldskaparmal, c. 13. 



3 Cf. Ynglinjra Saga, 8; St. Olaf, 

 115. 



