Germanic holidays have been celebrated for thousands of years. They have a paganistic character and are strongly rooted in the original agricultural culture and the tribe. Fertility of the land, as well as of humans (and animals), takes center stage during these festivals. Similar to Celtic culture, Germanic culture was highly diverse, and festivals and traditions may have varied from region to region.
Jul / Yule: (ᛃᚢᛚᛖ)
This midwinter festival, also known as Jul or Yule, was celebrated around the winter solstice, usually on December 21. It was a time to celebrate the return of light, welcome longer days, and rejoice in the fertility and abundance that the new year would bring.
Ostara: (ᚮᛋᛏᚨᚱᚨ)
Ostara was the spring festival celebrated around the spring equinox, typically on March 21. It marked the beginning of spring, emphasizing new life, fertility, and the awakening of nature. It was associated with deities such as Ostara or Eostre.
Walpurgis Night: (ᚹᚨᛚᛈᚢᚱᚷᛁᛋᚾᚨᚳᚨᚾᚺᛏ)
Walpurgis Night was celebrated on the night of April 30 to May 1. It was a festival associated with magic, where bonfires were lit to ward off evil spirits and to celebrate the arrival of spring.
Midsummer / Litha: (ᛚᛁᚦᚨ)
Midsummer, also known as Litha, was the summer solstice festival celebrated around June 21. It marked the longest day of the year and was a time of joy, abundance, and celebration of the peak of summer.
Harvest Festival / Mabon: (ᛘᚨᛒᚩᚾ)
The harvest festival, also known as Mabon, was celebrated around the autumn equinox, usually on September 21. It was a time to celebrate the abundance of the harvest and express gratitude for the blessings of the year. It also marked the beginning of autumn and preparation for the upcoming winter.
Winter Nights / Rauhnächte: (ᚱᚨᚢᚺᚾᚨᚲᛏᛖ)
Rauhnächte were the twelve holy nights occurring between Christmas and Epiphany (December 25 to January 6). These were times of magic, divination, and transition, celebrating the closing of the old year and welcoming the new year.
