The season of joy, and peace on earth. Where the warmth lights up the darkness and miracles happens left and right.

A time that in the last few decades has been seen as one of the most magical and wonderful times of the year.

However, in Norway it was quite different back in the day. Because when winter came, it also brought with it the darkest time of the year, and even if lights were said to keep the darkness at bay, there was a lot more preparations needed to ward of all the creatures that lurked outside in the winter cold.

Respect the creatures you shared your farmland with.

Be prepared for the season in time for Lussi long night.

And if you hear an ungodly chaos approach you in the darkness outside.

Pray.

When Christianity was introduced to the Vikings in Norway. It took a while before all of the new teachings was accepted. A different value and belief of proud Vikings left us with a few interesting things that was not seen in all other countries. Like how old pictures and statues of Christ on the cross does not show a downtrodden martyr ready for his fate. But a King with his head held high showing no pain, as the Vikings would suffer no weak King to follow.

Another thing that remained is our name for Christmas, as jul. It goes as far back as the middle ages, and was mentioned in old literature from around year 900. Where it said people were ‘drinking jul’ and then would ‘…begin Frey’s play’. While ‘drinking jul’ probably means they are drinking in celebration of the time, it is not known what they mean with Frey’s play. But it has been thought it was a celebratory drink to the old Norse gods. It wasn’t before the leaders started putting down rules where it wasn’t allowed to celebrate the old gods anymore that the old jul ended. And even if they kept the name, it was ordered to be held at the same time as the Christian Christmas, and it was no longer allowed to give sacrifices to the gods.

However, even with the new addition of one almighty God and his son, a lot of the old creatures from our lore remained as they had. We could just add something to the stories to ward them off with. Crosses made of iron, or actually anything with iron in it, and crosses painted on the walls with tar.

In old houses still taken care of to see how people lived in those times, you can still see painted crosses around the houses. Stategicly placed at all spots around the house. Beds, doors and windows. Placed up anywhere to protect them as the nights grew darker.

But what were they so afraid for?

A lot of things.

Most of all what started lurking in the dark after the longest and darkest night of the year. The night to the 13^th. Lussi langnatt (Lussi long night).

Before this day you should be done with your beer and getting the wood inside for winter. You should also leave the animals on your farm early this night, because it was said it was the only night in the year they could talk to each other, and after a long year, they had a lot to talk to each other about.

While the name comes from Saint Lucia and the celebration of her Lucia mass, our version of Lussi was something completely different. A demonic woman, that in some lore also said she had been Adam’s first wife that had been tossed aside with her own children when Adam found a new spouse in Eve (like the infamous Lilith in other lore) But while she is used to scare kids to behave, she is also a warning for people to do their preparations for Christmas in time. If the dark nights have come, and she is not pleased with how far you have gotten, she might be so mad she comes down your chimney and breaks it apart. Or she might just yell a warning down the chimney to give you some time to repent.

The dark days lasts from the 13^th of December to the 13^th of January though, and while it sounds easy to make sure to toss crosses round and get the baking and brewing done in time, there is also another danger that lurks these nights.

Åsgårdsreia.

And by God you would not want them to get a hold of you in the dark winter nights.

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Source:

Birger Sivertsen – Julens myter – om overtro og tradisjoner.

Ørnulf Hodne – Jul i Norge – gamle og nye tradisjoner

Image: Used under Creative Commons from Digitalmuseum.no.