Blót facts for kids
Blót is an Old Norse word for a "blood sacrifice" or offering. It was a very important part of the old Norse and Anglo-Saxon religions (paganism).
People would offer a blót to different gods, to spirits of the land, or to their ancestors. These offerings often involved a special meal or feast that everyone shared.
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What Blót Means
The word blót comes from Old Norse. It means "sacrifice" or "worship." In Old English, a similar word, blōt, was used.
The word is also connected to older words that mean "to sacrifice" or "to worship." It even appears in words like blót-hús, which means "house of worship" or "temple." Some people think it's related to words like "blood" or "bloom," suggesting a connection to life and growth.
How Blót Was Done
The word blóta meant "to worship with sacrifice" or "to make stronger." Old writings and archaeological finds show that people often sacrificed animals during a blót, especially pigs and horses.
A blót was more than just a simple offering. It was a main part of many religious events. People saw it as a gift to the gods. It usually involved killing animals in a special way. Their blood was sometimes collected in bowls or poured onto stones. People would dip twigs into the blood and sprinkle it on others and on buildings. For example, at a temple in Hofstaðir, Iceland, oxen were killed during yearly ceremonies. Bones found there show the animals were killed quickly with an axe or sword.
After the animals were sacrificed, people would have big feasts with the meat. These feasts are described in old poems and stories.
In the story of Haakon the Good, a leader named Earl Sigurđr held a huge feast. He paid for everything. It was the leader's job to bless the ale (a type of drink) and all the meat. These feasts were often called blótzveizla.
People believed the blood of the sacrificed animals had special powers. It was sprinkled on altars, walls, and even on the people themselves. The leader would pass a special cup over a fire and bless it along with the food. During the Yule celebration, people would toast "for a good harvest, fertility, and peace."
These sacrificial feasts were a big part of ancient Scandinavian religious life. Many people would gather for seasonal festivals. Some family rituals, like the álfablót (Elf blót), were done at home and were kept secret.
Sometimes, old writings mention that prisoners of war were sacrificed. Roman stories about Germanic tribes sacrificing enemies to their gods are similar to how some people in Old Norse religion might have offered enemies to Odin. However, animal sacrifice was the most common form of blót.
Where Blót Took Place
A building where blót ceremonies happened was called a hof. Many place names in Sweden still come from this word. For example, old churches in Mære, Norway, and Old Uppsala, Sweden, were built on sites that used to be hof.
There were also other holy places like hörgr (stone altars), vé (sacred enclosures), lund (sacred groves), and haugr (burial mounds). Later, Christian laws told people not to worship at these mounds.
Denmark
Lejre
An old German writer named Thietmar wrote that the people of Denmark had a main religious center on Zealand, at Lejre. He said they gathered there every nine years. Archeological digs show that Lejre was a very important royal place during the Iron Age. While it was a major center, there is no strong proof it was a main cult site for large-scale sacrifices as described by Thietmar. However, another important ancient hof has been found near Lake Tissø.
Norway
Mære
The writer Snorri Sturlason tells a story about a meeting between farmers and King Haakon I of Norway in Trøndelag. King Haakon had grown up in Christian England and wanted to make Norway Christian. But the farmers did not agree with his religious ideas.
Snorri describes an old custom:
- All the free farmers would come to the temple for the sacrifice festival.
- They brought ale and sacrificed animals like cattle and horses.
- The blood was called hlaut and collected in special bowls.
- Twigs were used to sprinkle the blood on altars, temple walls, and the people.
- The meat was cooked for a tasty feast.
- A fire burned in the middle of the temple floor, with cooking pots hanging over it.
- Full cups were passed around.
- The leader of the feast would bless the cups and the meat.
- First, a cup for Odin was emptied for victory and power for the king.
- Then, cups for Njord and Freyja were emptied for peace and good seasons.
- Many people also drank a cup to remember friends who had passed away.
King Haakon, even though he was Christian, had to take part in this ceremony. He drank the mead (a type of drink) offered to Odin, Njord, and Freyja. The farmers also wanted him to eat the meat. But he only pretended to eat it, holding a cloth between his mouth and the meat. The farmers were not happy that their king wouldn't fully join the blót. The story says the king was very embarrassed and later went back to the old faith.
Sweden
Gotland
The Gutasaga, a story from the early 1200s, talks about blót on the island of Gotland. It says that before Christianity became common, people believed in holy groves, burial mounds, and other sacred places. They offered animals, food, and ale. The whole island had a very important sacrifice. Smaller groups also had their own sacrifices with animals, food, and ale. Those who cooked together were called "boiling-companions."
Uppsala
It's thought that the last big nine-day blót in Old Uppsala happened in 1078. The Temple at Uppsala was likely destroyed around 1087. For a long time, there were civil wars between Christians and pagans every nine years. The last battle happened in that year.
According to Snorri, a main blót called the Dísablót took place at the Temple at Uppsala in February. During this blót, people sacrificed for peace and for the king's victories. They also tried to see how good the next harvest would be. After the blót, a big meeting called the Thing of all Swedes was held, along with a large fair called the Disting. The Disting fair continued even after Christianity arrived and is still held today in Uppsala every first Tuesday in February.
Tiveden
In the Swedish forest of Tiveden, people continued to report pagan sacrifices long after Christianity became common. One such place was called Trollkyrka, meaning "troll-church."
Types of Blóts
The Old Norse calendar had two main halves: summer and winter. Some blóts were linked to these changes.
- Beginning of Winter (around late October): This time marked the start of "the winter nights" and possibly the new year.
- Winter Nights blót: This was a well-known feast.
- Haust blót (autumn sacrifice): This was mentioned in old texts, and the god Freyr was very important at this event.
- álfablót (Elf blót): This was a small, private ceremony held at home, led by the woman of the house. It was kept secret and likely connected to ancestors and family life.
- Dísablót: Dedicated to female fertility spirits called disir.
- Blōtmōnaþ: In early Anglo-Saxon times, November was called "Blót month" because cattle were offered to the gods then.
- During Winter
- Yule: An important sacrifice celebrated after the Winter solstice. When Christianity came, the Yule blót was celebrated around January 12th.
- Þorrablót (Iceland): A modern Icelandic tradition that looks back to old blót customs.
- Freyr blót (Sweden): Stories tell of a priestess of Freyr traveling in winter with a statue of the god, performing sacrifices for good harvests.
- Spring
- Dísablót: Another celebration for the disir.
- Midsummer (around June 24th)
- Sigrblót: This "victory sacrifice" was held in summer. Offerings were given to Odin, and people drank for success in war. This blót often marked the start of Viking trips and wars.
After Christianity Arrived
Even after Christianity became the main religion, some old traditions continued. For example, in Scandinavian Christmas traditions, people still leave an extra bowl of Christmas porridge outside for the tomte (a guardian spirit of the home). This is like sharing a meal with the land spirit.
The Þorrablót is an Icelandic tradition started in the 1800s. It was created to remember the old blót ceremonies.
Some modern followers of Germanic paganism have created their own blót rituals since the 1970s. In these modern practices, animal sacrifice is usually replaced with offerings of food or drink. The focus is on sharing food and strengthening community bonds.
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