Yule-Tide in Many Lands | Page 2

When the mistletoe struck Balder it pierced
him through and through and he fell lifeless.
"So on the floor lay Balder dead; and round[2] Lay thickly strewn
swords, axes, darts, and spears, Which all the Gods in sport had idly
thrown At Balder, whom no weapon pierced or clove; But in his breast
stood fixt the fatal bough Of mistletoe, which Lok the Accuser gave To
Höder, and unwitting Höder threw-- 'Gainst that alone had Balder's life
no charm."
[Footnote 2: From Matthew Arnold's "Balder Dead."]
Great excitement prevailed among the assembled gods and goddesses
when Balder was struck dead and sank into Hel,[3] and they would
have slain the god of darkness had it not occurred during their
peace-stead, which was never to be desecrated by deeds of violence.
The season was supposed to be one of peace on earth and good-will to
man. This is generally attributed to the injunction of the angels who
sang at the birth of Christ, but according to a much older story the idea
of peace and good-will at Yule-tide was taught centuries before Christ.
[Footnote 3: Hel or "his grave"; the terms were once synonymous.]
According to the Edda, gifts from the gods and goddesses were laid on
Balder's bier and he, in turn, sent gifts back from the realm of darkness
into which he had fallen. However, it probably is from the Roman
Saturnalia that the free exchange of presents and the spirit of revelry
have been derived.
The Druids held the mistletoe in great reverence because of its

mysterious birth. When the first new growth was discovered it was
gathered by the white-robed priests, who cut it from the main bough
with a golden sickle never used for any other purpose.
The food peculiar to this season of rejoicing has retained many features
of the feasting recorded among the earlier people. The boar made his
appearance in mythological circles when one was offered as a gift to
Frey, god of rain, sunshine, and the fruits of the earth. This boar was a
remarkable animal; he could run faster than a horse, through the air and
over water. Darkness could not overtake him, for he was symbolical of
the sun, his golden bristles typifying the sun's rays.
At one time the boar was believed to be emblematical of golden grain,
as he was the first to teach mankind the art of plowing. Because of this
service he was most revered by our mythological ancestors.
In an account of a feast given in Valhalla to the dead heroes of many
battles, Saehrimnir, a sacred boar, was served. Huge pieces were
apportioned to the deceased heroes and the meat had such a revivifying
effect that, restored to life, they called for arms and began to fight their
battles over again.
An abundance of heavenly mead made from goats' milk and honey was
provided for the feasts and on occasions ale, too, was served.
Toasts were usually drunk in honor of Bragi, god of poetry, eloquence,
and song. The gods pledged themselves to perform remarkable deeds of
courage and valor as they tossed off horn after horn of mead and ale.
Each time their mighty valor grew until there was no limit set to their
attainments. It is possible that their boastful pledges may have given
rise to the term, to brag.
Apples were the favorite fruit, as they prevented the approach of age
and kept the gods and goddesses perpetually young and vigorous.
Certainly Yule-tide was a very merry season among the ancient people
who feasted, drank, and danced in honor of the return of the sun, the
god of light and new life.

When messengers went through the various countries bearing tidings of
a new religion and of the birth of a Son who brought light and new life
into the whole world, they endeavored to retain as many of the
established customs as possible, but gave to the old-time festivals a
finer character and significance.
As the fact of Christ's birth was not recorded and there was no certainty
as to its date, the early Christian Fathers very wisely ascribed it to
Yule-tide, changing the occasion from the birthday of the sun to that of
the Son. For a while the birth of Christ was celebrated on dates varying
from the first to the sixth of January; on the dates of certain religious
festivals such as the Jewish Passover or the Feast of Tabernacles; but
the twenty-fifth of December, the birthday of the sun, was ever the
favorite date.
Pope Julius, who reigned from 337 to 352 A. D., after a careful
investigation, considered it settled beyond doubt that Christ was born
on or about the twenty-fifth of December, and by the end of the fifth
century that date was very generally accepted