Sigrblot: First Day of Summer

Sigrblot or Sumarsdag celebrates the first day of summer according to the Old Icelandic calendar. This Norse holiday was a time to celebrate planting and make sacrifices to Odin for blessings on summer travels and raids.

We celebrate Sigrblot one of the great seasonal blots celebrated in April. It is celebrated on the fourth full moon after the winter solstice. This year it falls on April 6, 2023.

It corresponds with the Wiccan Holiday Ostara. Victory is an important theme for Sigrblot.

History

Sigrblot was first mentioned in literature in the Ynglinga saga by the Icelandic poet and historian Snorri Sturluson during the year 1225. This King’s saga follows the history of the Norse kings starting with the Norse Gods until around 1200.

Traditionally it was celebrated in the month of Einmanuor, according to the ancient Norse calendar. Which would have been late March to early April and is often set to correspond to the spring equinox.

The word Sigrblot means Victory Sacrifice. The focus is often on the anticipation of voyages (and conquests) as well as trade.

A companion holiday, Varblot, (spring sacrifice) was often celebrated in Scandinavia and celebrates the spring equinox. The focus here is on more agricultural tones.

Skogafoss, Iceland. Photo by Martin Falbisoner

How Do We Celebrate Sigrblot Today?

In the modern world, few of us are warriors (literally) who raid and conquer other peoples. However, we can use this holiday to focus on new undertakings, important decisions, and courage.

Have a bonfire to represent the sun! Dance and sing.

Summer and longer days mean more time outside, exploring new places, and going on vacation. Consider an outdoor adventure such as rock climbing or white-water rafting.

Barter or trade is something we don’t think about in today’s society. However, trade was very important for all ancient cultures. The Vikings were great merchants who traded with many cultures.

Modern-day homesteaders often barter for goods and this can be practiced by everyone.

When we think about victories let’s not forget our men and women in the armed services. Honor a veteran or active member of the military. Send a card to a pagan military member.

Sigrblot For Pagan Families

Some good activities to do with children include:

• If it’s warm enough where you live have a picnic feast and give thanks to the sun.

• Get up before the sun rises and go outside and greet the day. Then come inside for some nice hot chocolate.

• Read Nordic poetry together. Odin loved poetry. You can read some poems or write your own.

• Odin represents overcoming challenges. Discuss ways they can overcome adversity.

Altar

Decorate your altar to honor the God Odin. Thank Odin for your victories – no matter how small – and ask for courage to face challenges.

Things to place on your altar:

• Mugwort, Ash bark, and Chervil

• Runes

• Odin’s colors are purple, red, and black

• Offering - Red meat, asparagus, mead, whiskey

Freya is popular in worship that celebrates the victory of the light over darkness and fertility for the land. Leave her an offering.

Read our article on how to Set Up A Norse Pagan Altar.

Rituals

Hope is a theme among spring pagan holidays. Focus on your hopes and dreams

We most often translate the “SIGR” to mean Victory but Hauker Dor Bragason, an Asatru priest in Iceland, states that it has many meanings.

Sigr can also mean success, results, and achievement. Rituals to help you work towards these things are important.

Ritual for Self Confidence

What You Need

This is a good ritual for increasing self-confidence. To begin you will need two physical symbols. One will represent confidence and it will go on the left of your altar or workspace. A No-Confidence will go on the right.

For example, if you lack confidence at work picks an item that symbolizes your workplace. If you feel confident when helping others with their problems pick a symbol of your caring heart.

Procedure

1. Caste your circle and state your intention

2. Take time to meditate and center yourself.

3. Gaze at your Non-Confidence symbol

4. Next, think of a specific time you experienced non-confidence. This may have been at work when you didn’t express your ideas to your boss because you didn’t have the confidence. Concentrate on that feeling.

5. Take a moment to recenter yourself.

6. Gaze at your confidence symbol.

7. Think of a specific time you felt confident. Maybe this was a time you helped a friend resolve a problem.

8. Get in touch with the feeling of confidence. Concentrate on how that makes you feel.

9. Lay your hands on your symbols and draw them together. Place the confident symbol over the non-confident symbol as you hold them.

10. State your intention. Place your symbols down.

11. Disperse your circle

Author, Erik Olsen, studied Anthropology in college and is currently completing an online internship with the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. Erik desires to be a Viking when he grows up and has worked in Outdoor Adventure leading hikes and rafting trips. A solitary Wiccan, Erik writes about Wicca, Norse religion, and making alters.