🍂 Haustblót – The Autumn Sacrifice

Haustblót ("Autumn Sacrifice") was a Norse harvest festival marking the end of the growing season and preparing for the harsh winter ahead. It was a time of gratitude, offerings, and omens, ensuring that the gods and spirits were pleased before the long darkness set in.

🔥 Haustblót Traditions & Rituals

1️⃣ Sacrificial Offerings (Blót)

• A boar, ram, or ox was sacrificed in honor of Freyr (fertility, prosperity) and Thor (protection from storms).

• Hlaut (sacrificial blood) was sprinkled on the altar, fields, weapons, and warriors for blessings and strength.
  
  

2️⃣ The Great Feast

• A massive feast of roasted meats, stews, cheese, and ale celebrated the harvest’s bounty.

• Drinking horns were raised in toasts to the gods, ancestors, and the coming winter.
  
  

3️⃣ Runes & Omens

• Seiðr-witches or Völvas read runes, fire patterns, or animal entrails for signs of fate.

• A bad omen could warn of sickness, war, or a brutal winter.
  
  

4️⃣ Honoring the Dead

• Offerings of food and drink were left for ancestors and land-spirits to ensure good fortune.

• Tales of fallen warriors and heroes were shared around the fire.