Winter Nights

Winter Nights is not just a single day, but a sacred season — a time for observance. It is a period designated for remembrance, reflection, and connection. Unlike a one-day festival, it spans multiple days, encouraging us repeatedly to recall memories, consider, and feel the presence of the Álfar and the Dísir.

This is a tide of remembrance. We reflect on those who came before us — our beloved dead, ancestors of blood, spirit, and land. We thank them for their struggles and hopes, for without them, we wouldn't be here. Their lives continue in us — through our DNA, memories, and the values we uphold. Winter Nights prompts us to remember the past while also encouraging us to reflect on our current way of living. Our ancestors faced numerous challenges — hunger, hardship, war, migration, work, joy, and love. We are the product of their hopes and struggles, carrying their stories in our DNA. Their legacy lives on through us.

The Hávamál teaches that cattle, family, and individuals all die, but the reputation of a person's actions lasts. This wisdom isn’t about chasing fleeting glory but about the lasting value of living with honor. All things pass: wealth, possessions, even our bodies. What remains is how we lived—the name we leave behind and the memory others hold of us. Living with honor means living ethically and maintaining right relationships with kin, land, gods, and spirit. By acting with integrity, we uphold and pass on a stronger inheritance, just as we inherit the strength of our predecessors. We are part of a long tradition of remembrance, with our ancestors present in us. Their struggles give us life, and their hopes continue through us. Just as they live in us, future generations will remember us too.