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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Tonguez" data-source="post: 3931691" data-attributes="member: 1125">However what we can speculate on (for game purpuses) is the rituals of Eoster and those of the Yule.Eoster was the wife of Woden and goddess of the earth, her festival marked the Spring Equinox and was a celebration of new growth (bunnies and eegs)The name Yule comes from the Saxon word hwéol (wheel), connected with the circular course of the sun through the solstices and equinoxes. A winter/new years festival was held at this time over a period of 12 days (the 12 days of christmas) in which cattle and other beasts were slaughtered and offerings made.NB there is some confusion because amongst many groups (including the Norse) the Winter festival was held in November marking the 'First snow' - this was a feast of the Dead (cf Samhain)We do know that animal and human sacrifice was practiced and that the gernmanic Kings claimed descent from one or other of the gods. But we don't know much else beyond that in any great detail...oh yes it also seems that the Germanic peoples did not have a 'priestly class' such as the Celtic Druids and instead most practices were 'domestic' involving families honouring their dead or a chief making a sacrifice on behalf of his village/tribe (again CHristmas as a feast of the family has direct roots in yule practices of Family gathering around the Yule log where the spirits of Ancestors appeared within the flames and children were honoured and initiated into family rituals). In many ways the depiction of Conans 'prayer to Crom' seems to be somewhat accurate with regards to Germanic views of their gods ie the whole approach of "Crom, I don't know if you're listening but I could do with some help, and if you don't -l then to hell with you" (paraphased btw)</blockquote>

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