Norse Pagan, Heathen and Asatru Songs for Yule

The tradition of Caroling and Wassailing

During the Yuletide seasons, what we now think of as “Christmas Caroling” was much less sober than it is thought of today. 

“Wassail” is not just a wish for good health, but a beverage of mixed alcohol in a bowl that carolers (known as “wassailers” or “well-wishers”) would carry from door to door and generous neighbors would pour in a bit of whatever they had.

 As if in imitation of the Wild Hunt, the group of Wassailers would gain “volunteers” from each home they visited until they came to the house of the Lord of the land where they were treated to a massive Feast.

While plentiful and sometimes questionable alcohol and massive parties were certainly a big part of the Yuletide in the past, it doesn’t have to be part of your practice. Singing with friends and family during the season can be a wonderful way to celebrate in and of itself and be some of the best moments of your life.

Yule Songs

(Republished from the Heathen Sole Lore Blog with the generous permission of the author, Winifred Hodge Rose)

Gods Bless You, Merry Heathen Folk!

(Sung to the tune of “God Bless You Merry Gentlemen”)

~~Gods bless you, merry Heathen folk, with luck and health and weal,

Remember all your forebears dear with horns of Yuletide ale.

Call out your boast, lay orlay bright, that well the Norns may deal:

For our Gods now have called to us, have called heart to heart,

For our Gods have spoken deep within our souls.~~

 

~~Great Yggdrasil, the Yuletide Tree, roots deep within the Well,

The World-Tree arches overhead, its age no one can tell.

The ancients whisper in our ears, we dream beneath their spell,

For our Gods now have called to us, have called heart to heart,

For our Gods have spoken deep within our souls.~~

 

~~Between time past and time to come a shining bridge is spun,

Of lore and love and faithfulness, all that our deeds have won.

Roll up your sleeve, reach out your hand, our work is just begun,

For our Gods now have called to us, have called heart to heart,

For our Gods have spoken deep within our souls.~~

 

~~Glad Yuletide now we bid you all with horns of flowing mead!

Bright Yuletide feast in Heathen halls shall make us glad indeed!

With frith and faith and wisdom’s deeds we plant the growing seed,

For our Gods now have called to us, have called heart to heart,

For our Gods have spoken deep within our souls.~~

 

The Holly and the Ivy: Song for Mothers-Night

(Adapted from the song “The Holly and the Ivy”)

 

~~The holly and the ivy, when they are both full grown,

Of all the trees that are in the wood, the holly bears the crown.

The glowing of the Yule Sun, and the running of the deer,

The blowing of the winter winds, calling Heathen Mothers near.~~

 

~~The holly bears a blossom, white as lily flower,

And Mothers bear their babies dear, come to their living hour.

The glowing of the Yule Sun, and the running of the deer,

The blowing of the winter winds, calling Heathen Mothers near.~~

 

~~The holly bears a berry, as red as any blood,

And spirit-Mothers come in dreams, to do their kinfolk good.

The glowing of the Yule Sun, and the running of the deer,

The blowing of the winter winds, calling Heathen Mothers near.~~

 

~~The holly bears a prickle, as sharp as any thorn,

Of Heathen Mothers, strong and wise, the ways of old were born.

The glowing of the Yule Sun, and the running of the deer,

The blowing of the winter winds, calling Heathen Mothers near.~~

 

~~The holly bears a ruddy bark, bitter as green gall,

Now Heathen Mothers stand by us, give rede and ward to all!

The glowing of the Yule Sun, and the running of the deer,

The blowing of the winter winds, calling Heathen Mothers near.~~

 

Ullr’s Yule Gift

(The tune is from a 16th century Latin carol, Psallite Unigenito, that was based on an earlier German tune.  Words by Winifred.  If you prefer not to sing about cutting trees, sing to pursue this question in your mind: where can you seek, and how can you best use, the power and blessing that can be conferred upon us by the great trees and their sacred connections?)

 

~~Forth we go, into the driving snow,

Yule tree seek we, Yule tree lofty!

Forth we go!

Yule log’s might and main we’ll bring,

With Yuletide blessing, needles green,

Into the fire’s glow.~~

 

~~Cold winds blow, Sun is sinking fast,

Winds are whipping round our heads,

Cold winds blow!

So our hearts are filled with dread:

Where are we now?  Naught can we see

Amidst the blowing snow.~~

 

~~Look you there, footprints in the snow,

Criss-cross pattern, snowshoe-sign.

Look you there!

Mighty strides a man is taking,

Forth into the forest deep,

His steps will show us where.~~

 

~~Round about, snowshoe-tread is there,

Ringed around a mighty tree!

Round about,

Ullr’s marked his gift to us,

So let us take it, hasten home,

Give thanks with a glad shout!~~

 

~~Well we know, now, our pathway home:

Snowshoes’ shining trail we see!

Well we know

Ullr’s path: our Winter God

Gives us his blessing, we are glad,

Let us invite him home!~~

 

~~Home we go, out of the driving snow!

Yule tree sought we, Yule tree bear we!

Home we go!

Yule log’s might and main we bring

With Ullr’s blessing, let us sing

Around the fire’s glow!~~

 

Yule Feasting Song

 

(Sung to the tune of “Good King Wenceslas”.  This is a lighthearted sumbel or festive song; you may like to add more verses of your own!)

~~Ingvi-Frey, the King of Bliss, Lord of love and gladness,

Giver of the harvest gifts, let him banish sadness!

Hail him now and give him thanks, ask him for his blessing!

Always give back gift for gift: let not friendship lessen!~~

 

~~Freya, golden Vanadis, mighty Queen of magic!

Join us for our Yuletide feast, share our fun and frolic!

Hail her now and give her thanks, ask her for her blessing!

Always give back gift for gift: let not friendship lessen!~~

 

~~Mighty Thor the Thunder-God, Midgard’s great defender!

Redbeard, share our meat and mead, lest you grow too slender!

Hail him now and give him thanks, ask him for his blessing!

Always give back gift for gift: let not friendship lessen!~~

 

~~Sif the shining Harvest Queen, Thor’s beloved helpmate,

Thrudheim’s gracious chatelaine, bless us as we fill our plates!

Hail her now and give her thanks, ask her for her blessing!

Always give back gift for gift: let not friendship lessen!~~

 

~~Woden, Wish-God, wisdom’s lord, wode and wonder-bringer,

Tell us of your treasure hoard, give holy mead to singers!

Hail him now and give him thanks, ask him for his blessing!

Always give back gift for gift: let not friendship lessen!~~

 

~~Frigga, hearth and home’s bright core, giver of life’s blessings!

Keeper of the secret lore, including lore of dressing!

Hail her now and give her thanks, ask her for her blessing!

Always give back gift for gift: let not friendship lessen!~~

 

Boar’s Head Blessing

 

(Adapted from “The Boar’s Head Carol”.  This can be sung when bringing in the feast, whatever it happens to be, even if it isn’t a boar’s head!)

 

~~The boar’s head in hand bear I, bedecked with bay and rosemary,

And I bid you, good Heathens, be merry, together on this holy day!

Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey, Frigga, Freya bless this day!~~

 

~~The boar’s head, as I understand, is the fairest dish in all the land,

When thus bedecked with a gay garland, presented on this blessed day!

Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey, Frigga, Freya bless this day!~~

 

~~Our good cook has provided this in honor of the King of Bliss,

Who on this day to be feasted is: now glad betide Frey’s holy day!

Odin, Thor and Ingvi-Frey, Frigga, Freya bless this day!~~

 

Deck the Hall

 

(Here’s an old favorite that needs no alteration to fit well with a Heathen celebration!  The ‘blazing Yule’ refers to the Yule log in the fireplace.)

 

~~Deck the hall with boughs of holly, fa la la la la, la la la la!

‘Tis the season to be jolly, fa la la la la, la la la la!

Don we now our gay apparel, fa la la, fa la la, la la la la!

Troll the ancient Yuletide carol, fa la la la la, la la la la!~~

 

~~See the blazing Yule before us, fa la la la la, la la la la!

Strike the harp and join the chorus, fa la la la la, la la la la!

Follow me in merry measure, fa la la, fa la la, la la la la!

While I tell of Yuletide treasure, fa la la la la, la la la la!~~

 

~~Fast away the old year passes, fa la la la la, la la la la!

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses, fa la la la la, la la la la!

Sing we joyous all together, fa la la la la, fa la la la la!

Heedless of the wind and weather, fa la la la la, la la la la!~~

 

Wassail Song (Here we come a Wassailing)

 

(Adapted from the song of the same name.)

~~Here we come a-wassailing among the leaves so green,

Here we go a-wandering, so fair to be seen!

Love and joy come to you, and to you good wassail too,

All Gods bless you and send you a happy New Year,

All Gods send you a happy New Year!~~

 

~~Gods bless the people in this home, and all the animals too,

And all good wights and spirits that round the table go!

Love and joy come to you, and to you good wassail too,

All Gods bless you and send you a happy New Year,

All Gods send you a happy New Year!~~

 

~~Gods bless this world and all its needs, and folk in every place;

May hearts grow wide from giving, and respecting every race!

Love and joy come to you, and to you good wassail too,

All Gods bless you and send you a happy New Year,

All Gods send you a happy New Year!~~

 

Wassail, Wassail!

(adopted from the “Gloucester Wassail” carol.)

 

Wassail, wassail, all over the town

Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown

Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

 

So here’s to Lord Ygnve  and to his right cheek

Pray He send our master a good piece of beef

And a good piece of beef that we all may see

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

 

And here is to Odin and to his right eye

Pray He send our master a joyous Yuletide

And a joyous Yuletide that we may all see

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

 

So here’s to the Lady and to her broad horn

Pray She send our master a good crop of corn

And a good crop of corn that we may all see

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

 

And here is to Frigga and to her left ear

Pray She send our master a happy new year

And a happy new year as e'er we did see

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

 

And here is to bright Thor and to his red hair

Pray He bless our master and bring the May fair

And bring the May fair, as e'er we did see

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

 

Then here's to the maid in the lily white smock

Who tripped to the door and slipped back the lock

Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin

For to let these jolly wassailer's in

 

Wassail, wassail, all over the town

Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown

Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

Drink to thee, drink to thee

With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee

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