April
By Nichole
In New England, April is a wonderful time. After the snows of February and the fickle thaws and re-freezes of March, there is something almost magical about watching green spikes creep up through the earth, tentative at first, then exploding into verdant life. This renewal of the garden after months of winter can seem like a renewal of hope and life. So, as the weather becomes warmer and the hours of daylight noticeably increase, it is easy to understand why spring was so widely celebrated throughout Northern Europe.
Our ancestors divided up the year into two seasons, winter and summer, and April marked the turning point of the year. They greeted this change with festivals throughout the German and Scandinavian regions, many of which persist into the modern day.
Early Icelandic records refer to celebrations of Sumardagurinn Fyrsti, around April 20. In Iceland, this is the first day of summer, as well as the first day of the month Harpa from the ancient Icelandic calendar. The name Harpa originally derived from a reference to the harshness of winter, but over time, the association has changed to that of a young woman being greeted by young men on the first day of summer.
This was the major gifting holiday among Icelandic folk, and remained so until the 19th century, when it was supplanted by Jul. Another tradition involved the making of rye bread known as summer cakes and piling a whole day’s worth of food on top of them for sharing with others. Modern-day Icelanders continue to celebrate this day annually. It is a legal holiday, and is marked by festivities and parades. However, in modern practice, it is generally thought of as a holiday for children.
In Sweden and some other parts of Scandinavia summer began a little later; April 30 marked the festival of Walpurgis or Valborg. These were somewhat more adult revels involving bonfires, heavy drinking, and in some instances jumping into frozen rivers. Additionally, Bede wrote that in the Anglo Saxons referred to April as Eostramonth, and sacrifices were made in this time to the goddess Eostre. Little is known of this practice, or of the goddess herself, but it is generally believed that she is related to the dawn and to the renewal of life in the spring.
In April, in my own home, I have my own simple celebrations of the changing season. I always take time to leave additional offerings out to the land vettir, as they shake off the long winter. I welcome them with home-brewed beer, grains and nuts, as well as words of thanks and hope that they will continue to nourish and bless my garden and home.
-TRK-
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