Thorrablot: Feast of Thor By: Personified / Knowledgeable
Post # 1 Jan 13, 2017
History of The Feast
In a section of Flateyjarbok is a story that describes the family history of a legendary king, Thorri. He was said to be descended from the jotun-king, Fornjot, whose sons included Aegir, Logi, and Kari ("cold").Kari's sons are named Frosti ("frost"), who begets Snaer ("snow"), who begets Thorri (Gundarsson). Thorri was the king of Finland, Gotland, and Kvenlan. Gundarsson compares him to the myth of Old Man Winter or Jack Frost. His descendants were said to have married into human lineages.
It was said that Thorri gave his name to the first month of the Norse calendar. He was the first to supposedly hold a midwinter feast, and therefore it derives its name from him. This feast and celebration gained popularity within the last century. In Iceland, today, this feast falls on a Friday between the 19th-25th of January and is seen as a time to celebrate that the days are getting longer again (Gundarsson).
Thors Feast
In modern Asatru, many kindreds celebrate the late winter festival as the "Feast of Thor". In reality, there's no etymological connection between Thorri and Thor. Regardless, this is a time of year that is seen to be when frost is strongest and weather tends to be worsened. Traditional beliefs said that this was the time of year the rime-thurses and frost-etins were at their strongest. Thus, calling upon Thor at this time of year is fitting - as his hammer warded humanity from wights of winter. As Gundarsson says, "It is he, after all, who drives back the rime-thurses and brings milder weather".
This is a time for kin to gather around the fire on cold winters nights,to dance, play group games, sing old songs and tell stories, oath to the Gods, and drink. Thor may be called upon and offerings given to him, asking him to ward off the cold. Hardy meats and beer may be given in his name. Other deities, such as Skadhi, may be appropriate to give offerings to as well at this time of year.
Foods Galore
This feast tends to feature traditional and ethnic foods, such as: whole sheeps head, sheeps' head meat pressed into headcheese, lambs liver pudding, rams testicles pickled in whey, and hakarl (essentially a rotten shark dish). Those who wish to celebrate Thor at this time of year may eat a breakfast of herring and oats, as Thor once boasted to Odin that he enjoys this dish.A drink commonly served is Brennivin - known as Black Death - which is a schnapps made from potato and caraway.
Thorrablot caught the attention of the public in Iceland in 1958 when a restuarant in Reykjavik started to offer a food platter that consisted of foods commonly found in the icelandic countryside that were considered rare, served in a wood trough made like those within The National Museum of Iceland.Today, Thorrablot feasts are common for many icelanders and around the world.
Sources
Our Troth: Living the Troth by Kvedulf Gundarsson, 2007
