December 24, 2011
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Modresnacht or Madranicht
Taken from a blog by Cecile Az, Journalist, this is an ancient Anglo Saxon festiveal for the Great Mother Nerthus or Frau Gode. (I need to look this up). She is the Mother Earth of the North and symbolized fertility, peacy and family harmony. The traditions were gradually adapted to celebrations of Christmas.
This was taken from "The School of the Seasons": The Mothers - the night of the Mothers was a sacred night devoted to a group of feminine divinities like those pictured on carvings and statues all over Celtic France & Britain which show three women together holding children and fruit, fish, grain and other boutines of the earth.
This was a time when dead ancesters are paid tribute to.
Germanic/Scandinavian & Anglo-Saxon annual commemoration, an Odinist Midwinter festival held approimately on December 24. Motherhood was celebrated on this night; also dreams this night fortold events of the coming year. Evergree trees decorated on this night represent the Tree of Life or Yggdrasil (World Tree).
In celebrating the Winter Solstice -- the return of the sun -- you would probably want to have a special night to honor the Great Mother -- or all mothers -- through whom the great rebirth occurs. Have you experienced the darkest night of the year (and perhaps of the soul) and then been touched by the warmth of the sun within and without. Rebirth.
Great Mother Nerthus drives a chariot drawn by cows and from Advent to Epiphany, she flies over Germany, Bavaria, Tyrol and Eastern Switzerland with a bag of hail and lighted christmas wand with the fairey host who cling to her black cape of fog, snow and wind. Sounds like the correct time of year with the perfect weather. This was taken from Christine O'Keefe's Monster/Faery Page.
