What Is Álfablót?
Álfablót is a Nordic celebration that honors the spirits of a family’s ancestors and the family’s ongoing vitality.
The word Álfablót is a combination of Alfar (the Old Norse word for elves, plural) and Blót (the Old Norse word for sacrifice). The name of this celebration literally means “sacrifice to the elves” because of the role elves are thought to have played both in mythology and society.
In Norse mythology, it is believed that the nine worlds of existence are contained in Yggdrasil, the World Tree. Two of these worlds, or realms, are home to elves: Álfheim(r) is home to the “Light” Elves, and Svartálfheim(r) is home to the “Black” or Dark Elves.
(Some historians believe the Dark Elves are interchangeable with the Dwarves of Old Norse mythology; but dwarves have their own world, called Niðavellir, and because Old Norse culture followed an oral tradition, much of the specifics are lost to history and we are left to create a modern-day interpretation of these realms as best we can.)
Elves had many similarities to humans, but they were also bound by their own worlds, rules, and traditions. As a result, Old Norse culture thought of elves as demi-gods. Individuals might not have prayed to them as they did the gods of the Norse pantheon, like Odin and Freyja, but it was believed elves could bring either good or ill fortune to households; family members (often of the matriarchal line) would leave them offerings in hopes of invoking their good will.
Old Norse culture also held the belief that the spirits of the deceased could potentially be reborn into their family line as a new member. The writings on this topic refer to these spirits both as humans and as elves, and so scholars posit that Old Norse ancestor worship was intertwined with worship of elves as benefactors of entire ancestral lineages.
This intertwining is a major aspect of Álfablót, which was celebrated on the full moon in either October or November (depending on the historical source). Álfablót is a late-harvest or post-harvest celebration; it would have been held at the tension point between autumn and winter, when the crops were harvested and the animals well-fed, but before the cold dark of winter had arrived. Álfablót was a private, family event dedicated to honoring the spirits of the family line, most likely asking them for their continued blessings and the hope of future descendants. Family celebrations like these were often organized by the female members of the household, and strangers or outsiders (who were normally welcome by the virtues of Nordic hospitality) would be seen as intruders or unwelcome guests.
Álfablót is not as well-known as other ancestral worship holidays like Samhain and Día de Muertos, and offers less documentation on how Old Norse culture might have celebrated, but that allows for a great deal of modern-day creativity and flexibility when it comes to its observation. For those seeking a deeper connection with their Northern European ancestors, Álfablót can be a wonderful way to explore keeping the memory of loved ones alive and honoring their memories. This blog post has some interesting history and lovely ideas that may be helpful to you in exploring Álfablót through the lens of your personal sanctum. Skål!
