As nights lengthen and storms return, whispers of the Wild Hunt fill the air. This fantastical procession, a hallmark of winter folklore, carries tales of Odin and spirits traversing the night sky between the wintersolstice and the 1st of January.
Im German folklore and especially what I learned from my family the Wild Hunt is led by those magnificent figures: Odin, the Allfather and Mother Holle.
The ghostly procession travels through the air with a terrible clatter, screaming, howling, wailing, moaning and groaning. Sometimes, however, it also makes sweet music, which is usually seen as a good omen; otherwise it heralds bad times.
Men, women and children take part in the procession, mostly those who have met an untimely, violent or unfortunate death. The procession consists of the souls of people who died "before their time", caused by circumstances that occurred before natural death in old age. Legend says that people who look at the Wild Hunt are pulled along and then have to travel with it for years until they are freed. Animals, mainly horses and dogs, also join the procession.
In general, the Wild Hunt is not hostile to humans; however, it is advisable to prostrate oneself or lock oneself in the house. Anyone who provokes or mocks the Wild Hunt will inevitably come to harm, and anyone who deliberately looks out of the window to watch the army will have their head swollen so that they cannot pull it back.
Chariot wheels, spinning wheels, mill wheels and all other wheels had to stand still during this time.
Only at the end of the 12 days does the strong golden-bristled boar "Gullinborsti", he was the animal of Freyr, the ancient Germanic god of fertility, start the wheel of the year again and set it in motion.
Some ppeople also still believe that it is inadvisable to wash or hang up laundry between Christmas and New Year, as this could result in death. This is based on the belief that the Wild Hunt could get caught in the laundry or steal it and later turn it into a shroud.
The Wild Hunt marks the definitive arrival of winter, a time when darkness reigns. It coincides with the Winter Solstice, when the veil between worlds is thin. This spectral procession embodies the darker aspects of nature - death, destruction, and the inevitable dormancy of the winter months. It signifies the closing of a cycle, but also the promise of a new beginning.
While endings can be sorrowful, they also hold the potential for liberation, healing, and transformation. Just like the turning of the seasons, endings offer a chance to start anew.
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