>>13705140Haloween is exactly 6 months after what European heathens knew as “Mayday”, which here in Scandinavia was marked with the Valbjörgsnâtt (“Valgbjørg’s night”). Mayday was originally the day that marked the beginning of summer. In the same way, Haloween is the night that marks the beginning of winter. Everything was harvested, fruits and berries were ribbed, the trees bare of leaves, and the night frost set in.
It is from the pagan Celts that we have the best sources for this tradition, and on the Isle of Man the first day of the year has been considered November 1 - right up to recent times.
As I mentioned earlier, Valaskjálfr means “shivering/fallen” and connects to the tree of life – Yggdrasil. The god Vali/Våle means the «the chosen» and connects to the one who spiritually gets reborn. He is in the mythology the son of Rindr (“winter”) & Odin (“thought, spirit, inspiration, life”) and is also the equivalent of the god Vidar. Vali is the one that kills Hod, the murderer of Balder («The shining one») when only one night old. Vidar is also Odin’s son and is the avenger that slays the Fenriswolf. Both of them are personifications of the one that is reborn. Odin, reborn as his sons. Vali kills Hod and Vidar kills Fenris. Both of them symbols of winter.
"Varð af þeim meiði, er mær sýndisk,
harmflaug hættlig, Höðr nam skjóta;
Baldrs bróðir var of borinn snemma,
sá nam Óðins sonr einnættr vega."
From the branch which seemed | so slender and fair
Came a harmful shaft | that Hoth should hurl;
But the brother of Baldr | was born ere long,
And one night old | fought Othin's son.
Völuspá 32
"Þá kemr inn mikli mögr Sigföður,
Víðarr, vega at valdýri.
Lætr hann megi Hveðrungs mundum standa
hjör til hjarta, þá er hefnt föður."
Then comes Sigfather's | mighty son,
Vithar, to fight | with the foaming wolf;
In the giant's son | does he thrust his sword
Full to the heart: | his father avenged.
