What is Sígrblót?

The Norse, like all peoples, celebrated seasonal and astrological changes. What these celebrations were and how they were celebrated has been largely up for interpretation, relying on the Sagas, archeology, and surviving traditions to inform scholars and modern Norse pagans. In Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga by Snorri Sturluson, three great sacrifices are mentioned.

Þá skyldi blóta í móti vetri til árs, 

en at miðjum vetri blóta til gróðrar, hit þriðja at 

sumri, þat var sigrblót.

There should be a sacrifice at the beginning of winter for a good year, 

and in the middle of winter for a good crop, the 

third in summer day, that was the sacrifice for victory.

Of these mentioned festivals, Sígrblót is mentioned by name as a "sacrifice for victory" on "the third in summer day." Unlike Vetrnætr and Yule, Sígrblót is the only mentioned celebration to occur during the summer months, so what exactly happened during this festival, and when exactly would it have been celebrated?

Winter passing would have been a significant turning point for the Nordic people as it meant food and plenty were on their way. For a few months, the people would have to struggle less, as their pantries and storehouses overflowed with abundance. We know from Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga that Sígrblót was celebrated during summer or Náttleysi ("nightless days"), but the exact day is not mentioned. 

In the Heimskringla in the Saga of St. Olaf, there is mention of a feast taking place in Uppsala in the month of Góa.

Í Svíþjóðu var þat forn landssiðr, meðan heiðni var þar, at höfuðblót skyldi vera at Uppsölum at gói. Skyldi þá blóta til friðar ok sigrs konungi sínum, ok skyldu menn þangat soekja um alt Svíaveldi. Skyldi þar þá ok vera þing allra Svía. Þar var ok þá markaðr ok kaupstefna ok stóð viku. En er kristni var í Svíþjóð, þá hélzt þar þó lögþing ok markaðr. En nú síðan er kristni var alsiða í Svíþjóð, en konungar afroektust at sitja at Uppsölum, þá var foerðr markaðrinn ok hafðr kyndilmessu. Hefir þat haldizk alla stund síðan, ok er nú hafðr eigi meiri en stendr þrjá daga. Er þar þing Svía, ok soekja þeir þar til um allt land.

In Sweden it was the old custom, while Heathenry was there, that the most important sacrifice haed to be held at Uppsala in the month of Gói. Sacrifices had to be offered for frith and for the victory of their king, and people had to come there from the entire Swedish realm. There also had to be an assembly of all Swedes, and there was also a market and fair there, and it lasted a week. When Christianity was in Sweden, the legal assembly and market were still held. Now, ever since Christianity became the custom in Sweden, and the kings refused to stay at Uppsala, the market was moved and held at Candlemas. It has been held ever since then, and now it lasts no more than three days. The assembly of the Swedes is there, and they come there from all over the country.

While not mentioned by name, most historians believe this feast would have been Sígrblót as it specifically mentions "victory" despite it occurring during the month of Gói. This is further supported in the Ynglinga saga, Egils saga, and Vatnsdæla saga, which all mention a blót held at the beginning of summer. In the Ynglinga saga, it says,

Eftir um vorið fór Granmar konungur til Uppsala að blóta sem siðvenja var til móti sumri að friður væri. Féll honum þá svo spánn sem hann mundi eigi lengi lifa. Fór hann þá heim í ríki sitt.

In the spring, King Granmar went to Uppsala to make a vow, as was the custom, to the summer for peace. Then he was so struck with the fear that he would not live long. He then returned home to his kingdom.

As mentioned earlier, the Egils saga also mentions a "great summer sacrifice" at Gaular, while Vatnsdæla saga speaks of the witch Ljót and her half son preparing to hold a "blót í mót sumri," “at the beginning of summer.” Combined, these sagas strongly suggest Sígrblót occurred during April or Góa and was a sacrifice for victory, most likely a celebration of the victory of summer's warmth and light over winter's cold and darkness. How Sígrblót was celebrated, however, is largely left up to the interpretation of rather incomplete records.

Unlike other blóts, there are not many references to the celebratory practices of Sígrblót in the sagas, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what happened during these feasts. Heimskringla contains the only definitive reference from the sagas detailing what would have happened during Sígrblót. The aforementioned passage suggests that a sacrifice was made for peace and victory to their king and that people traveled from all over to be present. We know from other passages in the sagas how these blóts or sacrifices were carried out, which you can read more about in my post What is Vetrnætr or Winter Nights?

Modern scholars, however, question whether or not Chapter 8 of the Ynglinga Saga reflects actual religious practices. In Rudolf Simek's Dictionary of Northern Mythology, Simek asserts that Sígrblót's sacrifice "probably does not correspond to reality as the Spring sacrifice was undoubtedly a sacrifice of fertility." These reservations are echoed in Norse Mythology: A Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs by John Lindow, who writes, "the summer ceremony, if it was for victory, would coincide with the departure of ships on raiding (and, more mundanely, trading) voyages." While some modern practitioners have suggested the "victory" mentioned during this sacrifice is related to war and battle, many more believe the victory being celebrated is the victory of life over death, summer over winter, or new beginnings over stagnation.

Relying on sources from Germanic regions, which shared a lot of similar customs to Nordic countries, some have suggested Sígrblót may have included ritual mock combats between Summer and Winter to showcase Summer's victory over Winter. This practice is most clearly outlined in Historia de Gentibus Septentrionalibus by Olaus Magnus from 1555, where Magnus details this staged combat between personifications of Summer and Winter that took place during "Summer Finding":

"On the first of May, when the sun is passing through Taurus, the magistrates of the cities commission two squadrons, or cohorts, of riders, consisting of tough young men who make a show as if they are about to advance to some hard battle. Of these the one is commanded by a leader appointed by lot; he bears the name and costume of Winter and, clad in various pelts and armed with pokers, scattering snowballs and chunks of ice to prolong the cold, he rides about as if he has won a victory...

The leader of the troop of riders on the other side, representing summer, is called Count Floral. He is garbed in the green boughs of trees, together with leaves and flowers, which have been found with difficulty, and wears summery clothes that afford little protection. Like Duke Winter, he comes into the city from the countryside, though each from a different place and with different arrangements. Contesting with their lances, they give a public entertainment to demonstrate that summer overcomes winter.

...the favourable opinion of the bystanders, who refuse to tolerate any longer the harsh reign of Winter, confirms the result by a just and proper decision, and to everyone’s joy the victory is awarded."

These battles are further recorded in Grimm's Teutonic Mythology. A traditional song from the Middle Rhine region says:

Der Winter hast verloren;

der Winter liegt gefangen;

und wer nicht dazu kommt,

den schlangen wir mit stangen.

Winter has lost,

Winter lies a prisoner,

and whomever doesn’t agree

we’ll beat with staves.

This, too, shows that these ritual mock battles were commonplace, but unfortunately, we cannot be sure these mock battles would have been performed during Sígrblót. Despite this, many modern practitioners include such mock battles in their celebrations, along with a number of other fun customs such as maypole dancing, sumbles, and the sharing of victories.

This year (2025), Sígrblót falls on April 12th, the fourth full moon after the winter solstice. Keep an eye out for my upcoming post on ways to celebrate Sígrblót, my sacrifice suggestions, feast recipes, and altar inspiration! Until then!

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