January 14th

 

Midvintersblot/Saint Hilary’s Day

Midvintersblot or Midwinter’s offering, often called Tiugunde Day in Old English, was sacred to Tiu, the ancient Teutonic chief God and ruler of the year. The festival falls 20 days after Yule and is when the runic half-month of Peorth commences.

This day was christianized as Saint Hilary’s day (for Hilary of Poitiers), the patron of backward children, who was invoked against snake bites. This time is traditionally the coldest point of the year and marks the time when marriages were once again permitted after the Christmas season.