What is a pagan gifting cycle? Gifting cycles are a cornerstone element of Nordic philosophy related to frith and the idea of reciprocity and mutual aid and generosity. You gift to friends and kin and in turn they are indebted, culturally, to gift in return, thus forming and strengthening the interpersonal bonds in the community.
This extends to how we interact with the gods, spirits, and ancestors, and so establishing a gifting cycle with them is an important pillar of our practice (at least in the heathen tradition). What follows is my idea of what a weekly and annual gifting cycle and celebration cycle might look like.
Weekly
Nearly every day I have made a habit out of giving some sort of offering, be it activity, material offering, or simple thanks. Some might call it over doing it but I find it easier to maintain as a habit. Usually, a simple incense offering that I light on a cemtral offering candle and dedicate to those I wish to honor, almost always dedicating one stick or cone to multiple. It can be that simple.
Sunday
Day of the Sun; Sol; Lugh, Ëostre, and Brigid; Fenne, Aine and/or Grian
Monday
Day of the Moon; Mani; Triple Goddess; the Mothers; Rhiannon and Epona; Abnoba, Cernunnos
Tuesday
Tyr, Forseti, Sigyn
Wednesday
Odin, Mimir, Njordr
Thursday
Thor, Fjörgyn (Jörd), Sif
Friday
Freya, Freyr, Frigg
Saturday
Cailleach, Skadi; Manannán mac Lir, Nerthus.
The Ancestors, Landwights, and Housespirits should be acknowledged at nearly every offering.
Annual
Imbolc
— Feb 1 (Gaelic)
Traditionally the beginning of spring, Imbolc marks the beginning of spring for much of the northern hemisphere. This is the halfway point between Yule at the winter solstice and Ostara at the spring equinox. This is a time to celebrate Brigid, welcoming back the light and warmth as spring begins to shake off the cool and snowy blanket of winter. Some see this as a time when the Cailleach transforms into the goddess Brigid herself, marking the end of winters reign and the beginning of spring.
Dísablót
— Late Winter / Feb, or the Second or Third Full Moon after the Winter Solstice (Norse)
Disablot is often celebrated in the home, involving making offerings and sacrifices to the female ancestoral spirits and dieties, focusing on fate, fertility, and protection of the hearth and kin.
Freyja, vanadis; sister of Freyr, daughter of Njordr; mistress of the slain, and golden-teared, I give this offering in your honor. May you bless my heart, my hearth, and my kin.
Beltane/Sigrblót/May Day
Beltane— May 1 (Gaelic)
A significant holiday celebrating the beginning of summer and marking the halfway point between the spring equinox and summer solstice. Beltane is a time of cleansing and protection. It is a liminal holiday much like Samhain in the later half of the year. Belenos, Aine, Lugh, Sol, and Baldr may all be honored on this day.
During this time, recreating the Scottish Midlands tradition of bringing the Cailleach out at spring to bless the harvest, I bring the Cailleach out onto my altar and give an offering specifically in her name.
An alternative version of this I like, though perhaps less based in history, is the view of Brigid and the Cailleach as one in the same deity. During Beltane, the Cailleach is placed to rest and her youthful Brigid is brought out to reign.
Belenos be praised, blessings of Lugh be upon us, and Brigid’s power has coming into full bloom atlast as spring arrives to the far north.
Sigrblót — Fourth Full Moon from the Winter Solstice (Norse)
Co-existing in this celebration is the Nordic victory sacrifice, giving offerings historically to the gods such as Odin for success in the summer raids and prosperity.
May Day — Spring / Early Summer
May Day, a more modern establishment rooted in older seed-sowing celebrations includes the honoring of Freyr and offerings in hopes of a good harvest to come.
Ostara
— Spring Equinox (General Celtic/Germanic Pagan, Wiccan)
A largely Wiccan holiday practiced by many modern Pagans, Ostara is the celebration of the spring equinox with probable historic roots named for the Anglo-Saxon and Germanic goddess of spring, fertility, and the dawn, Ëostre. Ostara celebrates the coming of spring, marking the time when day and night are of equal length. Here we honor fertility, rebirth, and the return of the Sun. Freya, Aine, and Eostre are goddesses to honor in this time.
Bright Ëostre, dawnlight, morning star! We welcome you with gracious arms, the light of spring trailing your rising star, bringing beauty and warmth in your embrace.
Fjörgynblot
— April 22
A personal holiday made of the modern Earth Day in celebration of Fjorgyn/Jord, of mother Earth and all her bounty.
In a Proto-Germanic practice, this may even be Nerthus (a goddess who’s name would become Njordr in Old Norse).
Fjörgyn, Jörd, Earth-mother and protector, mother of Thor, foundation of the world, accept this offering I give freely, for your renewal and to help mend the wounds we’ve wreaked in our ignorance.
Midsummer
— Summer Solstice (Norse)
Also known as Litha in Wiccan traditions, Midsummer celebrates the summer solstice, the peak of warmth and the longest day of the year with bonfires and large gatherings.
Blessings of Sol, of Brigid and Belenos, of Lugh and Aine are upon us! Take these offerings, bright gods of warmth and summer, in frith and grateful joy!
Lughnasadh
— Aug 1 (Gaelic)
A celebration in honor of Lugh for the harvest! Celebrated with games, racing, assemblies and (apparently) matchmaking! Sif , Freya, and Freyr may also be honored during this time.
Lugh, the many-skilled god, bless our harvest and our home!
Samhain/Vetrnætr / Winter Nights
Samhain — Oct 31–Nov 1 (Gaelic)
A liminal holiday when the vail thins and the Otherworld’s influence is at it’s height. Bonfires and offerings to the ancestors are popular at this time, as well as divination and other magic practices.
At this time, in the Scottish Midland tradition, the Cailleach is put away to shelter her from the winter cold, so that she might ensure good harvest in the coming year.
In an alternative form of this tradition, where the Cailleach and Brigid are two aspects of the same deity, Brigid’s flame may be lit for some time at night as a representation and hope of her time to come, her idol placed to rest until Beltane, and the Cailleach brought to the altar, to rule over the cold winter months.
As the veil thins and the light dwindles, as the sun fades winter follows, autumn departs and the moon begins her reign, we welcome Grian and set the Cailleach to rest.
Vetrnætr / Winter Nights— First Full Moon of October (Norse)
A transitional holiday into the winter-half of the year, celebrated on the first full moon of October, feasting and fires are lit in celebration of the harvest, and offerings are given to the ancestors in thanks
Jól / Yule
— Midwinter / Dec–Jan (Norse)
The winter solstice, the longest night of the year, important for oath-taking, offerings, and honoring the gods, ancestors, and the dead. Around this time is the ride of the Wild Hunt led by Odin through the night’s skies, an ill tiding for any who see it. But moreover, this is a time of celebration, ritual drinking, feasting, poetry, performances, and games.
On this darkest day we pray as the sun grows and the moon wains, may the gods bless us with a swift winter and the coming spring, and the ancestors guide us to a brighter day.