Anglo-Saxon Culture and Religion
Although modern historians have been able to piece together a lot of the history of the Anglo-Saxons through a combination of historical research and archaeology, very little knowledge of the Anglo-Saxon culture and religion has survived. Clearly this culture was similar in many respects to the Northern German and Scandinavian cultures from whence it originated, but it is not at all clear how far these similarities can be taken. In truth, the only hard facts that survive about their culture, and most notably, their religion come from references made by the early Christian writers. However, since these writers normally only made reference to the religion in order to preach against it, it can be very difficult to assemble any kind of clear picture. One of the few, strong sources of information we do have was left by the Venerable Bede, when he wrote down the months of the Saxon Year. These months were based on the phases of the moon. Their calendar broke the year into 10 months, with two months being twice as long as the other eight. They are numbered here in relation to a twelve month calendar.
Giuli – The first and last month
According to Bede, the first and last month of the Anglo-Saxon year went under the name: Giuli. This has come down to modern times as the word “Yule,” however, its meaning is so ancient that it has been lost. To the Anglo-Saxon’s the New Year began on the modern December 25 and was welcomed with ceremonies and festivities that have been lost to time. The next night was called ‘Modra nect’ or ‘night of mothers’, but again the exact meaning of this is unknown.
Solmonath – The second month
Bede calls this month, ‘the month of cakes’. As a translation this titles seems unlikely because English doesn’t seem to have a word ‘sol’ meaning anything like cakes. However, it is likely that Bede was trying to connect a ceremony in which the Anglo-Saxons baked cakes to offer to their gods with the name of the month.
Hrethmonath – the third month & Eosturmonath – the fourth month
Bede states that these two months were named after a pair of goddesses, Hretha and Eostre. This is the only known reference to these two goddesses, and historians argue about whether or not Bede made them up in order to give meaning to the otherwise meaningless month names.
Thrimilci – the fifth month
Bede claims this month was named because at this time cows were milked three times a days, thus ‘Three-milky’.
Litha – the sixth and seventh months
The name comes from an ancient word that seems to mean ‘moon’.
Weodmontha – the Eighth month
The month of weeds.
Halegmonath – the ninth month.
This is the holy month or ‘the month of festivals’ and almost certainly refers to the harvest festivals held at this time.
Wintirfyllith – the tenth month
So named because it contained the first full moon of the winter season.
Blotmonath – the eleventh month
Bede says this month was named because the Anglo-Saxons would slaughter live-stock for their gods. It may have been a religious ceremony, or it may have just been the practical culling of a herd to get ready for the long winter.
Primary Information for this article obtained from Anglo-Saxon England by Frank Stenton, Oxford University Press, 1971
