A Short Blog on the Norwegian Tradition of Romjul
This time between Christmas and new year is called Romjul in Norway. As always our more Northern cousins have words and rituals for these times that encompass the feelings of the season! As the Danes gave us Hygge, (you can read more about Hygge here on my Winter Solstice blog) the Norwegians give us Romjul!
Romjul is known as the betwixt and between times .. a liminal time, where we don’t look at the date… or time, late nights, sleep ins, pyjama days. Its a time of rest, relaxation, hibernation. Christmas and all the hustle and bustle that comes with it is over… we have passed through the solstice, and, this year, the Winter Solstice 2020, we have helped to bring in the energies of the Grand Conjunction, the long-awaited shift into the age of Aquarius. Some of us are exhausted by holding and shining our lights for that…many of us are feeling alienated, frightened, even more disconnected and decidedly “muggle” (as one of my friends said that she was feeling at the moment) with all of the continued “covid malarkey” … (which is all the energy and acknowledgment that I am going to give that particular “C” word), that just seems to keep going relentlessly on, and so I say, embrace Romjul!! We have talked much about self-care, and to me, this liminal time is all about self-care, about really taking it easy on yourself – if ever there was a time to kick back, take the pressure off, put the “to do” lists to one side, this is it!
Soon we will be racing towards the New Year – 2021 – after this last year it fills us with a little trepidation. It, like many things in life, has a duality about it, as we really want to put this year behind us, to turn our faces to the light, standing at the threshold of a new doorway, praying for better days and new beginnings, but we know that there are still restrictions, fear, and dark days to come, and so we are hesitant. Which is where Romjul brilliantly encapsulates living in the moment! How perfect that we should just be able to give ourselves permission to just be in the now….nothing to plan for…nothing to do apart from just be…for a few days at least.
There is evidence that our ancient Ancestors may have hibernated, and for me, I feel these few days give us the luxury of being able to connect with that – stay in the warm, snuggle down and rest. As we did at the Winter Solstice, we can start to formulate the plans and ideas for the coming year – but Imbolc, our next festival is still some weeks off, and so if planning brings us back to stress and worry about 2021, just return to Romjul! I have always loved this between time, but now I know it has a name, I am really embracing that! It’s another way of returning us to stillness, to self-care, self-awareness, self-love.
I should be writing the next newsletter, planning the Imbolc ritual, the full moon ritual, updating the website, scheduling social media posts blah blah blah,…and then there is the housework, the D.I.Y and so much to do outside, not to mention worrying about what am I going to do about all the clients and students I have booked in at the beginning of January! (who knows?!? – What tier will I be in even??) – but actually, just thinking about that right now makes me feel overwhelmed, and so I am honouring Romjul. I have written this quickly, as I wanted to share it with you before it passes, and then I’m just going to go and bake some sausage rolls, and read some of the books I got for Christmas, have a nice hot bath, light all the candles and not think about any of it! It’s the one time of the year when we can really embrace that freedom of letting go and surrendering, and boy, do we need practice at that!! I invite you to try it… and let me know how you get on.
Much love and blessings of the season,
Sam XXX
