Репост из: Germanic Calendar
We find another piece of evidence that gives us a hint at the pre-Christian dating of Yule in the Chronicon of Thietmar of Merseburg, chapter 17:
“Sed quia ego de hostiis eorundem antiquis mira audivi, haec indiscussa praeterire nolo. Est unus in his patribus locus, caput istius regni, Lederun nomine, in pago qui Selon dicitur, ubi post VIIII, annos mense Ianuario post hoc tempus, quo nos theopaniam domini celebramus, omnes convenerunt, et ibi diis suismet LXXXX et VIIII homines et totidem equos, cum canibus et gallis pro accipitribus oblatis immolant, pro certo, ut praedixi, putantes, hos eisdem apud inferos servituros et commissa criminal apud eosdem placaturos.”
“Because I have heard strange things about their ancient sacrifices, I will not allow these to pass by unmentioned. In those parts, the center of the kingdom is a place called Lederun [Lejre], in the region of Selon [Zealand]. Every nine years, in the month of January, after the day on which we celebrate the appearance of the Lord [6 January], they all convene here and offer their gods a burnt offering of ninety-nine human beings and as many horses, along with dogs and cocks – the latter being used in place of hawks. As I have said, they were convinced that these would do service for them with those who dwell beneath the earth and ensure their forgiveness for any misdeeds.”
This described account is strikingly similar to that of Adam of Bremen, who reports of a similar sacrifice done on a "nine-year" basis in spring in Uppsala. People of all Swedish provinces would attend and gather together to celebrate publicly. But note that here we see the sacrifice being explicitly done after Christmas, circa in the month of January.
“Sed quia ego de hostiis eorundem antiquis mira audivi, haec indiscussa praeterire nolo. Est unus in his patribus locus, caput istius regni, Lederun nomine, in pago qui Selon dicitur, ubi post VIIII, annos mense Ianuario post hoc tempus, quo nos theopaniam domini celebramus, omnes convenerunt, et ibi diis suismet LXXXX et VIIII homines et totidem equos, cum canibus et gallis pro accipitribus oblatis immolant, pro certo, ut praedixi, putantes, hos eisdem apud inferos servituros et commissa criminal apud eosdem placaturos.”
“Because I have heard strange things about their ancient sacrifices, I will not allow these to pass by unmentioned. In those parts, the center of the kingdom is a place called Lederun [Lejre], in the region of Selon [Zealand]. Every nine years, in the month of January, after the day on which we celebrate the appearance of the Lord [6 January], they all convene here and offer their gods a burnt offering of ninety-nine human beings and as many horses, along with dogs and cocks – the latter being used in place of hawks. As I have said, they were convinced that these would do service for them with those who dwell beneath the earth and ensure their forgiveness for any misdeeds.”
This described account is strikingly similar to that of Adam of Bremen, who reports of a similar sacrifice done on a "nine-year" basis in spring in Uppsala. People of all Swedish provinces would attend and gather together to celebrate publicly. But note that here we see the sacrifice being explicitly done after Christmas, circa in the month of January.