#jolnir

JOLNIR, or the “Wotan Claus” theory

Category: Norse mythology, European folklore

This article won’t be about a specific character so much as about a specific theory and folkloric hypothesis… Is Odin from Norse mythology the ancestor of today’s Santa Claus?

We can start with one of Odin’s NUMEROUS names. “Jolnir”. (Normally there’s an accent on the “o” but I can’t recreate it). Jolnir has been tied with the Norse word “Yule”, due to it being often written “Jule”, “Jul” or “Jol”. Yule (or Yuletide) was the “pagan” celebration in Norse countries that was replaced by the arrival of Christmas – thus many people read “Jolnir” as a name indicating that Odin was the god of Yule (another name of Odin, Jolfadr/Jolfudr, has also been interpreted as meaning “Yule Father” – thus hinting at a “Father Christmas” connection). Yule was indeed a time associated with Odin – Yule was considered a supernatural time of the year during which magic and ghosts were all over the place. Most notably, Yule was a traditional time for the “Wild Hunt”, a spectral and supernatural hunt party said to ride through the sky during (or causing) storms. And the Wild Hunt, or the Wild Host, was said in Germany to be led by the god Wodan/Woden… who is the German version of Odin. In fact, if we got a bit more north, the Scandinavian name of the Wild Hunt, “Oskoreia” is thought to be a deformation of the term “Odin’s Hunters” OR of “Asgard-reir” (the ride of Asgard). This would tie the undead riders and ghostly hunters to the Valkyries and afterlife warriors Odin was said to collect in his “warrior paradise” as a great army for Ragnarok.

So this is the first evidence: Odin was a god very active in Yule, and leader of a supernatural group of riders flying through the sky on this date. There are similarities to the Santa Claus myth, true, and it doesn’t help that one of the customs tied to the Wild Hunt was to leave some food outside as an offering to the riders to appease their wrath. So we have something here. Even though there is also a quite ridiculous theory that claims that if Santa Claus’ sleigh has eight reindeers, it is because Odin’s mythical horse Sleipnir (said to be able to ride onto all materials and cross the universes) had eight legs. It is a fun theory, I won’t lie, and it is quite a fascinating coincidence, but I do think that it is a big stretch to try to link the two (especially since the “reindeers of Santa” is a VERY recent and American tradition, so….).  

A more serious element to be brought to the “Santa Jolnir” discussion is how Odin was said to appear in the human world as an elderly man with a long white beard (it was one of his nicknames, “Langbardr”, long-beard), dressed in a cloak and wearing either a hood or a hat. This appearance does strike a resemblance with both Santa Claus and its many European ancestors, who all tend to be elderly men with long white beards and hoods/hats/cloaks. Some legends even described Odin as going under his elderly human disguise from home to home to test the hospitality and charity of families, rewarding the ones respecting traditions and honoring him as a guest, while punishing the others – another element that can play into the whole aesthetic of the “Christmas giver” who was originally known as both a gift-giver AND a punishment-giver.

And one last, even though more tenuous element, has been brought up to the table – this time related to the tradition of the Saint Nicholas figure. Indeed many people decided to analyze the figure of Saint Nicholas/Saint Nicolas as being also an inheritance of Odin, by invoking another name of Odin sounding similar to Nicolas… “Hnikar” (sometimes simplified as “Nikar” or with the double r of Hnikarr) which for some means “instigator”, for others “overthrower/thruster”.  So "Hnikar" would be the "missing link" between those two supernatural/divine, horse-riding, hat-wearing, bearded old men of the winter.

As you can see there are some solid elements to link the “Santa Claus” figure to old Odin… and there are also really stretchy or hilarious theories. A mixed bag – but an interesting mixed bag!

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The theory of “Odin is Santa Claus” was notably brought to light in modern fantasy fiction thanks to the Dresden Files series which (spoiler alert) has Odin being Santa Claus. While we meet in the series Odin as a god who survived into modern day as the owner of a big security-and-weaponry company, we also later learn that he also is the wearer of the “mantle of Winter King”: in the world of the fairies, trolls, goblins and other supernatural creatures, there are two main courts/queens/kings representing the two main forces of nature, Summer and Winter, led by a fairy Queen embodying the very essence of her season, and with the existence of a non-ruling “King” representing the polar opposite of the Queen, for questions of balance. Where the Winter Queen is a cold, bitter, cruel, manipulative and cynic entity embodying the darkest and harshest side of nature, the Winter King is supposed to be a more joyful, compassionate entity, a kinder ruler embodying the wonders and beauties of winter… And as it turns out this Winter King is named “Kris Kringle” and is another of the numerous entities of Odin – modern day Santa Claus being just a popular and watered-down version of the real Kris Kringle.

tea (a bit of rose congou, maybe a teaspoon of vanilla bean-infused yunnan, a couple teaspoons assam)

honey (local wildflower)

dollop of heavy cream

maybe a quarter-oz orange cognac (bauchant)

bit less than an oz of bourbon (four roses)

This is the Santa we met while we were out and around a few weeks ago. He emailed me pictures of his beautiful new suits. Honestly I must be doing something right if my life is magical enough to have Santa sending me emails.

Now, a word on this… is he the Real Santa? In my definition of Santa, yes he is. Because Santa is a title, and an earned one. Everyone that chooses to put on the attire of Santa makes an unspoken vow to uphold the values and idea that is Santa Clause. And has a dedication to keeping wonder and magic alive in the eyes of not just children, but also adults. He is just as busy during the Christmas season…bringing joy and yuletide magic to that special time of year. Not to mention to be an effective Santa, you must believe you are Santa.

Sharing a bit of seasonal reclaiming, here is a song I reworked that I hope you enjoy.

Valkyries we have heard on high

Valkyries we have heard on high Proudly carrying battle slain To the House of Odin Where immortal they remain Gloria, in excelsis Deus Gloria, in excelsis Deus Feasts and training in the halls Warriors of Valhalla prepare for war Fight away the longest night and Welcome into day,…