The way the Vikings divided up the year was closely connected to the activities of work and daily life. This division was based upon the sun’s yearly course and the various phases of the moon.

The Viking year began around 13 October. They marked the beginning of the winter half of the year with a large public harvest sacrifice and ended it with a corresponding victory sacrifice, when spring was beginning around 14 April – which marked the start of the war season. Between these two sacrifices the Vikings also celebrated the winter solstice around 21 December, the year’s shortest day. After this date the days gradually became lighter and warmer. As is the case today, the great festival of the winter half of the year was Christmas. The festival began in the middle of January and lasted for weeks.

The summer half of the year was used by the Vikings to gather supplies. Around 21 June, the summer solstice, the Vikings held their midsummer sacrifice celebrations, on the year’s longest day we know as Midsummer’s Eve. After this the year began to move toward darker times again. At the autumn equinox day and night were once again of equal length. Darkness had triumphed over light and the winter half of the year began once more.