Ale is an option for making offerings to the gods (a libation) – especially for Woden the Alugod. Ale is associated with the runic formula ALU (though this is debated), but is believed by some to be connected with the OE Ealu (ale) and perhaps the PGmc Aluh – an amulet for protection.

further reading here and here.

Two month names are recorded for November. Bede writes November was called Blōtmōnaþ (Blot-Month) 'the month of blood-offerings'...'for it was in this month that the cattle which were to be slaughtered were dedicated to the gods.'

The Old English Martyrology recorded the month as Blōdmōnað (Blood-Month).

Both names are linked as Blōt was a 'blood sacrifice' and is where the christians get their word 'blessing' from, as the Old English word for blessing was bletsian / bledsian, from the Proto-Germanic *blōdisōn 'hallow with blood'.

Some of Woden’s bynames reveal his darker side, for he is also known as the Gallow’s Burden. Hangaguð and Hangatýr are his titles as God of the Hanged. His name Bǫlverkr means Evil-Doer. Woden also gave himself the name Sváfnir, after one of the Serpents who dwell at the roots of the Great Ash – Sváfnir meaning Sleep-bringer.

Calling the gods according to our heritage. These aren’t all, but to name a few…

Óðinn (Odin) = Wóden
Þórr (Thor) = Þunor (Thunor)
Freyr = Fréa (Seaxnéat) (Ing)
Frigg = Fríġe
Freyja = Frówe
Baldr = Bældæġ
Heimdallr = Háma
Völundr = Wéland
Mímir = Mimor
Urðr = Wyrd

Animated version of Richard Wagner's 'The Ring' for children.

Part one Part two

The Long Man of Wilmington by artist Alfred Robert Quinton (1853 – 1934).

The name Hörn (used by Freya/Frēo) is thought to come from hǫrr / hörr meaning flax and both Frēo and Frīge are associated with flax through weaving. Hörr is cognate with the word har – becoming harl (flax) in modern English. Har is also connected to the word hair – a connection strengthen by the fact that ‘flax’ – from *pleḱ means to plait, hence why plaited hair is sacred to Frēo and Frīge.

There certainly seems to be a connection with plaiting hair and weaving flax. Flax, also called dise, which is ready to spin resembles hair and gives its name to the distaff – the staff for holding dise – which is the tool associated with seiðr.

It is important to remember that the Elves of Germanic tradition were not the faery or pixie creatures by which more recent folklore has interpreted them. The Elves are the spirits of the ancestors who could influence the world of the living, much like the Roman manes. Their name, from Proto-Germanic Albiz, cognate with Latin albus, means White and shining, they are beautiful and radiant.

Under Christianity their negative influence was emphasised, as illness, disease and madness was attributed to elf-shot. Positive outcomes however were held to be under the weaving of Wyrd by the Meotod, God as meter or measurer of fate.

Survive the Jive and Maria Kvilhaug have both arrived at similar conclusions that one of the most fundamental elements in the origins of Hallowe'en is not just the Celtic Samhain, but the Germanic Alfablót (Old English Ælfblōt) where a sacrifice was given to the Elves on the Winterfylleth (winter-fullmoon) of October.

This veneration of the spirits of the dead is a tradition which, as mentioned in Guyenót's article above, has been cut off from us. The honouring of our ancestors and the preservation of our bloodlines is something that is fundamental to the Racial Weltanschauung and thus on Hallowe'en, I believe it is more important than ever to bring this connection to our ancestors back into our lives.