Freyfaxi, First Harvest
By Gythia Melisa Mills
This time of year the first fruits of our labors are ready for harvest! The sweetest berries, the juiciest melons! Those savory ears of corn on the grill, and that 1st batch of mead made around Yule may also be ready for bottling!
The summer wheat sways in sultry breezes and we spend a little time in the shade of a million oak leaves, with our bare toes tickled by soft green grass. For some, they celebrate Freyfaxi, and others of us celebrate the First harvest.
Freyfaxi is a modern holiday held to honor the horse Freyfaxi. In the saga of Hrafnkel Freysgodhi, Hrafnkel made an oath to kill anyone who rode his horse Freyfaxi. As his horse was dedicated to Freyr and was not for riding. When the shepard ,Einar, rode Freyfaxi, Hrafnkel Freysgodhi held to his oath and slew him. He was then outlawed. His assets seized and given to the shepherd’s family, except for the horse, Freyfaxi. Freyfaxi was considered to be partially owned by the God Freyr, so they drove the horse off a cliff and "sent him" to Freyr.
Some see this as animal sacrifice while others see this as a representation that the Gods were considered as though they are living people, with a right to property and ownership, and the death of Freyfaxi as the way to send back that which Freyr already owned.
Those who celebrate Freyfaxi view the sacrifice of the horse much like the sacrifices at Uppsala. Those who believe this more modern tradition to not be of our ancestors may choose not to celebrate the 1st harvest at all, while others are just grateful for Freyr’s goodwill and blessings that bring us to this point in year.
Whatever you choose to believe, if you choose to celebrate the 1st harvest, give thanks to Freyr, master of riches, Lord of the earth, God of the shining rain. Offer the best of your harvest in his name and gather with your Kin to celebrate the fruits of your labors, both of the field, and the harvesting of seeds you planted in your life at the turning of the year!
A tradition many Freyfaxi celebrants have is baking a horse shaped bread. I submit that even if you celebrate the 1st harvest without Freyfaxi, that the sacrifice of your labors to fashion a horse as part of the gifting cycle between you, your kin and the God Freyr would still be appropriate.
Gathering to feast around a table laden with summer fruits and hardy vegetables with our folk, setting a place for Freyr at your feast table and giving blot/blessings in his honor will always be appropriate, no matter your stance on the name of said celebration!
Happy 1st Harvest!
Hail Freyr!
