Winter Nights or Old Norse Vetrnætr was a Norse winter festival that was initially celebrated in pre-Christian Scandinavia. It was said by Snorri Sturluson that Winter Nights is one of the three most important festivals. This festival also marks the end of the summer and start of the winter meaning the end of the harvest work and it was a time to celebrate. The festival is celebrated by some Neo-pagans today.
The name Vetrnætr is a compound of Old Norse vetr meaning winter, and nætr - the plural form of nátt - meaning nights.[1][2] Two of the rituals that were held during the festival, álfablót and Dísablót, names stem from the Nordic word, blót, which is a sacrifice to the Norse gods and Elves. Dísablót also derives from the Nordic word Dís.
Many different beings were worshiped during Winter Nights.
Winter Nights was considered a time for remembering the dead and the Norse Gods. A Sacrifice (Blót) was held to pay respects to the dead. It was also held to thank the Gods for a good harvest year and for more to come.
An Álfablót was also held by some to worship the Elves, who were a race of beings believed to be powerful and beautiful.
Another sacrificial ritual, a Dísablót, was held in worship to the dísir who were a host of benevolent females who controlled the fate of mortal men. The purpose of the Dísablót was to enhance the next years harvest. In Viga-Glum's Saga we are told that:
A feast was held at the beginning of Winter, and sacrifice made to the Disir, and everyone had to take part in this observance.