Balder, Odin’s dying and resurrecting son, and his wife Nanna should be honored. Balder is the Norse god of almost all that is good. He is associated with everything that is beautiful and joyous in the world. Nanna is a goddess associated with joy, peace, and the moon as well as Balder’s wife. Balder is honored as a deity that embodies the life-force of the sun which “dies” at the beginning of winter and is reborn with the coming of summer.

According to Snorri Sturluson, Balder was killed by a dart of mistletoe which Loki tricked Balder’s blind brother Hodr into throwing at him. It was the only thing in creation which had not been asked to swear an oath never to harm Balder. Mistletoe is a plant associated with Balder, as well as being a plant that is thought to have solar associations.

This day is to renew your protections, inside the home. Create Protection Baubles to hang on the Yule Tree and around the house. Glass or plastic baubles work great, fill them with Yule such as cinnamon sticks, pine, dried orange, apple, etc. Hang up witch bells on the doors entering and exiting your home. Anytime a person comes or goes, the bells will ring and cleanse the door from ill-wishing spirits. This is the time when people will use some Yule Log Ash to scribe runes of protection on the doorways.