This article on the hisorical Norse pagan Sigrblot(Old Norse Sigrblót) is grounded in the medieval texts such as the Heimskringla, Ynglinga Saga, Adam of Bremen, and the Bede's 7th century work. Unlike modern assumptions or reinterpretations, our goal is to offer clear, source-based insight into what the Viking Age people actually did. As historical researchers, educators, and creators of museum-quality replicas, we’re proud to be a trusted authority in the Norse history space. We specialize in the historical reconstruction of Norse holidays and timekeeping traditions. Our Norse calendar is widely regarded as one of the most accurate and research-backed tools available today.

What Is Sigrblot? The Norse Victory Sacrifice Explained

Sígrblót, sometimes spelled Sigrblot or Sigrblót, is one of the lesser-documented holidays from the Norse world, but one of the most important. The Old Norse word Sígr tranlates to "victory" and "blót" is of course the "sacrifice" practiced by the Norse. While modern interpretations vary, we’re going to clear the air by breaking down exactly what the historical sources say, and why this ancient Norse ritual is still relevant todayespecially for those planning to celebrate Sigrblot 2025.

When Was Sigrblot Celebrated?

Let’s get the date right first. The Norse had only two seasons they accounted the year by: summer and winter. Summer was the period day was longer than night, and Winter was when night was longer than day. Their entire calendar was also based on the lunar cycle, and major holidays took place on or around the full moon.

[see our entire breakdown of the Norse Calendar here]

Some people confuse Sigrblot with the summer solstice, but this is incorrect. The sources clearly point to our modern spring-April- as the time when the Norse held this ritual to welcome summer and seek victory.

"Odin established the same law in his land that had been in force in Asaland.[.....]  On winter day (Vetrnaetr-October) there should be blood-sacrifice for a good year, and in the middle of winter for a good crop(Yule-January); and the third sacrifice should be on summer day(Sigrblot-April), for victory in battle."

-Ynglinga Saga

An Anglo-Saxon source, Bede's De Temporum Ratione, also supports this timing. Bede  mentioned that in earlier times the Anglo-Saxons in their original homelands only identified two seasons; summer and winter. Keep in mind, the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse shared the same pagan traditions if we go far enough back in time. He notes that pagan rituals were held in April, with a gap until autumn. That confirms that spring, not summer solstice, is the rightful season for Sigrblot.

"Thus, the moon by which they began their winter season was called “Winterfylleth”, a name compounded of the terms for winter and full moon, because from the full moon of that moon winter was thought to begin."
-Bede, De Temporum Ratione 8th century

Sigrblot 2025

The first day of winter (which was also their New Year) fell around the full moon in our modern October time, so six full moons from that date brings us to the full moon in April, which aligns perfectly with April 26th in 2024. This is when Sigrblot 2024 would fall. For Sigrblot 2025, it will be April 12(depending on where you are in the world.

Why Is Sigrblot So Rarely Mentioned?

Compared to Yule or Vetrnætr (Winter Nights), Sigrblot is rarely mentioned in the sagas. This might surprise people. But there's a very practical reason: this was a blót (sacrifice) for victory in war, which would be a subject Christian scribes likely didn’t want to encourage when documenting Norse traditions. They would have had had no problem writing about fertility rituals or harvest blessings being practice at Yule for example, but a ritual to ensure your enemy’s victory in battle? That’s not something the Christians wanted preserved by the pagans.

So, while Sigrblot was likely one of the most sacred festivals in practice, it’s the least written about in Christian-transcribed sources.

The Sources That Mention Sigrblot
Let’s get into the actual historical references.

Heimskringla – Ynglinga Saga
The most direct mention comes from Snorri Sturluson’s Ynglinga Saga in the Heimskringla:

“Odin established the same law in his land that had been in force in Asaland… On Winter Nights, there should be blót for a good year, in the middle of winter for a good crop, and the third blót should be on summer day, a Victory-blót (Sigrblót).”

Due to this, we assume that it was most likely a sacrifice to Odin. Adam of Bremmen's account of the temple at Uppsala and pagan sacrifice confirms that they would sacrifice to Odin for victory in war.

"For all their gods there are appointed priests to offer sacrifices for the people. If plague and famine threaten, a libation is poured to the idol Thor; if war, to Wotan; if marriages are to be celebrated, to Frikko."

-Adam of Bremmen, Gesta Hammaburgensis ecclesiae pontificum, 11th century

Another passage in Heimskringla talks about a summer(although it is not called Sigrblot by name) sacrifice held by a region of four tribes in the Trondheim area of Norway. And there were only a few select religious leaders that knew how to hos this sacrifice at this time.

"Then said Thoralde, "If I must say the truth, king, as it is, I must declare that in the interior of the Throndhjem land almost all the people are heathen in faith, although some of them are baptized. It is their custom to offer sacrifice in autumn for a good winter, a second at mid-winter, and a third in summer. In this the people of Eyna, Sparby, Veradal, and Skaun partake. There are twelve men who preside over these sacrifice-feasts; and in spring it is Olver who has to get the feast in order, and he is now busy transporting to Maerin everything needful for it."

-Olav the Saint's saga

This confirms that summer day sacrifices were a thing and that they were organized by spiritual leaders with specialized knowledge.

Sigrblot in the Mid-Summer?

The saga of Olav Tryggvasson tells the story of a midsummer blót. But don’t get confused, this was a diplomatic exception, not the norm. King Olav, trying to negotiate peace with a pagan army, invited them to host a Sigrblot to demonstrate their faith. This is the only mention of a midsummer blót, and it appears to be a one-time event, not an annual tradition.

"King Olaf collected a great army in the east of the country towards summer, and sailed with it north to Nidaros in the Throndhjem country. From thence he sent a message-token over all the fjord, calling the people of eight different districts to a Thing; but the bondes changed the Thing-token into a war-token; and called together all men, free and unfree, in all the Throndhjem land. Now when the king met the Thing, the whole people came fully armed. After the Thing was seated, the king spoke, and invited them to adopt Christianity; but he had only spoken a short time when the bondes called out to him to be silent, or they would attack him and drive him away. "We did so," said they, "with Hakon foster-son of Athelstan, when he brought us the same message, and we held him in quite as much respect as we hold thee." When King Olaf saw how incensed the bondes were, and that they had such a war force that he could make no resistance, he turned his speech as if he would give way to the bondes, and said, "I wish only to be in a good understanding with you as of old; and I will come to where ye hold your greatest sacrifice-festival, and see your customs, and thereafter we shall consider which to hold by." And in this all agreed; and as the king spoke mildly and friendly with the bondes, their answer was appeased, and their conference with the king went off peacefully. At the close of it a midsummer sacrifice was fixed to take place in Maeren, and all chiefs and great bondes to attend it as usual. The king was to be at it."

-Olav Tryggvasson's Saga

Although not mentioned by the name Sigrblot, there is another sacrifice mentioned in the saga of Olav Tryggvasson to Odin associated with victory and battle. It was the great Jarl Haakon who also did a sacrifice on the fly outside of the normal established dates. 

"When a wind came with which he thought he could get clear out to sea, he put all the learned men on shore again, and set off to the ocean; but as the wind came round to the south-west, and at last to west, he sailed eastward, out through Eyrarsund, ravaging the land on both sides. He then sailed eastward along Skane, plundering the country wherever he came. When he got east to the skerries of East Gautland, he ran in and landed, and made a great blood-sacrifice. There came two ravens flying which croaked loudly; and now, thought the earl, the blood-offering has been accepted by Odin, and he thought good luck would be with him any day he liked to go to battle."

-Olav Tryggvassons saga

Jar Haakon did this because he has just been tricked by Harald Bluetooth and Emperor Otto to be confronted and baptized against his will. Haakon then felt the need to immediately sacrifice to Odin for victory in the battles that would soon be to come.

Was Sigrblot the Most Important Blót?

We believe so. Even if the sources don’t say much, the intent and timing of this ritual suggest it was one of the most spiritually charged ceremonies in Norse tradition. The lack of written detail likely stems from Christian suppression, not from lack of cultural importance.

It is also mentioned as stated above in the saga of Olav Tryggvasson that he wanted to see the "greatest sacrifice-festival, and see your customs." Also considering that the summer season marked the start of the raiding and battles, this would have been an important event just as much as Yule or Vetrnaetr, which we have much more sources for.

How to Celebrate Sigrblot Today

For those interested, our Norse calendar provides notes on a few of the ways that Sigrblot would have been practiced during pagan times.

Sigrblót Festivities:

Start of Summer: As noted, the Norse calendar divided the year into two seasons, and Sigrblót signifies the official beginning of the summer season. It is a ritual to welcome the summer and warmth.
Sacrifice to Victory: The central purpose of this ritual was to ensure success and victory, particularly for the coming raiding season or for warriors preparing for battle.
Sacrifice to Odin: Since Odin is the god of war and victory, it’s highly likely that Sigrblót involved sacrifices made to him in order to invoke his favor for success, whether in battle or in achieving goals for the coming season.

Also, keep an eye out for ravens! In the saga of Olav Tryggvasson, Jarl Haakon interpreted 2 ravend coming to the sacrifice and croaking in that it had been accepted by Odin.

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