Observed on

Sometime between the end of October and the start of November

Observed by

Scandinavians

Country of Origin 

Scandinavia - 700s

Celebrations/Customs

Altar Offerings of Food and Drink

Similar/Related to:

Halloween, Samhain

Key Points / Halloween Connection

- Scandinavian holiday that was very similar to Samhain but was more of a family event instead of a public one like Samhain

Brief Bio

Álfablót was a pre-Christian Scandinavian private, ancestral sacrifice to the "elves" (álfar), who were often understood as dead male ancestors, typically performed in late autumn after the harvest. The ritual was managed by the household woman and was a local celebration on burial mounds or other sacred places, distinct from larger sacrifices. Though information is limited from surviving texts, it was a family-centric observance, possibly around the time of the modern Halloween, intended to honor ancestors and ensure the family's continued vitality.