A modern revival of the pre-Christian religion of the Norse and Germanic peoples, honoring the gods of the Norse pantheon and the values of the ancient Northern European warrior tradition.
Asatru (Old Norse: 'faith in the Aesir') is a modern revival of the pre-Christian religion of the Norse and Germanic peoples of Scandinavia and Northern Europe. The ancient Norse religion was suppressed by Christianization during the medieval period, but interest in Norse mythology and spirituality never fully disappeared. The modern Asatru revival began in Iceland in 1972, when Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson founded the Ásatrúarfélagið, which was officially recognized by the Icelandic government as a religious organization. Since then, Asatru and related Norse Pagan traditions have grown significantly, particularly in Scandinavia, the United States, and other countries with Northern European heritage.
Asatru honors the gods of the Norse pantheon — the Aesir (including Odin, Thor, Freya, Tyr, and others) and the Vanir — as well as the land spirits (landvættir), ancestors, and other spiritual beings. Practice centers on the blót (a ritual offering or sacrifice, now typically of food, drink, or symbolic items) and the sumbel (a ritual drinking ceremony in which participants make toasts and oaths). The Nine Noble Virtues — courage, truth, honor, fidelity, discipline, hospitality, industriousness, self-reliance, and perseverance — are a widely shared ethical framework, though not universally adopted.
Asatru is a diverse movement, encompassing universalist practitioners (who welcome all regardless of ancestry) and folkish practitioners (who emphasize Northern European heritage). The universalist mainstream strongly rejects racist or white nationalist interpretations of Norse religion.
Asatru is distinguished by its polytheistic, nature-centered worldview, its revival of pre-Christian Norse religious practice, and its emphasis on honor, community, and the virtues of the Northern European warrior tradition. It differs from Wicca and other Neo-Pagan traditions in its specific focus on the Norse pantheon and cultural heritage.
Blót (ritual offerings to the gods, ancestors, or land spirits) and sumbel (ritual toasting and oath-making). May be practiced individually or in groups (hearths or kindreds). Celebrations follow the Norse calendar, including Yule, Ostara, and other seasonal festivals.
Modern revival began in Iceland, 1972; roots in pre-Christian Norse religion of the Viking Age (c. 793–1066 CE) and earlier.
Its revival of the ancient Norse religion, its emphasis on honor and the Nine Noble Virtues, and its growing presence in the United States and Scandinavia.