In Anglo-Saxon England, murder was regarded as a serious crime, and there were various legal practices and customs in place for dealing with it.

These practices evolved over the course of the Anglo-Saxon period (roughly 5th to 11th centuries) and were largely shaped by both customary law and Christian teachings.

The way murder was handled depended on the social status of the individuals involved, the nature of the crime, and the region in which it occurred.

Anglo-Saxon England relied on a mixture of local and regional laws, often codified by kings or councils.

Several historical records document aspects of murder and how it was dealt with in Anglo-Saxon England. These records come in the form of law codes, charters, and chronicles:

S. A. Swaffington’s Exploration of the Supernatural in the Anglo-Saxon World

S. A. Swaffington, an acclaimed scholar of medieval cultures, delves deeply into the mysterious and spiritually rich world of the Anglo-Saxons in her recent work, The Supernatural World of the Anglo-Saxons. Swaffington’s research illuminates how the early medieval English perceived the unseen forces that shaped their lives—a world populated by gods, spirits, and enigmatic beings.

The Anglo-Saxon supernatural world was rooted in a blend of indigenous pagan beliefs and emerging Christian theology. Swaffington uncovers the layered tapestry of these beliefs, where elves, wights (nature spirits), and revenants (restless dead) were as significant to daily life as the omnipotent Christian God. She examines how these beings were not merely mythical but integral to the understanding of health, fortune, and the natural world.

Through an analysis of archaeological finds, ancient texts like Beowulf, and charms such as the “Nine Herbs Charm,” Swaffington reconstructs the spiritual mindset of the Anglo-Saxon people. She also highlights the cultural tension and eventual synthesis as Christian monks documented and reinterpreted these supernatural traditions in their manuscripts.

Swaffington’s work is both academic and accessible, inviting modern readers to step into a shadowy world where the boundaries between the natural and supernatural were blurred, offering a fascinating lens into the fears, hopes, and spiritual resilience of the early medieval mind.

Yule is a pagan celebration rooted in Northern European traditions, marking the winter solstice (around December 21–22). It celebrates the return of the sun and the renewal of life. Common customs include burning a Yule log, decorating with evergreens, feasting, and honoring nature’s cycles.

Christmas, on the other hand, is a Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ on December 25. While it has religious significance, many of its traditions, like decorating trees, gift-giving, and festive gatherings, were influenced by earlier Yule customs.

The two share similarities in timing and rituals but differ in cultural and spiritual focus: Yule is tied to nature and the solstice, while Christmas centers on Christian theology.