blotte

Blotte is a historical term used in English-language scholarship to refer to the ritual sacrifice practiced by ancient Germanic and Norse peoples. The primary Old Norse form is blót, denoting offerings made to gods and spirits, often accompanied by feasting, libations, and communal participation. In translations of sagas, runic inscriptions, and religious texts, the word may appear in various spellings such as blot, blotte, or blót, reflecting differences in transliteration. It is not a term used in modern religious practice.

Etymology and scope: The term derives from Proto-Germanic *blōþą meaning blood, offering, or sacrifice, and is thus etymologically linked to words for blood and to the act of sacrifice across Germanic languages. Blót encompassed a range of offerings, including animal sacrifices, grain and drink offerings, and other valuables, presented at holy sites or during seasonal festivals. Rituals could be conducted by leaders or communities and served purposes such as securing fertility, favorable weather, victory in war, or the favor of the gods and ancestors. Descriptions vary by region and period, and some details survive primarily in literary sources rather than ritual manuals.

Modern usage: In contemporary scholarship, blót remains a subject of study for understanding pre-Christian belief systems and ritual life. The variant spelling blotte appears only in older or transliteration-based texts and is not common in modern English. The term is typically encountered in academic discussions of Norse religion, medieval literature, or myth-inspired fiction rather than as a living religious practice.