Episode 19: The Yule Wanderer - When Odin Walked the Winter Roads

Long before stockings, sleigh bells, and reindeer, winter folklore spoke of a wandering figure who traveled from door to door during Yule. In Norse and Scandinavian tradition, this traveler was Odin himself, walking the human world in disguise to observe generosity, test hospitality, and reward kindness.

This episode explores the Yule Wanderer as an early ancestor of the modern Santa Claus figure. It traces how stories of a winter traveler offering blessings and judgment slowly transformed over time into the gift-bringer we recognize today. A fireside folklore retelling rooted in older traditions and winter belief.