In doing so, we bring a small but helpful bit of structure into everyday life, which makes it easier to get through the darker season. After the winter solstice the light slowly begins to grow again - but until then in the darkest time of the year, the moments of candle-lighting give us space to become quiet inside. :)
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In modern Pagan communities this quiet waiting has grown into this special yet simple tradition, known in Swedish as Väntljusstaken. The word literally means "waiting candleholder". It’s not overcomplicated - it simply carries the spirit of light, a bit of stillness, nature, and a clear, honest intention. Exactly the things I love about the Scandinavian mood. It’s not a reconstructed “ancient Scandinavian rite”, but something that feels closer to modern people. The basic concept is 21st-century, but it cleverly weaves together the feeling of a Nordic winter, the symbolism of light and the spirit of Yule into a modern yet intimate custom. :)

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MODERN TRADITION, ANCIENT ROOTS

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This is a modern custom built from old symbols. A few years ago Swedish Pagan communities came up with the idea that there should be a specifically Pagan equivalent of the Advent season. Something that focuses on the return of the light, the solstice, and that quiet Scandinavian winter atmosphere.
When I first read about it, I immediately felt that this is exactly the kind of simplicity and Northern feeling my soul always gravitates back to. Candles lit as light in the darkest time of the year, the runes - all of this feels very familiar. In Scandinavian circles there’s even a term for this: a “borrow-back tradition”. The idea is that Pagans “take back” the form of weekly candle-lighting from Christianity (which itself was originally based on winter light symbolism), and fill it with new content. With the solstice, with light, with runes and, if one wishes, with the Northern gods. 

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WHAT DOES SUNWAIT DRAW FROM?

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- Yule (Jul), the festival of light

The solstice is the moment of the light’s return. The old scandinavians lit fires, brought evergreen branches into their homes, burned logs on the hearth and in this way tried to break the darkness of the long winter. Light was celebrated in every sense, which you can still see today in Sweden in the stars and candle-arches placed in windows - something that is slowly becoming a natural winter custom in more and more places.

Yule (Júl) is one of the oldest and most important winter festivals in the nordic world. Among the long, dark northern nights, this was the time when people paused for a moment and celebrated that light returns to the world. Yule was not only about feasting and fire, but also about community and new beginnings.

At the solstice it is as if the Sun were born anew. At first only a little but each day brings back a bit more light and that always gave people hope. This season was about abundance, warmth and togetherness. In modern Pagan communities Yule still carries this meaning. It is about arriving in the middle of winter and accepting that darkness is not an enemy, just a transition. A way of paying respect to the gods, the ancestors and the order of nature.

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- Årsväntan/Solväntan ("Waiting for the Year")

This too is a modern Swedish custom built on old symbols. The word Årsväntan literally means "waiting for the year". It is a six-week period between Alvablót and Julblót, which many contemporary scandinavian pagans experience as a way of attuning themselves to the slower and deeper rhythm of the year. It carries exactly that kind of atmosphere which makes the nordic winter feel for many people, not depressing but quiet and cosy instead.

It is not an ancient pre-Christian rite, but it is strongly connected to the long-standing local cult of light and winter that has been present in the region for centuries. Årsväntan is sometimes called Solväntan, "waiting for the Sun", because at its core lies the felt experience of the light’s slow return after Yule. Structurally it is somewhat reminiscent of Advent, but without its Christian content - everything is based on the natural cycle.

It’s important to see that Årsväntan and Sunwait are not the same thing, even if there is a lot of overlap between them. Årsväntan is a broader time period between Alvablót and Jul: more like a transition segment in the wheel of the year. Sunwait, by contrast, is a more personal practice: lighting six candles over six weeks up to Yule, each connected with one of the first six runes.

Årsväntan is usually observed over six consecutive weeks as the darkness deepens. Many people light candles during this time (often just a simple väntljusstake), but the focus is not on the runes, it is on living the quiet of winter. Some people meditate, others mark it with a small feast or family evening, everybody shapes it in a way that feels natural and comfortable. The essence is not a rigid rite, but reconnecting with the rhythm of winter and experiencing that slowness and less light are actually a time of rest.

This also fits nicely with the fact that Christianity once adopted many Pagan motifs from the winter festive cycle, and Årsväntan can be seen as a gentle reconnection with that original, nature-centred order. So Årsväntan is the frame, and Sunwait is the specific six-week candle practice which you can place inside that frame. The two complement each other beautifully.

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- Torshelg (Thor’s hallow)

Winter doesn’t arrive all at once, just as the light doesn’t turn back in a single moment. Everything happens slowly, step by step - and the act of lighting the candles in sequence follows this same rhythm.

Thursday evenings also come into focus for a reason. In the Scandinavian tradition, Thursday - Torsdag, Thor’s day - was considered a particularly important time. On the evenings called Torshelg, folk magic, contact with the gods, and the spirits of nature all played a role. As one of the organizers of the Väntljusstake FB group put it:

"Thursdays held a special role in Scandinavian folklore. They were days for folk magic and connection with the gods - long before and long after Christianity."

Even 19th century notes report that on Torshelg people invited Thor and Frigg into their homes, asking them for protection and warmth for the dark months. Not out of fear but so that in the long winter there would be something to hold on to.

Modern Sunwait is a quiet heir to this atmosphere. Six weeks before the solstice we light the candles on Thursday evenings so that the light arrives slowly, in six steps. Of course this is not set in stone. Pagan traditions do not have fixed "holy days" so everyone can find their own rhythm: it can be the six Thursdays before the solstice or you can align it with your own wheel of the year, or even choose six consecutive days. This is a living, evolving tradition.

Still, there is something beautiful about lighting the flame on Thor’s day. According to the old Scandinavians this was when Thor and Frigg stepped closer to people and even if only symbolically, a trace of that closeness can still be present in the candles we light today.

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- Runes

It’s worth knowing that historical sources do not describe the runes as tools of divination. They were simply letters: inscriptions, markings, ownership signs - part of everyday life.

In my view, this does not diminish the value of their meaning at all. The fact that they were originally used for practical purposes does not make it any less natural that today, through our symbolic thinking, we might perceive deeper layers in them. The names of the runes and their old associations carry archetypes that one can easily work with during the weeks of Sunwait. The people of the past did not handle them as "oracle cards", but understood their messages through the connections between sign and meaning.

For this reason in a modern candle-lighting practice - even though the runes were not invented for divination - it makes perfect sense to immerse ourselves in their meanings. Their names, the images and traditional associations linked to them can still guide us today, just as in the past a single inscription could carry a message. This is what makes the six candles something more. Not a fortune-telling ritual, but a more conscious kind of attention as we move towards the light.

The six candles correspond to the first six runes of the Elder Futhark (together they spell FUTARK). This is not an ancient custom but the internal structure of the runes mirrors the slow growth of the light quite nicely and fits well with the modern rite that Sunwait represents.

So Sunwait is not about reconstructing the past but about a consciously created contemporary practice that brings the atmosphere of old light-festivals into modern Pagan life. The runes act as a subtle guide along this six-week path.

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AND WHAT ABOUT ADVENT CANDLES - DO THEY HAVE PAGAN ORIGINS?

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This is the question that always comes up and is often misunderstood. It is important to clarify that the Advent wreath is not of Pagan origin. It is a completely modern, 19th century Protestant idea. Pastor Johann Hinrich Wichern in Hamburg made the first Advent wreath in 1839 for the children. The four candles and the weekly lighting are therefore a Christian form, not the remnant of an ancient rite.

The symbolism behind it, however - the evergreen, the light and the flickering candle flame in the dark - belongs to much older European traditions. These motifs appeared throughout the winter in many cultures even if not in the same form. So the various candle traditions are not substitutes for one another but different expressions of the same human experience.

They naturally belonged to winter. All of them are about waiting for the light during the time of darkness. Because of this, it is completely natural that Sunwait "borrows back" part of the form. If modern Christmas itself has taken on a lot of old Pagan elements (evergreens, feasting, light-festival, timing), then Pagan communities can just as well take back the weekly candle-lighting form and fill it with different content. Sunwait celebrates the light too - just with a different spiritual background than Christian Advent.

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In Scandinavia a good example of this is Lucia Day (13 December). The white clad Lucia girl with a crown of candles is the "bringer of light" in the middle of the long darkness. According to researchers and popular sources, it is deeply interwoven with older Pagan winter solstice traditions. Lucia/Lucy’s night was known as "little Jul" and Lussi-night. People believed that trolls, spirits and the dead were especially active then so they stayed awake, lit fires, and made sure all Christmas preparations were finished - otherwise the dreaded Lussi would bring punishment on the household. Although it became a Christian feast, its symbolism clearly centres on the return of light - the same experience that nourishes Sunwait and Årsväntan as well.

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In Hungary we don’t have Lucia-day candle crowns, but light has always been important here too: think of the lanterns of the nativity players, the candles of the "Holy Family walks" or small light-bringing customs before Christmas. These are not the same as Sunwait but they carry the same ancient feeling: that at the darkest point of winter we need something that shines. That’s why it feels so natural that a modern Scandinavian custom like Sunwait can fit so gently into Hungarian winter traditions as well. The outward forms may differ but at heart we are all waiting for the light to arrive - and that is what unites them.

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SUNWAIT IN A HUNGARIAN CONTEXT

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Although Sunwait is specifically Scandinavian in origin and grew out of the atmosphere of the swedish winter, its essence - consciously celebrating the return of the light - is universally understandable, including in Hungary. Our winters are not as long and dark as in parts of Scandinavia but the lack of snow can make this season feel bleak, dull and gloomy. The cold and grey weeks, the slowly growing light, the warmth of candles and the quiet of waiting are all experiences that a Hungarian winter knows well.

This is why I think Sunwait fits easily among local customs. It doesn’t replace them but gently complements them. Yule’s light-waiting mood connects beautifully to old hungarian winter traditions - the idea of "new light" at the solstice, the lighting of candles, the quiet of the Advent season, or the warmth of Christmas are all frames into which the Northern spirit of Sunwait can naturally slip.

So this modern Scandinavian tradition is not a "foreign import" but a chance for a new, personal and creative winter rite that can find a home in a hungarian environment too - especially wherever we want to counterbalance winter’s darkness by consciously creating light. :)

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SUMMARY

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Yule, the solstice, Sunna/Sól, the runes and the light that is born in winter all reflect the particular world of Pagan communities. There is a kind of beautiful repetition in this, a very Nordic logic. The form - weekly candle-lighting during the season that overlaps with Advent - may feel familiar, but the content is entirely different. Sunwait is a wonderful example of how Pagan spirituality continues to live on: not through dogmas or obligatory reconstructed customs but through living, tradition-creating practices that speak to modern people.

Some sources say that Sunwait spread mainly from American online Ásatrú/heathen communities in the 2000s, but the essence remains the same. The experience is shared, whether we speak of Advent or Sunwait. The difference lies in the path and in the spirit behind it. Sunwait is simple and clear: lighting six candles over six weeks, six steps towards the light.

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HOW CAN YOU CELEBRATE SUNWAIT? (GUIDE)

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- Prepare six candles (they can be white, red, black, soy wax, beeswax - whatever you like)

- Write or carve the rune of the given week onto each candle

- Each week, light the new candle

- Meditate on that week’s rune, reflect on it or say your own prayer

- Create some quiet around you

- Notice how you yourself change inwardly over the six weeks

 

The magic of Sunwait lies in the fact that it can be both communal and deeply personal :) The rune introductions below are based on the ideas of an international Sunwait-celebrating community (Facebook group). I have adapted the texts for Hungarian context so they can serve as an inner companion through the six-week journey towards Yule. :)

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Week 1 - FEHU - The First Light of Abundance

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"In the first week of SunWait we kindle,

The candle of Fehu, radiant and bright.

Until the queen of the sky will travel again,

May her beauty rise in this light.

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Fehu is the first rune of the Elder Futhark, carrying the living pulse of abundance. For our ancestors it meant livelihood, for us it whispers that abundance flows wherever we pay conscious attention. Everything that nourishes us - talent, relationships, health, time, creativity - connects us to the growth of the light.

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The week’s focus:
 

- Gratitude for all that is already present

- Consciously noticing our resources

- The flow of giving and receiving

- Planting the seed of a new beginning

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I turn towards abundance with gratitude and stay open to the new light coming my way.

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Week 2 - URUZ - The Awakening of Primal Strength

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"In the second week of SunWait we ignite,

The candle of Uruz, strong and free.

With all that has been and still rises before us,

May the passage of time be honored in this light."

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Uruz carries the raw, transformative energy of the aurochs. Change sometimes requires courage, and old patterns must fall away before the new can arrive. This rune invites us to feel our own primal strength and to find the power for winter and for inner transformation.

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The week’s focus:

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- Ancient life-force and vitality

- Courage and willpower

- Renewal through change

- Connection to nature and the ancestors

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Ancient strength pulses within me. I grow, I change, and I become stronger.

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Week 3 - THURISAZ - The Thorn of Boundaries, the Power of Protection

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"In the third week of SunWait we kindle,

The candle of Thurisaz, bright and glad.

When the power of winter surrounds us,

May spring arise from this burning land"

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Thurisaz is the rune of challenges and resistance. It is not an enemy, but a mirror. It helps us see what pricks, what constricts, and what no longer carries us forward. It shows us how to draw boundaries and how to protect our hearts. This rune asks us to release the burdens we no longer wish to carry on our way towards the light.

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The week’s focus:

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- Protection and clear boundaries

- Releasing burdens

- Courage

- Inner transformation

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I trust my inner strength and let go of all that no longer serves me.

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Week 4 - ANSUZ - The Voice of Spirit, the Light of Breath

 

"In the fourth week of SunWait we kindle,

The candle of Ansuz, wise and near.

In honor of gods, old and wise,

May the power of Regin* arise in this light"
*divine powers

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Ansuz is Odin’s rune - of word, breath and inspiration. In the midst of the dark season it invites us to open to insights and inner messages. It reminds us that we are not alone: our words, breath and inspiration are nourished by ancient wisdom.

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The week’s focus:

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- Inspiration and insight

- The power of words and communication

- Connection to higher knowledge

- Breath as life-force

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I hear the voice of wisdom and allow inspiration to move through me.

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Week 5 - RAIDO - The Rhythm of the Road, the Harmony of Movement

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"In the fifth week of SunWait we kindle,

The candle of Raido, radiant and free.

In longing for that which will never perish,

May new life endure in this light."

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Raido is the rune of the journey - both the path we walk in the world and the one that continues inside us. It is the road from darkness to light and the movement that brings order. The light has not yet arrived, but we are already on our way. Raido reminds us that the journey itself shapes us, not just the destination.

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The week’s focus:

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- Life path and direction

- Change and movement

- Trust in the process

- Harmony and inner balance

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I walk my path with trust. Rhythm and balance lead me forward.

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Week 6 - KENAZ - The Return of Inner Light

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"In the sixth week of SunWait we light,

The candle of Kenaz, sparkling near.

A flame in the darkness will rise again,

May the hope of Yule be shown to us in this light"

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Kenaz is the rune of the torch - of inner fire, understanding and clarity. On the threshold of the solstice it is especially strong. It reminds us that we too carry light in our words, our thoughts and our actions.

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The week’s focus:

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- Inner fire and inspiration

- Seeking light in the dark

- Clarity and insight

- Sharing warmth and wisdom

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The light burns within me, and I allow this clarity to illuminate my path.

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Sources:

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https://fornkunskap.wordpress.com/

https://thetroth.org/

https://heathenmoon.ca/

https://wyrddesigns.wordpress.com/

https://www.wikipedia.org/

Celebrate Sunwait Facebook group