Ye gods! Deities for the colder months

As winter draws in, which gods can we call on to keep us safe from the cold and dark?

In ancient times, our ancestors would have called on the winter gods to protect them and keep them safe during the darker, colder, most challenging months of the year.

These gods would have been celebrated at winter solstice festivities, the Roman festival of Saturnalia, and in pagan celebrations during

December. And in many ways, those celebrations haven’t changed in thousands of years – we still enjoy feasting, creating wreaths out of evergreen leaves and wood, and lighting special fires and candles at

Christmas. So who are these winter gods – and can we rely on them to look after us during the dark times...?