In the traditions of ancient Europe, the period around the end of the year and the winter solstice was always perceived as a time when the natural order of the world briefly halts and the boundary between reality and myth dissolves. It is during these longest and coldest nights, as the old year breaks into the new, that legends say the Wild Hunt awakens. This ghostly procession of dead warriors and wraiths, led by a mysterious figure, represents one of the most powerful archetypes of Northern and Central Europe.
The myth of the Wild Hunt is closely linked to the idea that in the darkness between two cycles—the ending one and the upcoming one—a wild and untamed energy returns to the world of the living. While for some, this phenomenon was a harbinger of misfortune or war, in a broader sense, it symbolizes the uncontrollable force of nature and fate that gallops across the frosty December sky. This legend, popularized in modern times primarily by The Witcher saga, has its roots deep in pagan history.
It was this raw atmosphere of winter myth that became the foundation for the song "Divoký hon" (The Wild Hunt), which opens the album Srdce z kamene (Heart of Stone) by the band Deloraine. The song captures the moment when the sound of horns and the thundering of hooves beating against the clouds fill the air. The musical arrangement seeks to reflect the ferocity and inevitability of this ride, which carries the same sense of destiny as the conclusion of the year itself.
For those who wish to experience this period accompanied by music that draws from ancient roots, the album Srdce z kamene is available on the band's e-shop, both in physical CD format and as a digital MP3. The track is also available on streaming platforms and YouTube, where it is accompanied by a thematic lyric video. In a time when the nights begin to shorten again and light battles darkness, the Wild Hunt remains a reminder of that wild part of history that still persists within us, despite modern ways of celebration.
May the strength and determination of ancient heroes accompany you in the coming year. We wish you a New Year full of victories, robust health, and an unquenchable inner fire to guide you through even the deepest darkness.
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