The whole Berk was bustling with activities. This was going to be their second snoggletog since they had made peace with dragons, all thanks to their young heir, Hiccup. After the near disaster that was the last snoggletog, they wanted to spend this one much more peacefully.

Preparations were in full swing. Everyone was joyously decorating their homes and surroundings. Even the dragons were helping with their work.

"Alright guys, this one looks fine." Hiccup called out to his friends as he pats the trunk of the pine tree.

"That's one big fine tree." Snotlout commented.

"Yeah. Good find, Hicc." Tuffnut added.

"Alright, let's do this." Hiccup told them as he prepared some rope. Snotlout and Tuffnut lend him a hand as they strategically tie the ropes around the tree.

"Allright, this should do." Hiccup announced,"Snotlout, call Hookfang."

The monstrous nightmare immediately perked up when he heard his name being called. The tied ropes were attached to a special harness on his chest as Snotlout mounted his dragon and Hookfang flew up, hovering over the tree.

With that, Hiccup and Tuffnut got to work. They picked up their axes and began cutting down the tree. Once the trunk was cut through, Hookfang hovered higher, bringing the tree up with him.

"Yeah, baby! Whoo!" Snotlout exclaimed as he guided Hookfang to carry the tree back to the village.

"Let's go." Hiccup instructed Tuffnut as they fetched their respective dragons and followed after Snotlout.

As they approached their village, Snotlout and Tuffnut headed towards the village square, where the tree will be set up as the Yule tree. Hiccup, on the other hand, headed towards the forge. Landing in front of the building, Hiccup dismounted Toothless and headed inside.

"Hey, Gobber! How's the dress going?" he called out as he saw his mentor.

There's a tradition that each snoggletog, someone would be selected to dress up as 'old man winter,' a white-bearded man dressed in a hooded fur coat, thought to represent Odin. This person would go around the village, joining in with the various celebrations.

This year, Gobber was selected for the job.

"Just finished doing some finishing touches laddie." Gobber replied, setting down a wooden statue that he was carving on the table beside him. On the table, a bunch of statues along with some unfinished pieces and woods were laying.

"Hey Hiccup, since ya are here, why don't ya take over the work for a bit? I need ta go and get some things done." Gobber told him.

Hiccup saw no problem in the request. "Sure Gobber." He replied.

"Alright, laddie. Then I'll leave this to ya." Gobber said as he set down his stuff and got up, dusting off the wooden chips off his clothes,"Thanks again 'iccup. Ya are a lifesaver."

And with that, Gobber left the forge and Hiccup took his spot. He sat down on the chair and picked up one of the half finished small wooden statues and a knife as he began working on it. He had finished 2 of them and was on his 3rd one when suddenly Toothless came behind him and looked over his shoulder to check his work.

"Oh, hey bud." Hiccup greeted his draconic friend.

Toothless curiously looked at the statue he was carving and let out a low warble.

"Oh this? I'm just making a few decorations for the Yule tree." Hiccup explained.

Toothless once again looked at Hiccup, his eyes still sparkling with curiosity.

"You're still curious about this whole deal, aren't you?" Hiccup asked.

Toothless nodded.

"Well, then let me explain all this to you." Hiccup returned back to his work and continued carving out the figure as he said,

"There's an old belief that on the longest night of the year and the daylight is the shortest of the year, which takes place around this time of the year every year, All father Odin, the great God, and king of other gods, would ride across the night sky and visit them in their homes.

So, every year, on this occasion, we celebrate for a few days by drinking, feasting, songs, games, banquets, and sacrifices for the gods and the ancestor spirits.

Some call this day 'Yule', and on Berk, we call this day 'Snoggletog'."

Hiccup smiled as he blew on the freshly carved statue, blowing away the wooden chips and sawdust off it before giving it a good wipe with a cloth and placing it amongst the finished statues.

"On this day children would leave their helmets out by the hearth on the eve of the winter solstice with sugar and hay for Odin's eight-legged horse, Sleipnir."

He then turned towards Toothless. "The tree we collected this morning will be decorated as the Yule tree. A green tree that's decorated with small statues of gods, food, and clothes. It is to call for the spirit of the forests."

"Hiccup! Are you in there?" The sudden call startled Hiccup. He looked up and saw Astrid coming inside the forge. Something wrapped in cloth was held in her arm.

"Astrid. Hey! Hi, Astrid. Hi, Astrid. Hi, Astrid." Hiccup greeted her, trying to overcome his startled state. "Gobber isn't here, so-"

Astrid giggled at his expression. "Relax, Hicc. I came here for you." She said, while giving Toothless a chin rub before the dragon got out of the forge.

"Me?" Hiccup questioned.

"Yeah." Astrid said,"I wanted to give you this." She handed him the cloth wrapped package she was carrying. "I know we are supposed to give the gifts after the celebration, but I couldn't hold up until then. Hope you like it."

Hiccup undid the wrap and found a book underneath the wrapping. He was stunned at the gift.

"So…" Astrid spoke, tucking her hair behind her ear, unsure of what to expect.

"Thank you Astrid for this gift." Hiccup joyously thanked her.

"You like it?" Astrid asked, surprised by Hiccup's expression. She wasn't expecting him to get this excited over a book.

"Love it." Hiccup exclaimed. "I really am glad for this gift."

Astrid smiled at that. "Glad to know that."

"Oh, and I also have something for you." Hiccup quickly said before heading to his backroom, and emerging from there a bit later, carrying something in his hands. "I wanted to give it to you after the celebrations, but I guess now works too. Happy snoggletog, Astrid."

And with that, he handed her the object. It was an axe. But not just any axe. The most beautiful axe Astrid had ever seen. A perfectly balanced weapon with intricate and beautifully detailed engravings on the polished metal surface. The smooth wooden handle was partially wrapped in leather and the exposed wood had the figure of a nadder carved into it. Astrid brushed her fingers against the edge and felt the sharpness.

"It took me a while to make it. Hope you like it."

"It's beautiful, Hiccup." She stared at him. "Thank you."

Hiccup smiled. "You're welcome, Ast."

Astrid then turned around. "See you at the celebration, Hiccup." She said as she left.

"Yeah, see you there too." Hiccup replied as he watched her leave.

…

Hiccup made his way to the hill side to join the other villagers for the burning of Yule wreath.

The Yule wreath is a giant wheel that is set on fire and thrown down a hill to wish for the return of the Sun. On Berk, this is how the celebration for snoggletog is started.

When Hiccup got to the place, he found many people still waiting. He made his way through the crowd, and eventually made it to the other side, where he found a giant Yule wreath already prepared for the ritual, and his father, Chief Stoick 'the vast' Haddock standing on the side with a lit torch in his hand.

"Ah, Hiccup." Stoick exclaimed, seeing him,"Just the person I was waiting for." He went over to Hiccup,"Son, I want you to light up the Yule wreath."

Hiccup was shocked by this request.

"Isn't this something the chief is supposed to do?" He asked.

"Yes, son. But this year, I want you, the future of Berk, to do it." Stoick said.

Hiccup looked around, and saw the others give him approving nods. He looked back at his father, and Stoick held a torch forward with a smile on his face. A grateful smile formed on Hiccup's face and he nodded.

Hiccup gladly took the torch and set the yule wreath on fire. He said his prayers and then pushed the wheel forward. The burning yule wreath went over the edge and rolled down the cliff and the vikings cheered in joy.

And with that, the celebrations began.

"Ho, ho! Happy Snoggletog!" Gobber, dressed as the 'Old man winter', bellowed joyously.

The residents of Berk were gathered in the village square, dancing and drinking around the Yule tree. A large fire was burning on one side. Some danced around the tree with their significant other while the rest stood on the sides and drank mead and shared stories with each other. Some were singing and playing instruments to help raise the spirits of the ones dancing.

Even the dragons were celebrating, some gulping down barrels of mead themselves or munching down on the fish, which stood true for gluttons such as Toothless and Hookfang, and some others nestling atop the houses with their mates and hatchlings, watching over the entire event. And some other rather rowdy ones going out for a flight.

Thankfully, no exploding eggs around this time.

Hiccup stood on one side, leaning against a bench, with a mug full of mead in his hand as he took sips of his drink.

"Hey, Hiccup!"

Hiccup looked at his left and saw Astrid approaching.

"Wanna dance?" She asked him with a grin.

"Uh, um, I'm not sure-"

"Come on, it'll be fun." Astrid grabbed his hand and dragged him towards the dance floor.

Hiccup barely had the time to put his mug down on the bench before he found himself amongst the dancing people with Astrid as his partner.

His steps and moves were stiff at first as they danced, but slowly, he began to lose up. He smiled as he danced with Astrid, taking each step with joy as they stared into each other's eyes and laughed and enjoyed the time.

Those who noticed the young heir and the Hofferson girl couldn't help but be amused at the sight of the young couple.

When they eventually stopped, Hiccup and Astrid found themselves in the center of the dance floor, with people still dancing around them. They looked up, and to their surprise, they were right under the mistletoe.

Looked back at each other. "You know what this means, right?" Astrid asked with a smirk.

"Uh, um-" Hiccup was stuttering once more as a blush appeared on his check.

Astrid giggled and shook her head in amusement before she leaned forward and kissed him. Hiccup, initially surprised, closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss. They separated when they ran out of breath and stared into each other's eyes.

"Happy snoggletog, Hiccup." Astrid said.

"Happy snoggletog to you too, Astrid."

They stared lovingly at each other, while they held onto each other, not wishing to let go, and for the moment to last forever.

"Hey! Look!" someone gasped.

Everyone looked up at the sky, and some even gasped in awe seeing the northern lights in the sky. Hiccup wrapped his arm around Astrid's shoulder and the latter leaned against the former as they smiled and stared up. Suddenly, Toothless joined in too, sneaking under Hiccup's other arm and standing by his other side. Hiccup and Astrid chuckled, finding the Nightfury beside them.

Hiccup gave him a quick rub on the head and then they all looked up at the sky, gazing upon the northern lights, awaiting for a new year and new adventures.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:- Hey guys, Commander Alfa here. Hope you liked the chapter.

Merry Christmas to you all. Hope you're having a great time and the upcoming days of your life are spent in joy and prosperity.

Also, a big shout out to my friend from , Yubel578 for suggesting me this idea. Thanks Yubel.

That's all guys. See ya all in the next chapter.

Anyway guys, gotta go now. Have a great day or night or whatever time of day it is at your place. See you in the next chapter. Bye guys. Alfa out. Peace.