This square-headed brooch from Inderøy appears to depict Sigurd’s death and ascension to Valhalla.
On the right of the foot plate we see Sigurd, sucking Fafnir’s blood off of his thumb. Below him are several animals, likely a pack of wolves, as described in Guðrúnarkviða II.
“On the southern road thou shalt Sigurth see,
Where hear thou canst the ravens cry;
The eagles cry as food they crave,
And about thy husband wolves are howling.”
On the head plate are several backwards facing beast motifs, very similar to the Tangendorf brooch, which seems to depict a deer; Sigurd is likened to a stag earlier in the poem, when he rises to Valhalla.
“So Sigurth rose o’er Gjuki's sons
As the leek grows green above the grass,
Or the stag o'er all the beasts doth stand,
Or as glow-red gold above silver gray.”
Around the image of Sigurd, the wolves invoke Odin, and the stags, Valhalla. ⴲ
On the right of the foot plate we see Sigurd, sucking Fafnir’s blood off of his thumb. Below him are several animals, likely a pack of wolves, as described in Guðrúnarkviða II.
“On the southern road thou shalt Sigurth see,
Where hear thou canst the ravens cry;
The eagles cry as food they crave,
And about thy husband wolves are howling.”
On the head plate are several backwards facing beast motifs, very similar to the Tangendorf brooch, which seems to depict a deer; Sigurd is likened to a stag earlier in the poem, when he rises to Valhalla.
“So Sigurth rose o’er Gjuki's sons
As the leek grows green above the grass,
Or the stag o'er all the beasts doth stand,
Or as glow-red gold above silver gray.”
Around the image of Sigurd, the wolves invoke Odin, and the stags, Valhalla. ⴲ
Good King Wenceslas, reimagined as a pagan Jól song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwTZSpvtJPc
YouTube
"Rig God Odin" (Jul song)
Jul (Jól / Yule) Song.
Lyrics on-screen
© Scott Carlson
If this video, or any of our books and videos, have helped you and you'd like to make a donation via PayPal:
http://www.paypal.me/NorthernPagan
A link to all of our books available on Amazon:
htt…
Lyrics on-screen
© Scott Carlson
If this video, or any of our books and videos, have helped you and you'd like to make a donation via PayPal:
http://www.paypal.me/NorthernPagan
A link to all of our books available on Amazon:
htt…
The debate always comes up this time of year…Martin Luther is credited with the invention of the Christmas tree as we know it, however, it was a continuation of many older traditions. ᛉ
Forwarded from ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ
Origins of the Christmas tree.
The modern Christmas tree is an amalgamation of several possible ancient traditions, both Pagan and Christian.
One likely origin is in Ancient Rome. Wreaths made of evergreen trees and plants were made during Saturnalia. Aurelian suggested that Saturnalia should be held alongside Christmas in order to compete with the growing Christian church, but this resulted in many Saturnalia traditions being adopted by the Christians.
Similarly, in the Viking Age, Hákon the Good decreed Jól was to be held alongside Christmas in the hopes of winning Pagans over to Christianity, which led to Jól traditions being absorbed into Christmas.
In Ancient Egypt and the Near East, evergreens were associated with rebirth and reincarnation, which was easily absorbed into early Christianity, wherein it represents the rebirth of Christ. In parts of Europe, evergreen decorations were said to keep the Devil away in the Middle Ages.
Of course, the Germanic and Baltic peoples practiced tree worship. Decorating trees during Wassailing and placing offerings in the branches are likely a carryover from Pagan times. Some claim the Christmas tree is in memory of St. Boniface cutting down Þonar’s oak, but let us remember, that was an oak, and the Germanic peoples bashed St. Boniface’s head in and continued to resist Christian rule long after the oak fell. The inversion of a deciduous vs an evergreen tree may be a Christian thing. Some also claim it was originally a representation of Yggrdrasil; it’s impossible to say.
The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany and Livonia in the 16th Century, and Martin Luther is credited with its invention. Which is curious, as the Bible forbids cutting and decorating a tree (Jeremiah 10:3-4). The Bremen Guild Chronicle mentions a tree being brought inside and decorated with foods, such as apples and nuts, and the guild members’ children would eat them on Christmas Day. Afterwards, the tree was burned…perhaps a remnant of an ancient solar festival?
There’s a similar practice in Poland; during the Koliada festival, an evergreen branch is suspended from the rafters and decorated. This originated in pagan times, to bring a good harvest in the new year.
The Christmas tree itself is not an ancient tradition; it’s the result of a combination of both ancient Pagan folk traditions, and medieval Christian traditions. The mistletoe is very likely a Pagan remnant; celebrating the inevitable return of Baldr. In Ancient Rome, the mistletoe represented peace and reconciliation.
ᛉ
Goðan Jól! Glæd Geōl! Io Saturnalia! Merry Christmas!
The modern Christmas tree is an amalgamation of several possible ancient traditions, both Pagan and Christian.
One likely origin is in Ancient Rome. Wreaths made of evergreen trees and plants were made during Saturnalia. Aurelian suggested that Saturnalia should be held alongside Christmas in order to compete with the growing Christian church, but this resulted in many Saturnalia traditions being adopted by the Christians.
Similarly, in the Viking Age, Hákon the Good decreed Jól was to be held alongside Christmas in the hopes of winning Pagans over to Christianity, which led to Jól traditions being absorbed into Christmas.
In Ancient Egypt and the Near East, evergreens were associated with rebirth and reincarnation, which was easily absorbed into early Christianity, wherein it represents the rebirth of Christ. In parts of Europe, evergreen decorations were said to keep the Devil away in the Middle Ages.
Of course, the Germanic and Baltic peoples practiced tree worship. Decorating trees during Wassailing and placing offerings in the branches are likely a carryover from Pagan times. Some claim the Christmas tree is in memory of St. Boniface cutting down Þonar’s oak, but let us remember, that was an oak, and the Germanic peoples bashed St. Boniface’s head in and continued to resist Christian rule long after the oak fell. The inversion of a deciduous vs an evergreen tree may be a Christian thing. Some also claim it was originally a representation of Yggrdrasil; it’s impossible to say.
The modern Christmas tree originated in Germany and Livonia in the 16th Century, and Martin Luther is credited with its invention. Which is curious, as the Bible forbids cutting and decorating a tree (Jeremiah 10:3-4). The Bremen Guild Chronicle mentions a tree being brought inside and decorated with foods, such as apples and nuts, and the guild members’ children would eat them on Christmas Day. Afterwards, the tree was burned…perhaps a remnant of an ancient solar festival?
There’s a similar practice in Poland; during the Koliada festival, an evergreen branch is suspended from the rafters and decorated. This originated in pagan times, to bring a good harvest in the new year.
The Christmas tree itself is not an ancient tradition; it’s the result of a combination of both ancient Pagan folk traditions, and medieval Christian traditions. The mistletoe is very likely a Pagan remnant; celebrating the inevitable return of Baldr. In Ancient Rome, the mistletoe represented peace and reconciliation.
ᛉ
Goðan Jól! Glæd Geōl! Io Saturnalia! Merry Christmas!
Coins from Knossos, Crete, with a swastika on one side, and a minotaur forming a swastika with his body on the other.
A folk tale collected by Grimm from Lower Saxony further links the Wild Hunt with the Einherjar…
In Lower Saxony, the leader of the Wild Hunt is often called Hacklenberg. In the folk tale, Hans von Hacklenberg was a woodcutter who lived in the 16th Century. One night, he dreamed of being killed by a wild boar. The next day, he was attacked by a wild boar, but eventually defeated it after a long fight. In his victory, he kicked at the dead boar hard enough that the boar’s tusk went through his boot, the wound proving fatal. In death, he continues to hunt.
In several other accounts of the Wild Hunt, a boar is the target of the spectral hunters. In another, a woodcutter joined the Wild Hunt and was away for a fortnight salting the boar’s flesh.
Both harken back to Sæhrímnir, the boar eaten by the Einherjar; and in the first one, he heralds Hacklenberg joining the Wild Hunt.
ⴲ
In Lower Saxony, the leader of the Wild Hunt is often called Hacklenberg. In the folk tale, Hans von Hacklenberg was a woodcutter who lived in the 16th Century. One night, he dreamed of being killed by a wild boar. The next day, he was attacked by a wild boar, but eventually defeated it after a long fight. In his victory, he kicked at the dead boar hard enough that the boar’s tusk went through his boot, the wound proving fatal. In death, he continues to hunt.
In several other accounts of the Wild Hunt, a boar is the target of the spectral hunters. In another, a woodcutter joined the Wild Hunt and was away for a fortnight salting the boar’s flesh.
Both harken back to Sæhrímnir, the boar eaten by the Einherjar; and in the first one, he heralds Hacklenberg joining the Wild Hunt.
ⴲ
Another connection between Santa and the Wild Hunt…
In many folk tales involving the Wild Hunt, the hunters call out “hoho” as they ride, and in one folk tale Grimm collected from the Harz Mountains, a carpenter said it back. The Wild Hunt dropped a horse leg down his chimney, and the man died; joining the Wild Hunt himself.
Painting by Patrick Beauclair. ⴲ
In many folk tales involving the Wild Hunt, the hunters call out “hoho” as they ride, and in one folk tale Grimm collected from the Harz Mountains, a carpenter said it back. The Wild Hunt dropped a horse leg down his chimney, and the man died; joining the Wild Hunt himself.
Painting by Patrick Beauclair. ⴲ
Two ornate Gothic bow brooches from the Wielbark Culture, now Poland, 3-5th Century.
The Hnefatafl set from Birka. I haven’t seen any other examples with the gilt bronze cap, perhaps it was made in the same workshop as the king piece from York. This example has small triquetras on the cap.