Part 2. Scandinavian Superstitions.
Scandinavians included the early inhabitants of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Iceland
The Scandinavians, like the Greeks, believed that the universe was originally chaos, or mass of confused vapors, peopled by a race of Rimthursar, evil spirits of gigantic bulk.
A being of nobler nature sprang up among these, named Bure, from whom were descended Odin and his two brothers Vile and Ve. These younger divinities followed exactly the same course with the northern giants that were pursued by Jupiter and his brothers with regard to the Titans, or older and gigantic deities of Greece.
Odin began to war with the Rimthursar, and having at last overcome their great chief Ymer, he created the world out of the giants body. His flesh became the mould, his bones the rocks, his hair the vegetable tribes and his blood the ocean. His scull represented the heavens, at the four corners of which were placed certain dwarfs, called North, South, East and West, whose duty it was to sustain the celestial dome.
After this, the luminaries of the sky were set in their places, and the order of the seasons appointed. Natt (Night) wedded one of the Aser, or celestial family of Odin, and gave birth to Dag (Day). These deities travel alternately round the world in cars, drawn by single horses.
Every great body, as in the Grecian mythology, was represented by a divinity. Frigga, or the Earth, was the daughter of Odin, and also became his wife. The inhabitants of the Earth, or mankind, were created by Odin and his brothers. Two pieces of wood, the one of ash and the other of elm, formed the materials of the first pair of mortals, who were distinguished for personal beauty and intellectual ability.
The race of deities inhabited Asgard, a place supposed by some to have been the city in Asia where the real mortal Odin was expatriated. The fabulous Asgard was pictured as containing numerous palaces and halls, the largest of which was the mansion of Joy, Where Allfader (Odin) sat on his throne amid his divine family.
This throne was named Liskialfa, or the Terror of Nations, and from it he could overlook the whole earth. Two ravens, Hugin (Spirit) and Muninn (Memory), sat always at his ear, and communicated to him intelligence of all things that were going on in the universe. Among the deities who dwelt in Asgard, one of the most important was Thor, or Asathor, son of Odin by Frigga, and the Mars, or Warrior god, of the Scandinavians.
Thor is described as the god of thunder, and the strongest of beings, earthly or heavenly. He is the son of Odin and Frigga, or, in other words, the Sun and the Earth. When he moves, the earth trembles. He holds in his hand a powerful hammer called the Crusher with whom he annihilates all who oppose him, and who offend the gods.
In battle, Thor is always girt with a magic girdle, which has the power of inspiring him with a divine fury, and redoubling his strength. On his right hand he wears an iron gauntlet, with which he grasps and wields the formidable crusher. This latter instrument was forged by a dwarf named Sindri, the prototype of the deformed blacksmith-deities of the Greeks, Vulcan and his Cyclopse.
The hammer possesses the wonderful power of never missing its aim, and when launched at any object, returns to the hand of Thor, after destroying his foe. Thor is sometimes called Aukistor, or Thor of the Car, from his riding on a chariot, drawn by two powerful he-goats, named Sangniostr and Tangrisner. This deity has a spouse named Sipia, famous for her beautiful hair.
After Odin, Thor was the most cherished deity of Scandinavia and had statues and temples erected everywhere. The statues of him were usually formed of clay, and represent a tall figure, with a red painted beard, indicative of the lightning which he was supposed to wield.
Bread and meat were supplied daily to the god by his worshippers, and at stated times libations were poured out in his honour.
Balder, the second son of Odin, was the most beautiful and amiable of the Aser, or gods. Unlike the rest of his brethren, he was fond of peace, and had the power of allaying tempests, and acting as a mediator, to avert divine wrath. His decrees were irrevocable. In some points he resembled the Apollo of the Greeks, but the general qualities of that personage found a closer representative in Braga or Bragi, the god of eloquence and poetry.
Niord, the god of the sea, and his son Freys, the god of rain, were also important deities of the north. Every element, or important natural phenomenon, was under the guidance, in a manner, of some celestial personage.
Frigga, the Scandinavian Juno, was the bestower of fertility and plenty. Freia, or Fraya, the daughter of Niord, was the Venus of Asgard and the patroness of matrimony. Siona assisted Freia in her duties and Sofna, the first of who made lovers faithful, while the other, reconciled them when they quarreled.
Eyra was the physician of the gods. There were various other minor divinities in the Scandinavian mythology, though not nearly so many as in the Grecian roll.
The great hall appointed for the reception of the spirits of the brave, when they left earth for the seat of the gods, was called Valhalla. Twelve beautiful, yet terrible nymphs, named Valkyries (choosers of the slain), were the guides of the good spirits to the hall of Valhalla, and supplied them with mead. The occupation of drinking this northern nectar, and of eating the fat of the wild boar Serimner-which, after serving as the daily food of thousands, became whole again every night.
The mythology of the Scandinavians survived till a much later date than any other system of heathen worship in Europe. It was not abolished till the eleventh century. St Olaf, king of Norway, and a zealous supporter of Christianity, usually receives the credit of having overturned this most barbarous form of religion.
Our term Wednesday is derived from Odin's or Wodin's day. Thursday is from Thor, Friday takes its name from Freya. Saturday is derived from Saeter and Sunday and Monday from the moon.
Part 3 Anglo-Saxon Superstitions.