Numerous folk tales tell of men led astray by hares who are really witches in disguise, or of old women revealed as witches when they are wounded in their animal shape. These observations became an extremely common observation in works regarding Old Norse religion until at least the early 1990s. Freyja was the daughter of Njrr, and was Odin's concubine. Oct 31, 2012 - I was looking for Oestre stuff and came across the following in wiki . The Rune Mysteries also list Cen (aka Ken or Torch) as under These names include Gefn, Hrn, Mardll, Sr, and Vanads. In Chinese folklore, female hares conceive through the touch of the full moon's light (without the need of impregnation by the male), or by crossing water by moonlight, or licking moonlight from a male hares fur. [47], The Heimskringla book Ynglinga saga provides a euhemerized account of the origin of the gods, including Freyja. Citing folk Easter customs in Leicestershire, England where "the profits of the land called Harecrop Leys were applied to providing a meal which was thrown on the ground at the "Hare-pie Bank," late 19th century scholar Charles Isaac Elton says th Site design by Group Of, Modern Witchcraft, Magic and Spirituality. After the Aesir-Vanir war, peace was established between the two divine forces. One Scottish witch of the 17th century, Isobel Gowdie, openly declared herself able to shapeshift into the form of a hare. It was Freyjas privilege to choose one-half of the heroes slain in battle for her great hall in the Flkvangar (the god Odin took the other half to Valhalla). Freyja, the headstrong Norse goddess of love, sensuality, and womens mysteries, was also served by hare attendants. Three of these place names appear to derive from *Freyjuhof ('Freyja's hof'), whereas the goddess's name is frequently otherwise compounded with words for 'meadow' (such as -veit, -land) and similar land formations. A creatively inclusive haven, literary community and liminal space since 2005. to Peoh (Fehu) and Cen (Ken) is associated with the number 6 card - Along with this, Gth recalls another mention of Freyja in the countryside: When as a boy I was visiting the old Proud-Katrina, I was afraid of lightning like all boys in those days. [76] In the 18th century, Swedish poet Carl Michael Bellman referred to Stockholm prostitutes in his Fredman's Epistles as "the children of Frja". Britt-Mari Nsstrm[sv] comments that Freyja became a particular target under Christianization: Freyja's erotic qualities became an easy target for the new religion, in which an asexual virgin was the ideal woman [] Freyja is called "a whore" and "a harlot" by the holy men and missionaries, whereas many of her functions in the everyday lives of men and women, such as protecting the vegetation and supplying assistance in childbirth were transferred to the Virgin Mary. [89] A playable cover version was featured in Guitar Hero II, released the same year.[90]. [37], At the beginning of the book Skldskaparml, Freyja is mentioned among eight goddesses attending a banquet held for gir. They are made using tiny cute Tibetan Silver (lead free Pewter) hares and Black-Lip Shell Full Moons all wrapped together using comfortable light weight hand-forged Aluminium Ear-Wires, perfect for everyday wear. [52], Chapter 1 records that one day Freyja passed by an open stone where dwarfs lived. He tells the two women that he would keep whichever of them that brews the better ale for him by the time he has returned home in the summer. Freyja is the only one of them that dares to bring him more to drink. He landed on her bed and noticed that she was wearing the necklace, the clasp turned downward. A particular concentration is recorded in Uppland, among which a number derive from the above-mentioned *Freyjuv and also *Freyjulundr ('Freyja's sacred grove'), place names that indicate public worship of Freyja. *The hare has a connection with many lunar deities. [49], The chapter adds that not only was Freyja very clever, but that she and her husband r had two immensely beautiful daughters, Gersemi and Hnoss, "who gave their names to our most precious possessions".[49]. Main photo: Hare trinity illustration from the album amicorum of Frederick IV of the Palatine [UB Heidelberg, Pal. Similar proof for the existence of a common Germanic goddess from which Freyja descends does not exist, but scholars have commented that this may simply be due to lack of evidence. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. goat, sheep, dog, horse and hare, and a damaged human scapula. 2020. [29], In the meantime, Thrym tells his servants to prepare for the arrival of the daughter of Njrr. The two of them had two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi, who took after their mother in beauty and manner. However, it was dangerous to leave the plough outdoors, because if Freyja sat on it, it would no longer be of any use. Comments (34). Freyja stirred, turning about, and then fell asleep again. The four dwarves answered that if she spent one night with each of them then the necklace would be hers. In Teutonic myth, the earth and sky goddess Holda, leader of the Wild Hunt, was followed by a procession of hares bearing torches. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Why is the hare sacred to Easter? The first thing that Thor says to Freyja is that she should dress herself and put on a bride's head-dress, for they shall drive to Jtunheimr. Freyja becomes the priestess of sacrificial offerings and it was she who introduced the practice of seir to the sir, previously only practiced by the Vanir. But Hare, in the role of Trickster buffoon, manages to get the message wrong, bestowing mortality instead and bringing death to the human world. In one well-known story from Dartmoor, a mighty hunter named Bowerman disturbed a coven of witches practicing their rites, and so one young witch determined to take revenge upon the man. Freyr is her brother. Archaeological record and historic depictions, Relation to Frigg and other goddesses and figures, Wigington, Patti. Looking at the necklace, the dwarfs thought Freyja to be most fair, and she the necklace. [80] According to the Norwegian name database from the Central Statistics Bureau, around 500 women are listed with the first name Frya (the modern Norwegian spelling of the goddess's name) in the country. [41], In chapter 18, verses from the 10th century skald's composition rsdrpa are quoted. Beside her is similarly a cloaked yet otherwise nude woman riding a distaff. Freyja is the owner of the necklace Brsingamen, rides a chariot pulled by two cats, is accompanied by the boar Hildisvni, and possesses a cloak of falcon feathers. I do not want to live after my father and brother are dead. Learn Religions. ostre (Proto-Germanic: *Austr(n)) is a West Germanic spring goddess. entries are dated 1582-1605]. She shape-shifted into a hare, led Bowerman through a deadly bog, then turned the hunter and his hounds into piles of stones, which can still be seen today. "[75], Into the modern period, Freyja was treated as a Scandinavian counterpart to the Roman Venus in, for example, Swedish literature, where the goddess may be associated with romantic love or, conversely, simply as a synonym for "lust and potency". Her father was Njrd, the sea god. In Egypt, the hare can gendershift between one gender and another, making it an androgynous figure, and is also associated with the moons cycles. [53], As related in chapter 2, Loki, under the service of Odin, found out about Freyja's actions and told Odin. By her husband r, she is the mother of two daughters, Hnoss and Gersemi. Her name means lady or mistress in Old Norse. The jackalope legends of the American Southwest are stories of a more recent vintage, consisting of purported sightings of rabbits or hares with horns like antelopes. The rabbit is also a. Whether hovering above us in the arms of a moon goddess or carrying messages from the Netherworld below, whether clever or clownish, hero or rascal, whether portent of good tidings or ill, rabbits and hares have leapt through myths, legends, and folk tales all around the world -- forever elusive, refusing to be caught and bound by a single definition. [56], However, Freyja did not disappear. Witches were said to be able to take the likeness of their familiar and assume their form. Main 5 out of 5 stars (601) The god Heimdallr proposes to dress Thor up as a bride, complete with bridal dress, head-dress, jingling keys, jewelry, and the famous Brsingamen. Within Flkvangr lies her hall, Sessrmnir. As with most Norse gods and goddesses, little was known of Freya's childhood and early development.In the Ynglinga Saga, a book of the Heimskringla by Snorri Sturluson, Freya was presented as a leading deity of the Vanir and a player in the Aesir-Vanir War.She was the wife of Odr, with whom she had the daughters Hnoss and Gersemi, who "were so very beautiful . It is a goddess symbol, a Trickster symbol, a symbol of the Holy Trinity, a symbol of death, redemption and rebirthall these and so much more. Well done to both Keely Hare and Freyja Pearce, who recently represented the CVFL for their interleague women's game last week. Chinese folklore also has it that hares become pregnant by crossing water by moonlight or when touched by the light of a full moon. The introduction to the poem notes that among other gods and goddesses, Freyja attends a celebration held by gir. Htt answers her prayer and spits on her yeast. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. African hare stories traveled to North America on the slavers ships, mixed with rabbit tales of the Cherokee and other tribes, and were transformed into the famous Brer Rabbit stories of the American South. Odin told Loki to get the necklace and bring it to him. In her dealings with the other gods, Freyja is brought up in many tales. In Gylfaginning, Freyja is mentioned in the tale concerning the birth of Sleipnir; the eight-legged steed of Odin. Although a Vanir deity, she is an honorary member of the Aesir. [48], In chapter 10, Freyja's brother Freyr dies, and Freyja is the last survivor among the sir and Vanir. The best that can be done is to survey the arguments for and against their identity, and to see how well each can be supported. In chapter 4, Freyja is introduced as a member of the Vanir, the sister of Freyr, and the daughter of Njrr and his sister (whose name is not provided). Who is Freyja in Norse Mythology? Instead, it is Thor who ends up dressed as a bride, posing to be Freyja; a plan devised by Loki. She's a member of the Vanir tribe of deities, but became an honorary member of the Aesir gods after the Aesir-Vanir War. [61] In a survey of toponyms in Norway, M. Olsen tallies at least 20 to 30 location names compounded with Freyja. Images above: "Three Hares" by Jackie Morris, "Three Hares" by Brian Froud, "Nature in Art" by Eleanor Ludgate, "The Mockingbird and the Hare" by Kelly Louise Judd, "Wishing on a Blue Moon" by Karen Davis, "Girl and Rabbit" photographed by Katerina Plotnikova, "Brown Hare (Suffolk)" photographed by Michael Rae, "Thumper" (from my novel The Wood Wife) by Brian Froud, "Eostre" by Danielle Barlow, "Easter Rabbits" by Mr. Finch, "Hare" sculpture by Beth Cavener Stichter, "Desert Cottontail" sculpture by Mark Rossi, Desert Jackrabbit photograph (Wikipedia), my "Desert Bunny Girl with Prayer Feathers" sketch, "Mimbres Rabbits" by Pablita Verlarde (Santa Clara Pueblo, New Mexico), "Boxing Hares" photograph (The Independent), "The March Hare, Dormouse, and Mad Hatter" by John Tenniel, "Moon Rabbit" netsuke by Eiichi (Japan, late 19th Century), illustration from "The Tortoise and the Hare" by Charles Robinson, "Country Bunny" by Marjorie Hack, two more of my Bunny Girls, a rabbit study and "The Rabbit's Christmas Party" by Beatrix Potter, the March Hare at "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party" by Arthur Rackham, and "Young Hare" by Albrecht Drer. The Moon is so angry, she beats Hare with a stick, splitting his nose (as it remains today). In addition to Freyja, Old Norse sources refer to the goddess by the following names: Scholar Richard North theorizes that Old English geofon and Old Norse Gefjun and Freyja's name Gefn may all descend from a common origin; gabia a Germanic goddess connected with the sea, whose name means "giving".[9]. Freya (Norse) - emblem of Freya, a mother goddess, giver of fruitfulness and love; associated with Holda, the Norse moon goddess Hermes (Greek) - God of the spoken word; the rabbit was sacred to Hermes as a fleet-footed messenger Wenenut (Egyptian) - "Deified rabbit-headed goddess. It was believed that rabbits burrowed underground in order to better commune with the spirit world, and that they could carry messages from the living to the dead and from humankind to the faeries. 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