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Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 12:01pm

When the first war raged between Aesir and Vanir sweet Frigga feared for her son, for ever was he first in battle, and all too swift to offer mercy where death strokes were safer. In time the Aesir and Vanir swore to peace, and the Vanir too grew to love Baldur. For a time the nine worlds were near peace, the Aesir and Vanir united, the raiding with the Jottun more friendly sport than earnest war. At this time did Frigga vow to make her Baldur safe from harm from all. To the dwarvish deeps she went, and begged favour of the dwarves: "Let not stone or steel, nor metal forged dare harm sweet Baldur's hide!" The dwarves looked deep into the secret earth, at the ropes and rivers of gold, the sparkling diamonds promising the wonders of the night sky, and the thousand secret riches that Baldur had woven into the iron deeps when the world was new forged and so they swore. To the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, the whales and fishes of the deep did she go and beg safety for bright Baldur, and as each would look to the beauty Baldur had woven into their world, they would promise his protection. From Yggdrasil and all lesser trees did Frigga then beg favour, and one by one they all swore Baldur's weal for the beauty he had given them. At last came Frigga to the youngest of plants, the newborn Mistletoe. She begged protection for her son, and Mistletoe said no. Mistletoe lives on the oak, and never sees the sun. Far from the ground, it sees not beyond the mighty oak´s dark leaves. The oak itself did lend its voice to beg and plead with Mistletoe, but Mistletoe had never seen the gifts of Baldur's making. All Frigga's tears and oak´s stern words did not move Mistletoe to mercy, in ignorance and pride it swore no oath to the lady mother. Alone of giant, man and god was Loki is his jealousy. Baldur's love meant nothing to him, and he ever sought to mock him. For all his jests did him no good, as Baldur never angered, but laughed instead with right good will when Loki's wit did best him. With envy and rage did Loki plot to do fair Baldur evil, at last he thought to ask of Frigg the protection she had won him. In the high feast hall with a gentle smile did Loki come to Frigga. "How you must fear with such a bold son, that evil must befall him. Of all the gods your Baldur's courage in the vanguard ever finds him" At Loki's words did Frigga smile, never suspecting evil. She shared with her kinsmen her sons defence, the secrets of his protection. "The stones of earth, all metals forged, all beasts of water, wind and land have all sworn him protection", did Frigga smile. Loki pressed for answers, "What of tree and leaf and nut? What of dandelion or rose?" Frigga laughed at his silly words, and revealed the last of her secret: "Trees and grasses, bush and vine have all sworn his protection. Only lowly mistletoe of all that lives still dares withhold protection." Loki laughed and slid away, his mission now completed. Sweet Frigga did not suspect yet that Loki plotted treason.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 12:00pm

Down to midgard with a silver knife did Loki make his harvest. A slender wand of mistletoe that in the fire with spells he hardened. His arrow forged of mistletoe, and murder in his heart, Loki crossed the rainbow bridge and came to Odin's court. "A game!" cried Loki shouting loud, "A sport to test our mettle!" Loki's challenge drew every eye and he worked his trick so vile. "Let Baldur stand before the host, let every warrior try him." Loath were the gods to raise hand against him, but Baldur did beseech them. "What harm in this? Lets have a game, let all my friends and brothers try their mightiest of strokes and let me judge the winner!" Baldur's words stirred every heart with honest love for battle, and laughing did they all array to try their strokes against him. Odin's spear and Thor's dread hammer, swords of Frey and Heimdall, the bow of Uller all did fail amidst the warriors laughter. Blind Hod alone did not take part, until dread Loki urged him on and promised his assistance. "Come now brother, what's the harm" smiled Loki in his treason. "I'll guide your hand upon the bow, let your warrior´s heart remember" Hod then smiled and drew his bow, and Loki fit the arrow, dread mistletoe struck Baldur dead and the light of the world fell with him. All remember what happened next, how sweet Sunna (the Sun) fled from a world without Baldur, how winter came to the world. All remember the punishment of Loki, a binding and torment that would last until the end of days. Each Yule we remember Baldur's arrival at Hel's own hall, how she bade him to sit beside her and join her in her hall until the end of days, when he will return to lead the survivors. Who now remembers the fate of Mistletoe, the agent of Baldur's bane? When Baldur fell, sweet Sunna turned her face away and fled. Without the light of the sun, the world grew cold and dark, the trees lost their leaves, and for the first time Mistletoe saw beyond the embracing arms of oak. Everywhere the dying light showed emptiness and loss, but here and there would beauty shine and mistletoe did weep. "Who has made this?", would Mistletoe ask at each thing of majesty and wonder, "Baldur" was the answer every time until the heart of mistletoe was shattered. Mother Frigga in her rage demanded the death of her sons dread slayer. Of Odin and of Yggdrasil, of Frey and gentle Nerthus she begged the price of mother's vengeance, until every god condemned it. Alone of all the gods did Freya hear the weeping. Alone of all the Vanir did she stoop to hear the reason. To mistletoe she swiftly flew within her falcon cloak, upon the oak tree did she land beside the weeping plant. Love´s golden goddess softly asked, why mistletoe did weep? "For Baldur slain, for beauty lost, for love gone out the world!" Freya asked of Mistletoe, what wergild would it pay? How could it give back the beauty lost, the love that Baldur offered? When Mother Frigga in her rage came down the Bifrost bridge, Freya stood with mistletoe to greet the grieving mother. "Blessed Frigga, will you accept the wergild of the weeping flower? Or will you slaughter and stain the memory of the loving son you've lost?" Frigga stared hard eyed and cold to hear the wergilds terms, Mistletoe in humble grief did make this solemn vow: "Where Yuletide brings the pain of loss will Mistletoe bring love, beneath my humble leaves let love be now kindled. What fairer grave goods for the sun bright lord than the promise of love new kindled? When two now meet beneath my leaves, let loves kiss light between them. Let the light of love remember him that the world weeps for this season." Now down the ages we remember beneath the mistletoe, a kiss the promise of new love, within this coldest season.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:57am

This ancient Scandinavian custom led to the tradition of kissing under the mistletoe. But this tradition went hand-in-hand with one of the Norse myths, namely, the myth of Baldur. The story of Baldur's death is one of the most fascinating Norse myths for those interested in the "kissing" plant, because it is central to the history of mistletoe.

Baldur's mother was the Norse goddess, Frigga. When Baldur was born, Frigga made each and every plant, animal and inanimate object promise not to harm Baldur. But Frigga overlooked the mistletoe plant -- and the mischievous god of the Norse myths, Loki, took advantage of this oversight. Ever the prankster, Loki tricked one of the other gods into killing Baldur with a spear fashioned from mistletoe. Hermódr the Bold was appointed to ride to Hel in an attempt to bring Baldur back. Hel's condition for returning Baldur was that absolutely every last thing in the world, living and dead, had to weep for him. Failing that, he would remain with Hel. When this condition was put to the test, all wept except for a certain giantess, believed to be Loki in disguise. Baldur's resurrection was thus thwarted.

The ancient source for the foregoing Norse myth is the Prose Edda. But variations on the story (or addenda to the story) about Baldur and the mistletoe have come down to us, too -- although I cannot supply the ancient sources for all of them. For example, some relate it was agreed, after the death of Baldur, that thenceforth mistletoe would bring love rather than death into the world, and that any two people passing under mistletoe would exchange a kiss in memory of Baldur. Others add that the tears Frigga shed over the slain Baldur became the mistletoe berries.

It goes without saying that, if we were to peel off the layers of custom and myth surrounding "kissing under the mistletoe" in an attempt to discover its true history, we would find ourselves in the midst of ancient erotica. Mistletoe has long been regarded as an aphrodisiac and fertility herb. It may also possess abortifacient qualities, which would help explain its association with uninhibited sexuality.

a bit from here http://landscaping.about.com/cs/winterlandscaping1/…

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:42am

I Saw Mommy Kissing Jólnir Under the Mistletoe

Dec 5, 2013 by Pye O'Malley

Long before Santa Claus first drove his sleigh with eight tiny reindeer, his Viking ancestor was flying through the wintry Scandinavian night on his eight-legged steed, bringing bread to people in need.

 

Be Good Or Else!

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:42am

It’s true, beautiful Celtic people–Santa used to be a Viking, a Viking god, no less.

The origins of our modern Christmas icon can be traced back to pre-Christian times, when the pagan people of northern Germanic and Scandinavia held feasts in honor of Odin, the warrior god of Norse myth, who also bears the names jólfaðr (Old Norse ‘Yule father’) and jólnir (Old Norse ‘the Yule one’). When Vikings began to first raid, then settle in England, Scotland, Ireland, the Isle of Man and Wales, they brought their Yule traditions with them, and those customs were adopted by the native Celtic peoples, many of whom married and raised families with the Vikings (and that is how many of us Celts wound up with Scandinavian DNA in our family trees). Those adaptations are why you often hear Christmas referred to as Yule or Yuletide in those countries, and it is where we get our Yule log and yule ham(which used to be a boar sacrificed to Freyr) traditions.

In Scandinavian culture, Yule, as the celebration held at the winter solstice became known, was the time for Odin/Jólnir to drive back the Frost Giants and to lead the Wild Hunt across the skies, cursing those who mocked and rewarding respectful observers with gold. Odin also demonstrated benevolent qualities at Yule, disguising himself in a blue cloak and riding eight-legged Sleipnir to earth, where he left loaves of bread for anyone in need. Children began to leave a straw-filled boot for Sleipnir by the hearth, hoping Odin would reward them with a treat placed in the boot.

 

Odin by Tudor Humphries

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:42am

Of course, the advance of Christianity changed the way in which Yule was celebrated–as even Viking leaders began to convert, Christmas was substituted for Yule in the halls of kings and homes of more humble Northmen and Celts. The Svarfdæla saga records a story in which a berserker put off a duel until three days after Yule to honor the sanctity of the holiday. Grettis (Grettir’s) Saga is set soon after Iceland converted to Christianity and identifies Yule with Christmas: “No Christian man is wont to eat meat this day [Yule Eve], because that on the morrow is the first day of Yule,” says she, “wherefore must men first fast today.” (The Story of Grettir The Strong, Chapter XXXII, translated by Eirikr Magnusson and William Morris)

Jólnir, Greybearded Giftbringer

 

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:41am

Jólnir, the grey-bearded Giftbringer, also fell out of favor at Yule, giving way to Father Christmas, then Saint Nicholas and ultimately, Santa Claus. The links between Odin and our modern Santa, however, are still evident: both have grey beards; both ride through the sky at night (in North America, the horse has become reindeer); both wear cloaks, although Santa’s is usually red, not blue  (thank you, Coca Cola marketing execs) ; both leave gifts at the hearth, though the boots are now stockings, and the candy and food has been replaced mostly with toys, again thanks to marketing execs and credit card companies-there’s not nearly enough profit in food gifts, you know.

Santa…or Odin?

 

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:41am

“I’m the best there is at what I do, and what I do isn’t very jolly.”

So, as you pass Santa in the street, or sit on his lap, or stare at his image everywhere (it seems) , think on this pagan variation of the famous poem from Clement Moore, “A Visit From Saint Nicholas”(aka”Twas the Night Before Christmas”):

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 20, 2013 at 11:41am

A Viking-Asatru Christmas Carol

‘Twas the night before Christmas and all through the Hall
Not a creature was stirring, not warrior nor thrall.
And I in my armor, my greaves and my helm
Was drunker than anyone else in the Realm.

I staggered upstairs and fell into bed
While four quarts of mead were ablaze in my head.
Then up from below came the sounds of a brawl
So I grabbed up my axe and ran down to the Hall.

I missed the last step and crashed down in a heap
Thinking, “Why can’t those low-lifes downstairs go to sleep!”
When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But two brawny strangers, wielding mallet and spear.

I said to myself, “We’ll soon have them beat!”
Then I noticed ten warriors laid out at their feet.
I gave out a yell and leapt into the fray…
I’ll always regret my poor choice of that day.

For the one laid his hammer to the side of my nose
And up, up, up to the rafters I rose.
Then came a lone frightened voice from the floor,
“Those are no mortal warriors — that’s Odin and Thor!”

Then they looked at each other and they said, “Battle’s done.
Now they know who we are, it no longer is fun.”
Then Thor raised his hammer, and his elbow he bent,
And with a loud crash, through the ceiling they went.

I crawled through the Hall and flung open the door,
Not really sure that I’d seen them before.
The snow bathed in starlight, the moon like a glede,
I saw them ride off on an eight-legged steed.

And I heard them exclaim, ‘ere they flew out of sight,

“TO HELA WITH CHRISTMAS, WE JUST LOVE A GOOD FIGHT!”
-author unknown-

 Have A Very Merry Viking Christmas, Y’all!

 

~As an aside, our image of Santa today is based mostly on the drawings created in the 1860′s by political cartoonist, Thomas Nast, who was quite “nast-y” about some Celts–he despised the Irish, Catholics and Irish immigrants in America, a racial bias he flaunted in his cartoons depicting Irish people as ape-like and stupid.

Comment by Dept of PMM Artists & things on December 13, 2013 at 3:57pm

Dried cranberries are my favorite in

This Can't Be Healthy It Tastes Too Good Oatmeal

This oatmeal is not for the days everyone is rushing out to work or school. No instant packet oatmeal permitted! Use steel-cut (Irish), stone-ground (Scottish) or regular old-fashioned rolled oats. The Scottish will be smoother. You can also use whole oat groats which can be found in health food stores and are truly whole grain. They take longer to cook and are best soaked overnight first.

1 cup steel-cut oats

4 cups water

1/4 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup each dried apples and apricots chopped small

1/4 cup chopped walnuts, almonds or hazelnuts

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 2-inch cinnamon stick broken into small pieces or 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg or 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

1/2 cup organic heavy cream (vegans can use almond milk, especially with almonds as the nut)

Bring the water to a rolling boil and sprinkle in the oatmeal, stirring well. When it is smooth and thickening turn down the heat and simmer uncovered for thirty minutes, stirring occasionally. Just after you turn down the heat add the spices and stir in. About 10 minutes before it's done add the cranberries, apricots, apples and nuts. Just before it's done stir in the heavy cream, just enough to warm it and mix it with the oatmeal. Top your bowl with your favorite sweetener if you like.

Health benefits of whole grain oatmeal

1) Lower overall cholesterol levels and enhance immune response to infection

2) Antioxidant compounds unique to oats, called avenanthramides, help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol (the good kind)

3) Lowers risk for high blood pressure and heart attack

4) Stabilizes blood sugar and lowers type-2 diabetes risk

5) High in selenium which is necessary for anti-oxidants to function properly

6) Fiber offers significant protection against breast cancer

I found many more but look at that list!

Then see the health benefits of the fruits, spices and nuts.

The cream is an indulgence but it tastes so much better than fish oil. The amount of Omega 3 fatty acids in organic milk was found recently to be significantly higher than regular milk. Low fat milk takes out the fat and the Omega 3s as well. So a small indulgence is more than matched by the benefits.

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