Ēþel byþ oferleof æghwylcum men, gif he mot ðær rihtes and gerysena on brucan on bolde bleadum oftast.
To every man his home is very dear, as long as he can enjoy his rights and proper station there, in his own house, for the most part prosperously.
The eðel or eþel rune, which is shown on the garment above means much more than 'estate' which is the standard translation. The rune represents our home and homeland, the land that is given to us through inheritance. This is a rune which symbolises our birthright. As a pictogram I've come to view the rune as the womb of the Earth goddess.
To every man his home is very dear, as long as he can enjoy his rights and proper station there, in his own house, for the most part prosperously.
The eðel or eþel rune, which is shown on the garment above means much more than 'estate' which is the standard translation. The rune represents our home and homeland, the land that is given to us through inheritance. This is a rune which symbolises our birthright. As a pictogram I've come to view the rune as the womb of the Earth goddess.
Our modern word spring replaced the OE word lencten (also spelt lengten), the name for the spring season which came from the Germanic root langatīn meaning longer-day, a reference to the growing length of sun light which peaks at the sunstead. Christians took the name for Lent, but its first meaning was the name of the season.
Forwarded from Brnwlf
Also here's some interesting etymology for you guys.
Alfǫðr, the name of Wóden/Óðinn, does not actually mean Allfather and is unrelated to Proto-Germanic *fadēr (father). The word fǫðr is from *fadiz (though the shift of *fad- to fǫd- suggests mutation from a u-stem of *faduz), meaning lord or master, and which is from Indo-European *pótis, a very old word found in despot (from *déms pótis, master of the house) and other noscripts.
This same noscript is archaic even for Proto-Germanic, but is still found in Gothic words like brūþfaþs (bride-groom) or hundafaþs (centurion). That shows how old the noscript of Alfǫðr may be.
Therefore Allfather should be read more as All-Master or All-Lord.
Alfǫðr, the name of Wóden/Óðinn, does not actually mean Allfather and is unrelated to Proto-Germanic *fadēr (father). The word fǫðr is from *fadiz (though the shift of *fad- to fǫd- suggests mutation from a u-stem of *faduz), meaning lord or master, and which is from Indo-European *pótis, a very old word found in despot (from *déms pótis, master of the house) and other noscripts.
This same noscript is archaic even for Proto-Germanic, but is still found in Gothic words like brūþfaþs (bride-groom) or hundafaþs (centurion). That shows how old the noscript of Alfǫðr may be.
Therefore Allfather should be read more as All-Master or All-Lord.
It wasn’t just the heathen holidays the christian church appropriated from us. The church claimed the names of our gods as well – giving them to jesus. In Anglo-Saxon England the church claimed that Bealdor (Baldur), Fréa (Frey), Wuldor (Ullr) and Earendel (Aurvandil) were all names for jesus. They even claimed jesus was the ‘high Thunderer’ (Thunor) in a 10th century charter of Edward the Elder!
Forwarded from Strong Oak Crafts
The Wayland Smithy.
The Wayland’s Smithy long barrow lies just off the ancient Ridge Way and is home to the Smith-god Wayland or Weland. A charter from the reign of King Eadred (955AD) names the site as welandes smidðan (Weland's Smithy). During the early 19th century the site became associated with the Viking earl Bagsecg who died at the Battle of Ashdown, when a West Saxon army crushed the Danes led by Bagsecg and Halfdan.
Legend also has it if you leave a silver coin at the smithy, Weland would re-shoe your horse.
The Wayland’s Smithy long barrow lies just off the ancient Ridge Way and is home to the Smith-god Wayland or Weland. A charter from the reign of King Eadred (955AD) names the site as welandes smidðan (Weland's Smithy). During the early 19th century the site became associated with the Viking earl Bagsecg who died at the Battle of Ashdown, when a West Saxon army crushed the Danes led by Bagsecg and Halfdan.
Legend also has it if you leave a silver coin at the smithy, Weland would re-shoe your horse.
Pictured above is the pub sign of the The Blowing Stone Inn at Kingston Lisle near Wantage. It shows king Alfred blowing the Blowing Stone, which according to legend was used to summon the Saxon army who then defeated the Danes at the Battle of Ashdown.
First verse of The Blow Stone (or King Alfred’s Bugle) from the 1855 book A Day on the Downs.
This stone, which utter’d many a blast,
In silence lay for ages past.
By man unheard, by man unseen,
Tradition said it once had been,
And that for miles its loud alarms
Were heard when Alfred blew to arms.
And this tradition had it still,
The stone was on White Horse Hill.
From sire to son the Blow Stone tale
Thus circled round the White Horse Vale.
First verse of The Blow Stone (or King Alfred’s Bugle) from the 1855 book A Day on the Downs.
This stone, which utter’d many a blast,
In silence lay for ages past.
By man unheard, by man unseen,
Tradition said it once had been,
And that for miles its loud alarms
Were heard when Alfred blew to arms.
And this tradition had it still,
The stone was on White Horse Hill.
From sire to son the Blow Stone tale
Thus circled round the White Horse Vale.
Forwarded from ᛉ Sagnamaðr Stark ᛉ
Anglo Saxon grave goods from Breach Down, Kent, including an interesting bronze figure; like a pocket-sized godpole. The eye holes appear to have been added after it was made, and may have been filled with stones or enamel. ᚩ
Forwarded from Strong Oak Crafts
This image was widely shared on other channels a few years back. It is a painting that I did of a Woden god-pole or Woden-Stapol. Woden Worhte Weos.
Forwarded from Stiðen Āc Heorð
The moon looks very full at the moment, in fact it’ll be at its fullest tomorrow (Tuesday 3rd 11.37am for us in England). Our New-World kin will also experience a solar eclipse tomorrow. My family hearth will honour the gods and ancestors tomorrow however tonight would also be a suitable time.
Bede suggested our ancestors offered cakes (flatbreads or pan cooked cakes) to the gods, hence Sol-Month – Sol being the name of an OE hearth-cake, so offerings of pan cakes or such will be given.
Bede suggested our ancestors offered cakes (flatbreads or pan cooked cakes) to the gods, hence Sol-Month – Sol being the name of an OE hearth-cake, so offerings of pan cakes or such will be given.
Two mermaid carvings. The first from Crowcombe Church includes a greenman style head with a mermaid and merman, whilst the second and the more famous carving is from Church of St Senara, in Zennor.
Legend has it that a mermaid had been visiting the church, being drawn there on hearing a young man named Mathey Trewella sing. She visited the church for years but was said to never age – drawing suspicion from the villagers. At the same time fishermen were hearing tales of the mermaid being seen at sea – all confirmed when one day sailors dropped anchor on the door to the mermaid’s home trapping her children inside. The mermaid had no choice but to swim to the surface and ask the sailors to raise anchor. On hearing this, the church goers decided to follow the lady home after she again visited the church to hear Mathey sing. She was followed to the seas edge and knowing that her true identity had been discovered the mermaid swam away never to be seen again.
Legend has it that a mermaid had been visiting the church, being drawn there on hearing a young man named Mathey Trewella sing. She visited the church for years but was said to never age – drawing suspicion from the villagers. At the same time fishermen were hearing tales of the mermaid being seen at sea – all confirmed when one day sailors dropped anchor on the door to the mermaid’s home trapping her children inside. The mermaid had no choice but to swim to the surface and ask the sailors to raise anchor. On hearing this, the church goers decided to follow the lady home after she again visited the church to hear Mathey sing. She was followed to the seas edge and knowing that her true identity had been discovered the mermaid swam away never to be seen again.
Wild daffodils are native to England and are known as the flower of March. They were once known as the Lide-lily or Lide-flower, later becoming the Lent-lily. Lide comes from Hlyda which was another name for March (or Hrēðmōnaþ). Hlyda (possibly meaning loud) is attested in the OE Leechdoms ‘thone Martius the menn hatath Hlyda’ (March, which is called Hlyda).
Two month names are given for March in OE, Hlýda and Hrêðmônað. Hrêðmônað means Hreða or Rheda’s month. Hreða is a largely unknown goddess mentioned by Bede, though her name is also found in compound words like hrēð-sigor which meant ‘glorious victory’. Rudolf Simek compared her to the Roman god Mars , who gave his name to March, whilst Grimm compared Hreða with the OHG Hruod or Hruodâ. In the wider Germanic world we find a similar name Hroðr, who according to some is the mother of Tyr.
Hreða’s name may be connected to OE hrêðan which meant to rejoice. Other suggestions are her name means fierce, from the root (h)rēðe, hrēðan – to rejoice, hrēð – victory or glory and hræð – to be quick. If she was a goddess worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons there may be places named after her, Hreodford (now known as Redbridge) being one possibility.
Hrethmonath is named for their goddess Hretha, to whom they sacrificed at this time – Bede.
Hreða’s name may be connected to OE hrêðan which meant to rejoice. Other suggestions are her name means fierce, from the root (h)rēðe, hrēðan – to rejoice, hrēð – victory or glory and hræð – to be quick. If she was a goddess worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons there may be places named after her, Hreodford (now known as Redbridge) being one possibility.
Hrethmonath is named for their goddess Hretha, to whom they sacrificed at this time – Bede.