Heil og sæl: Difference between revisions

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Heil og sæl (English: healthy and happy) was a common greeting in the Norse society.

Etymology

Originally a Norse greeting, it had the form heill ok sæll when addressed to a man, and heil ok sæl when to a woman.

The adjective heil (also hel) is related to the English adjective whole/hale. The verb heile (also hele) is related to the English verb heal through their common origin, the Germanic word stem *haila-. The word has likewise clear connections to the German verb heilen as it is known in the national socialist salute “Heil Hitler”.

The adjective sæl, meaning happy or glad, is in Old English documented only in the negated variant unsǣle, meaning evil.

Literature and sources

Bjorvand, Harald, and Lindeman, Fredrik Otto (2000): Våre arveord : Etymologisk ordbok
Norwegian Language Council: Kvinnenavn, cup, healing

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 {{Orphan|date=August 2013}}
-'''Heil og sæl''' (English: ''healthy and happy'') was a common greeting in the [[Norsemen|Norse society]]. During the [[World War II|Second World War]], the [[national socialism|national socialist]] party in [[Norway]] attempted to reintroduce the greeting.
+'''Heil og sæl''' (English: ''healthy and happy'') was a common greeting in the [[Norsemen|Norse society]].
 ==Etymology==
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 The adjective ''sæl'', meaning ''happy'' or ''glad'', is in Old English documented only in the negated variant ''unsǣle'', meaning ''evil''.
-==National socialism==
-During the [[Occupation of Norway by Nazi Germany|German occupation of Norway]] (1940–45), [[Nasjonal Samling|National Unification]], being the only legal party, sought to introduce in all parts of society this greeting together with a raised right hand. However, the attempt was not successful. ''Heil og sæl'' remained compulsory for party members and police.
-==See also==
-* [[Nazi salute]]
-* [[Roman salute]]
 ==Literature and sources==