Anglo-Saxon paganism

Anglo-Saxon religion is the religious practices and beliefs of the Angles, Saxons, and Jutes of pre-Christian England to about the 7th century AD.

Origins and History

The Anglo-Saxons arrived in Britain from southern Scandinavia, the Netherlands and northern Germany. The Anglo-Saxon gods have the same origins as the those in Germanic mythology and those that became the gods of the Scandinavian mythology. Due to the close contacts that must have remained before the Anglo-Saxons were Christianized, an impression, but only that, of the Anglo-Saxon mythology can be obtained from reading about Scandinavian mythology.

Transmission and Development

The Anglo-Saxons were a largely illiterate society and tales were orally transmitted between groups and tribes by the Anglo-Saxon travelling minstrels, the scops, in the form of verse. Only some of this poetry exists in manuscript form, and one of the principal sources is the epic poem Beowulf. The content of the poem demonstrates the strong links between the Anglo-Saxons and inhabitants of Scandinavia. The hero of the poem, Beowulf, is a Geat, from Geatland, a kingdom in the south of Sweden. Beowulf, like most all written material of the Anglo-Saxon age, was only consigned to manuscript after the advent of literacy which came with the conversion to the Christian religion and Beowulf contains several Christian elements: besides the use of “God” in the text the monster Grendel is described as a descendant of the biblical Cain and a flood that can be taken as that of Genesis is mentioned.

Sources of present knowledge

Besides Beowulf there are other writings. Bede wrote of the old pagan calendar in his De Temporun Ratione where he noted that the third and fourth months were named for the goddesses Hretha and Eostre.

Much of Anglo-Saxon religion has to be conjectured based on the Norse and Germanic sources. However the former reached a richer and more complex form so care must always be taken. Some scholars of Anglo-Saxon literature, most notably E.G. Stanley, maintain that no evidence remains of the earlier pagan beliefs, questioning in particular the religious connotations with which the term "wyrd" is translated.

Beliefs

The Anglo-Saxons may have believed in Wyrd, usually translated as "fate." They believed in supernatural creatures such as elves, dwarves and giants ("Etins") who often brought harm to men. However, Anglo-Saxon words containing the element "elf" were often translations of Greek or Latin terms (for example, a "wæterelf" would more appropriately be called a "nymph"), and belief in giants was hardly confined to paganism, as evidenced by the Biblical reference to Goliath.

Since the Anglo-Saxon religion was cut short around the 8th century and there is a lack of written material, it is difficult and unjustifiable to ascribe to the Anglo-Saxon gods, about whom little is known other than their names, the same attributes and activities that are recorded for the gods in the Norse mythology.

The Gods

As a polytheistic religion the Anglo-Saxons had many gods which were worshipped at sacred places, typically woods and natural features. There the Anglo Saxons had temples that housed idols of their gods as well as an altar. Pope Gregory instructed Augustine to destroy the idols but use their houses for Christian worship.

Anglo Saxon	Old German	Norse equivalent
Wóden also known as Grim	Wuotan	Ódinn
Þunor	Donar	Þórr
Tíw	Zîu	Tyr
Seaxnéat	Saxnôte	none
Géat	Gausus	Gautr
*Fríge	Frîja	Frigg
Éostre	none	none
Ing	none	Yngvi-Freyr
none	Balder	Baldr

The major gods can be identified by their influence on the English weekday names Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday which come from Tiw, Wóden, Þunor, and Fríge respectively, through the Old English names Tíwesdæg, Wódnesdæg, Þunresdæg and Frígedæg.

The Osses

The Osses correspond to the Norse Æsir:

Woden, the leader of the Wild Hunt and the one who carries off the dead. He was one of the chief gods of the Angles and Saxons before the Christian era. He was held to be the ancestor of Hengist and Horsa, two legendary figures from early English history and most of the early Anglo-Saxon kings claimed descent from Woden. He gives us the modern Wednesday ("Woden's day").

Thunor, (AS Þunor). He is the god of thunder, who rules the storms and sky. He also protects mankind from the giants. He was the god of the common people within the heathen community. His name gives rise to the modern Thursday.

Fríge is the goddess of love, and is the wife of Woden. She is one of the most powerful Goddesses, this position being threatened only by Freya. Her day is Friday, due to her associations with Venus.

Tiw is the god of warfare and battle, and gives us Tuesday. There is some speculation that he is a sky-god figure and formely the chief god, displaced over the years by Woden.

The Wones

The Wones correspond to the Vanir:

Ingui Fréa was one of the most popular Gods, after Thunor and Woden. He is above all the God of fertility, bringing abundance (wone) and fruitfulness to the crops, herds, and the Folk. Though he is a fertility God, he is also connected to warfare to a degree; however, this warfare is defensive, as opposed to offensive, and is not to create strife and havoc. After all, peace is necessary for a good harvest and a productive community, while needless warfare destroys any prospect of peace and abundance. The Yngling royal line of Sweden claimed descent from him.

Freo is said to be the most beautiful of all the goddesses, and is therefore described as the Goddess of Love. She is not to be mistaken with Frige, however; Freo's dominion is erotic love, whereas Frige's is love expressed within marriage. Being a goddess of unbridled passion, it is not surprising that she also takes half the slain of the battlefield, with the other half taken by Woden . Like her brother, Fréa, she is connected to abundance and wealth; however, her wealth is primarily in precious metals and gems. She is also a Goddess of Magic, having taught Woden seiðr.

Neorð is Frea and Freo's father, and is the God of the seas and commerce. He is called upon by fishermen and sailors who depend upon good seas. Like his son and daughter, his realm is that of wealth; namely, the wealth of the sea. He married the giantess Sceadu, though the marriage was not successful as neither of them could tolerate the other's element; Sceadu her mountains, and Neorð his sea.

Other Gods and Heroes

Hengest and Horsa, who are named n historical sources as leaders of the earliest Anglo-Saxon incursions in the south, may also have been or acquired deific status. The name Hengest means a stallion and Horsa means a horse; the horse in the Anglo-Saxon mythos is a potent and significant symbol. It should be borne in mind that the Anglo-Saxons are attributed with huge horse carvings on chalk hillsides, notable examples being the White Horse of Uffington and the Westbury Horse. Less well known, and now largely lost, but thought to have been similar in sze to those two, is the Red Horse of Tysoe near Banbury, Oxford. The name Tysoe means Tiw's hill, the hill of the god of war.

Weyland, Wayland, or Welund - a mythic smith

Eorðe, whose name means "Earth," is the wife of Woden, by whom she gave birth to Þunor. She is also the daughter of the Goddess Niht. Her worship is generally passive, as opposed to active, though she is called on for "might and main." Her latent strength can be seen in her son, Þunor.

Eostre is the Goddess tied with the "growing light of spring," and embodies purity, youth, and beauty, as well as the traditional rebirth and renewal concepts. Her symbols are hares and eggs, which symbolize the beginning of life and fertility. The current Christian festival of Easter is thought to contain elements of a pre-Christian festival in honour of Eostre; hence the name Easter.

Niht is the Goddess of Night, and also the mother of Eorðe. The Norse night was the daughter of Narvi. She was married three times; the first to Naglfari by whom she had Aud; the second, to Annar by whom she had Eorðe; and the third to Dellinger Daeg.

Sigel is the Goddess of the Sun, called Sunna by modern Heathens. Her day is, of course, Sunday.

Holy Symbols

There are many holy symbols in Anglo-Saxon religion, which are generally shared by all of Heathenry. Some of these symbols are:

• Swastika

The Swastika, also known as the Sun Cross or Fylfot, is generally indicative of the potental of the rising sun. For early Heathens, it was linked to Þunor and, as such, was probably a symbol closely related to lightning. Due to its early origins, instances of the Swastika in Indo-European and even non-Indo-European culture are numerous.

• Boar

The boar is a symbol which is linked to Freo and Frea which symbolizes protection from harm. In particular, Heathens wear the insignia of the boar to attract the protection and blessings of Frea.

• Raven

The raven is a symbol of Woden, and is associated with victory during battle and death. The latter, Norse, equivalent of Woden had two ravens, named Huginn and Muninn, ("thought" and "memory") that travelled the world gaining information for him.

• Hammer

The hammer of Þunor, also known as Mjollnir, symbolizes hallowing and the blessings of Þunor, the supremacy of the Ése, and the representation of Heathenry. It is a sacred tool, used by Þunor for hallowing, and also represents the survival of the Folk.

• Sun Wheel

The Sun Wheel is a symbol designating the sun in its various positions throughout the year. It is also a symbol belonging to Woden, and is sometimes known as Woden's Cross.

Practices

Since Anglo-Saxon religion and its revival organizations are a subset of Heathenry in general, many of its central practices are also shared by other religions such as Asatru.

• Blot

The Blot is a very common ceremony which usually consists of a libation of some alcoholic beverage, especially mead, though it was originally the sacrifice of a swine or horse. In the modern Asatru, the Blot ceremony is nearly always a libation offering, whereas swine blots do take place on certain occasions in Anglo-Saxon religious movements. Essentially, the Blot is designed to honor and strengthen the God or Elf to which it is being offered, and is to be a meal or simply a drink of the participants shared with the Gods. In return for these offerings, the Gods repay the faithfulness of man with their blessings and aid. It is significant to note that the English word "bless" comes from the word Blot, both of which signify blood, which denotes the sacrificial aspect.

• Symbel

The Symbel is a ritual round of toastings and boasts over an alcoholic beverage, generally mead or ale, which is designed to place the participants into the flow of Wyrd. The speech made by the boaster at the Symbel is designed to recall his successful past deeds so that they may affect the future course of events favorably. This speech is known as the Gielp, which boasts of one's heritage and past deeds. An oath is then made to perform some heroic or difficult deed, which is known as the Beot. The boaster is generally questioned and challenged in order to ensure his resolve and ability to undertake the action sworn, as a broken oath negatively affects both the individual's Wyrd, as well as that of the entire community. In addition to the Gielp and the Beot, there were other features of the Symbel, including the

recitation of poetry based on ancient legend and the singing of songs.

• Husel

The Husel is a sacred feast in which the Folk gather to feast with their friends, ancestors, and Gods. It is a time of communing with one another, with the great heroes of the past, and the Gods of the Folk. It generally has the features of a blood sacrifice, libation, and communion feast. The process is begun with a Blot, or the slaughter of the animals for food. This was usually done by smothering or drowning, and the meat was boiled and prepared for the blessing. The alcohol and food was then hallowed by having the King pass it over a fire, and then performing the Hammer sign upon it to cause it to be sanctified. A toast was offered to Woden; to the King's health; then to Njord and Frey. The Bragafull, or King's toast, was then performed. The participants then drink to their dead kinsmen, much like the minni of Symbel and the minni of a funeral. The feast itself then begins, and it is thought that afterward, the remainder of the food was offered to the Gods, either by burning or by dumping into a sacred well.

Christian Prohibitions of Magic and Other Practices

Early Christian prohibitions on the Anglo-Saxon practice of magic (see seid and völva) in all its shapes and forms are particularly revealing of how strong a belief in the supernatural was held, and are the primary source for knowledge of Anglo-Saxon paganism:

"If any wicca (witch), or wiglaer (wizard), or false swearer, or morthwyrtha (worshipper of the dead), or any foul contaminated, manifest horcwenan(whore), be anywhere in the land, man shall drive them out."

"We teach that every priest shall extinguish heathendom, and forbid wilweorthunga (fountain worship), and licwiglunga (incantations of the dead), and hwata (omens), and galdra (magic), and man worship, and the abominations that men exercise in various sorts of witchcraft, and in frithspottum (peace-enclosures) with elms and other trees, and with stones, and with many phantoms." (source: 16th Canon Law enacted under King Edgar in the 10th century)

It is possible to conclude from the foregoing that magical practice was rife, and that water, tree and stone worship in various forms were also practiced by the Anglo-Saxon. Interesting also is the mention of frithspottum, relating as it does to the core concept of frith, ostensibly meaning "peace" but having much deeper significance and a far broader spread of implications.

References

• The Lost Gods of England, Brian Branston
• In search of the Dark Ages, Michael Wood
• The Search for Anglo-Saxon Paganism, E.G. Stanley

External links

Modern revival organisations

The Miercinga Ríce Middelfolc Sættan, for the states of Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Tennessee, and Texas. Suðwessex Léode, for the states of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah. Wesdæl Léode, for the states of British Colombia, Idaho, Oregan, and Washington. White Sage Kindred, for the areas of Dallas and Fort Worth, TX.

Other

Anglo-Saxon Heathenism, the historical Anglo-Saxon religion.