Goddess Frigg

THIS DAY IS SACRED TO THE NORSE GODDESS," FRIGG", THE DAUGHTER OF "NJORD "AND CONSORT OF "ODIN". HER NAME TRANSLATES TO BELOVED ONE. SHE WAS THE "QUEEN OF THE AESIR" AND WAS ASSOCIATED WITH GODDESS OF THE LOVE, MARRIAGE, AND MOTHERHOOD. "FRIGG" ALSO PROTECTS THE HOUSEHOLD AND IS THE BESTOWER OF CHILDREN. LIKE MOST FERTILITY GODDESSES, "FRIGG" WAS LIKENED TO "MOTHER EARTH," THOUGH MORE ACCURATELY SHE EXERTED INFLUENCE OVER THE ATMOSPHERE. CHOOSING NOT TO LIVE WITH "ODIN", SHE RESIDES IN A HOME OF HER OWN, AND SHE, AND HER MAIDENS, SPIN GOLDEN THREAD AND WEAVE THE CLOUDS.

"FRIGG" CONTROLLED THE CLOUDS AND REPRESENTED THE ATMOSPHERE THAT ENCIRCLES THE WORLD. A TALL, BEAUTIFUL WOMAN, SHE IS SOMETIMES DEPICTED AS WEARING WHITE GARMENTS OR DARK GARMENTS, DEPENDING ON HER MOOD, WHICH REPRESENTS THE CHANGING OF THE WEATHER. A QUIET, WISE GODDESS, "FRIGG "ALSO HAD THE GIFT OF PROPHESY, ALTHOUGH SHE WILL NEVER TELL US EVERYTHING THAT SHE KNOWS.

ACCORDING TO MYTH, WHEN HER SON "BALDUR" IS FATED TO DIE, SHE DOES HER BEST TO ALTER HIS DESTINY BY EXTRACTING A PROMISE FROM ALL THINGS IN CREATION NOT TO HARM HIM. ALAS, SHE THINKS THE MISTLETOE TOO YOUNG AND INSIGNIFICANT, AND "LOKI," THE TRICKSTER, USES IT TO HIS ADVANTAGE, AND BRINGS ABOUT "BALDUR'S "DEATH. IT IS SAID THAT THE BERRIES ARE HER TEARS, AND WHEN SHE LEARNS THAT HE WILL BE RESTORED TO LIFE, SHE PROMISES TO HANG IT AND KISS EVERYONE WHO WALKS BENEATH....HENCE, COMES THE TRADITION OF KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE.