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Loki's Brood
Loki's Brood by the German artist Emil Doepler, illustration from page 43 of Walhall, die Götterwelt der Germanen, Martin Oldenbourg, Berlin. 1905.
The drawing depicts the Norse god Loki's three children by the giantess Angrboda (shown in the background): Fenrir the wolf, Jörmungandr the serpent, and Hel the jötunn and Queen of the Dead in the realm of Hel. All three children, abused by the gods of Asgard, contribute to Ragnarök, the Twilight of the Gods.
Questions & Answers
Does the Christmas tree have a Norse origin?
- During the celebration of Yuletide, a tree was decorated honoring Yggdrasil, the World Tree of Norse religion. This influenced the development of the modern Christmas tree.
Is the Norse god Odin the inspiration for Santa Claus?
- There are various inspirational figures who are cited in the development of Santa Claus, and Odin is one of them. During Yule, Odin was thought to ride through the sky on his eight-legged horse giving gifts to those who had done well through the year.
Is the traditional British Christmas dinner influenced by the Norse?
- Today’s traditional British Christmas dinner has very little to do with the Norse feast of Yule. Originally, though, the roast boar served at British tables was a direct borrow from Norse culture. Christmas pudding and Christmas cake are English creations.
What was the wild hunt?
- The wild hunt was a procession of spirits, sometimes led by Odin, which would appear in the sky, especially during Yuletide, and remind those who witnessed it of what was important in life, how brief their time on earth was, and what might be waiting for them after death.
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License & Copyright
Based on Wikipedia content that has been reviewed, edited, and republished.
Original image by Emil Doepler. Uploaded by Joshua J. Mark, published on 03 September 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Public Domain. This item is in the public domain, and can be used, copied, and modified without any restrictions. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.
