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Idun and the Apples of Eternal Youth
Idun and the Apples, oil on canvas by J. Doyle Penrose, 1890.
Private collection.
Idunn was a Norse goddess who was a guardian of the fruit (usually given as apples) that kept the gods of Asgard eternally young. For this reason, she was kidnapped by a giant named Þjazi who desired the eternal youth of gods. When she was kidnapped, the gods began to age and her rescue from the realm of Jotunheim (the location of giants) was of the utmost importance. Finally, she was released by the trickster Loki. From that time gods could enjoy youth till the times of the Ragnarök.
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 J. Doyle Penrose. Uploaded by Celina Bebenek, published on 09 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.
