Wild daffodils are native to England and are known as the flower of March. They were once known as the Lide-lily or Lide-flower, later becoming the Lent-lily. Lide comes from Hlyda which was another name for March (or Hrēðmōnaþ). Hlyda (possibly meaning loud) is attested in the OE Leechdoms ‘thone Martius the menn hatath Hlyda’ (March, which is called Hlyda).
Two month names are given for March in OE, Hlýda and Hrêðmônað. Hrêðmônað means Hreða or Rheda’s month. Hreða is a largely unknown goddess mentioned by Bede, though her name is also found in compound words like hrēð-sigor which meant ‘glorious victory’. Rudolf Simek compared her to the Roman god Mars , who gave his name to March, whilst Grimm compared Hreða with the OHG Hruod or Hruodâ. In the wider Germanic world we find a similar name Hroðr, who according to some is the mother of Tyr.
Hreða’s name may be connected to OE hrêðan which meant to rejoice. Other suggestions are her name means fierce, from the root (h)rēðe, hrēðan – to rejoice, hrēð – victory or glory and hræð – to be quick. If she was a goddess worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons there may be places named after her, Hreodford (now known as Redbridge) being one possibility.
Hrethmonath is named for their goddess Hretha, to whom they sacrificed at this time – Bede.
Hreða’s name may be connected to OE hrêðan which meant to rejoice. Other suggestions are her name means fierce, from the root (h)rēðe, hrēðan – to rejoice, hrēð – victory or glory and hræð – to be quick. If she was a goddess worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons there may be places named after her, Hreodford (now known as Redbridge) being one possibility.
Hrethmonath is named for their goddess Hretha, to whom they sacrificed at this time – Bede.
Some photos from a visit my children and I made to Sutton Hoo today. I've been meaning to make the trip for years and the museum was well worth the journey.
When entering the Sutton Hoo museum, you are met with this very impressive helmet sculpture. We can see the nose and eyebrow section of the helmet clearly form the shape of bird. One eye is also lit, to reflect the fact that gold foil backed the garnets over the wearers right eye on the original helmet, causing the wearers eye to flicker in the fire light. The owner of the helmet was clearly a devotee of Woden.
Forwarded from Stiðen Āc Heorð
This large wooden carving greets visitors to the West Stow Anglo Saxon museum and shows the gods and goddess who give their names to Tuesday (Tiwesdaeg) Wednesday (Wednesdaeg) Thursday (Thunresdaeg) and Friday (Frigesdaeg).
photo by Hāmasson
photo by Hāmasson
Bede wrote that Rædwald converted to Christianity whilst visiting the kingdom of Kent, but on returning to his native Anglia reverted back to paganism as his wife still worshipped the old gods. As Bede said – Rædwald was committed to the crime of having an ‘arula’ or alter dedicated for offerings to the heathen gods, claiming the alter (weoh) was at Rendil’s steading. In November 2023 the site of what is believed to be his temple was discovered in Rendlesham.
King Rædwald by Josh Stoneley.
King Rædwald by Josh Stoneley.
Bede is quoted as stating our English ancestors only observed two seasons, summer which started when the light returns after the efnniht and winter when the light diminishes:
The old English people split the year into two seasons, summer and winter, placing six months — during which the days are longer than the nights — in summer, and the other six in winter. - Bede.
This can be seen in the shape of the Elder Futhark Jera rune which is the only rune split into two, summer and winter. The Old English Gér rune carries the same symbolism but has a central stave running through the middle. Jera and Gér both mean year as well as harvest associating the runes with the end of the year whilst the cognate Slavic terms Jara and Jaro both mean spring.
The old English people split the year into two seasons, summer and winter, placing six months — during which the days are longer than the nights — in summer, and the other six in winter. - Bede.
This can be seen in the shape of the Elder Futhark Jera rune which is the only rune split into two, summer and winter. The Old English Gér rune carries the same symbolism but has a central stave running through the middle. Jera and Gér both mean year as well as harvest associating the runes with the end of the year whilst the cognate Slavic terms Jara and Jaro both mean spring.
I don't use the Armanen runes personally, but this carving is still interesting. Carved into a rock face deep in the German countryside, it shows the Armanen runes stacked into six pillars representing the Externsteine. Above the pillars are a stylised sun and moon, with a lake below. Unfortunately the carving has been defaced since I took this photo.
A few more photos from the same Germany trip. First is the Hermannsdenkmal or Hermann's Memorial, a towering 53 meter tall statue of Arminuis erected between 1838 and 1875 by Ernst von Bandel. This is the view we normally see as the photo was taken from the ground. What we don’t see is Hermann crushing the Roman standard under his feet. Second photo is the Teutoburg Forest where his famous battle against the Roman Legions took place. In the final photo, taken at the Externsteine you can see the rock formations form the outline of a figure with their arms out-stretched. This is said to be Woden hanging on the World Pillar. There is even a hole on the right side of his chest as if he was pierced by his spear.