Glacier Keep follows the old way that was brought to Gor by Torvos. The members of the Keep follow the old Gods of the North and delights in the joy of the old holidays. The temple has room set up to each Norse god that is follow in the Keep. The is a main hall inside the temple for special event and celebrations.
The Gods and Goddess of the North
Odin
The chief divinity of the Norse pantheon, he is called Alfadir, Allfather, for he is indeed father of the gods.Odin is a god of war and death, but also the god of poetry and wisdom. He hung for nine days, pierced by his own spear, on the world tree. Here he learned nine powerful songs, and eighteen runes. Odin can make the dead speak to question the wisest amongst them. His hall in Asgard is Valaskjalf ("shelf of the slain") where his throne Hlidskjalf is located. From this throne he observes all that happens in the nine worlds. The tidings are brought to him by his two raven Huginn and Muninn. He also resides in Valhalla, where the slain warriors are taken. He is accompanied by the wolves Freki and Geri, to whom he gives his food for he himself consumes nothing but wine. Odin has only one eye, which blazes like the sun. His other eye he traded for a drink from the Well of Wisdom, and gained immense knowledge.
Thor
Thor is the Norse god of thunder. He is a son of Odin and Jord, and one of the most powerful gods. He is married to Sif, a fertility goddess.Thor was usually portrayed as a large, powerful man with a red beard and eyes of lighting. Despite his ferocious appearance, he was very popular as the protector of both gods and humans against the forces of evil. The Norse believed that during a thunderstorm, Thor rode through the heavens on his chariot pulled by the goats Tanngrisni ("gap-tooth") and Tanngnost ("tooth grinder"). Lightning flashed whenever he threw his hammer Mjollnir. Thor wears the belt Megingjard which doubles his already considerable strength. His hall is Bilskirnir, which is located in the region Thrudheim ("place of might").
Tyr
Tyr is the pation God of the Keep and is believe to protect those of the Keep.
The original Germanic god of war and the patron god of justice, the precursor of Odin. At the time of the Vikings, Tyr had to make way for Odin, who became the god of war himself. Tyr was by then regarded as Odin's son (or possibly of the giant Hymir). He is the boldest of the gods, who inspires courage and heroism in battle. Tyr is represented as a man with one hand, because his right hand was bitten off by the gigantic wolf Fenrir (in old-Norse, the wrist was called 'wolf-joint'). His attribute is a spear; the symbol of justice, as well as a weapon.
Heimdall
Heimdall is the god of light, the son of nine mothers. He was born at the end of the world and raised by the force of the earth, seawater and the blood of a boar. Because of his shining, golden teeth he is also called Gullintani ("gold tooth"). His hall is Himinbjorg, The Cliffs of Heaven, and his horse is Gulltop. Heimdall carries the horn Gjallar.
He is the watchman of the gods and guards Bifrost, the only entrance to Asgard, the realm of the gods. It is Heimdall's duty to prevent the giants from forcing their way into Asgard. He requires less sleep than a bird and can see a hundred miles around him, by night as well as by day. His hearing is so accurate that no sound escapes him: he can even hear the grass grow or the wool on a sheep's back.
Balder
The god of light, joy, purity, beauty, innocence, and reconciliation. Son
of Odin and Frigg, he was loved by both gods and men and was considered to
be the best of the gods. He had a good character, was friendly, wise and eloquent,
although he had little power. His wife was Nanna daughter of Nep, and their
son was Forseti, the god of justice. Balder's hall was Breidablik ("broad
splendor").
Frigg
As the wife of Odin, Frigg is one of the foremost goddesses of Norse mythology. She is the patron of marriage and motherhood, and the goddess of love and fertility. In that aspect she shows many similarities with Freya, of whom she possibly is a different form.
She has a reputation of knowing every person's destiny, but never unveils it. As the mother of Balder, she tried to prevent his death by extracting oaths from every object in nature, but forgot the mistletoe. And by a fig made from mistletoe Balder died. Her hall in Asgard is Fensalir ("water halls"). Frigg's messenger is Gna, who rides through the sky on the horse Hofvarpnir.
Freya
In Norse mythology, Freya is a goddess of love and fertility, and the most beautiful and propitious of the goddesses. She is the patron goddess of crops and birth, the symbol of sensuality and was called upon in matters of love. She loves music, spring and flowers, and is particularly fond of the elves (fairies). Freya is one of the foremost goddesses of the Vanir.
She is the daughter of the god Njord, and the sister of Freyr. Later she married the mysterious god Od (probably another form of Odin), who disappeared. When she mourned for her lost husband, her tears changed into gold.
Her attributes are the precious necklace of the Brisings, which she obtained by sleeping with four dwarfs, a cloak (or skin) of bird feathers, which allows its wearer to change into a falcon, and a chariot pulled by two cats. She owns Hildesvini ("battle boar") which is actually her human lover Ottar in disguise. Her chambermaid is Fulla. Freya lives in the beautiful palace Folkvang ("field of folk"), a place where love songs are always played, and her hall is Sessrumnir. She divides the slain warriors with Odin: one half goes to her palace, while the other half goes to Valhalla. Women also go to her hall.
Norse places
Midgard In Norse myth, the defensive fortress which the gods build about the middle portion of the earth allotted to men in order to protect mankind from the giants.
Valhalla, Hall of the Slain, in Norse mythology is the hall presided over by Odin. This vast hall has five hundred and forty doors. The rafters are spears, the hall is roofed with shields and breast-plates litter the benches. A wolf guards the western door and an eagle hovers over it. It is here that the Valkyries, Odin's messengers and spirits of war, bring half of the heroes that died on the battle fields (the rest go to Freya's hall Folkvang). These heroes, the Einherjar, are prepared in Valhalla for the oncoming battle of Ragnarok. When the battle commences, eight hundred warriors will march shoulder to shoulder out of each door.
Asgard, in Norse mythology, is one of the nine worlds and the homeland of the Aesir, the race of warrior gods. Located on the highest level of the Norse universe, it is surrounded by a high wall of closely fitted stone blocks. The walls surrounding Asgard.In the middle of Asgard lies the plain of Idavoll (or Ida) where the Aesir meet to decide important issues. There the gods assemble in the hall of Gladsheim and the goddesses in the hall of Vingolf. The gods also meet daily at the Well of Urd, beneath the Asgard root of the ash tree Yggdrasil.
Aesir
The collective name for the the principal race of Norse gods; they who lived in Asgard, and with the All-Father Odin, ruled the lives of mortal men, the other was the Vanir. The Aesir gods under the leadership of Odin, included Balder (god of beauty), Bragi (god of eloquence), Forseti (god of mediation), Freyr (god of fertility, who originally was from the Vanir), Heimdall (guardian of the bridge), Hod (the blind god), Loki (god of fire and ally of the frost giants), Njord (the sea god, and another ex-Vanir), Thor (god of thunder), Tyr (god of war), Vili (brother to Odin), Ve (brother to Odin), and Vidar (Odin's son). The goddesses included Freya (the fertility goddess), Frigg (Odin's wife), Sif (Thor's wife), and Idun (keeper of the apples of youth).
Norse Holidays and Festivals
Jul
20 - 31 December
Celebration of the Norse New Year; a festival of 12 nights. This is the
most important of all the Norse holidays. On the night of December 20, the
god Ingvi Freyr rides over the earth on the back of his shining boar, bringing
Light and Love back into the World. In later years, after the influence of
Christianity, the god Baldur, then Jesus, was reborn at this festival. Jul
signifies the beginning and end of all things; the darkest time (shortest
hour of daylight) during the year and the brightest hope re-entering the world.
During this festival, the Wild Hunt is at its greatest fervor, and the dead
are said to range the Earth in its retinue. The god Wotan (Odin) is the leader
of this Wild Ride; charging across the sky on his eight-legged horse, Sleipnir;
a very awe-inspiring vision. In ancient times, Germanic and Norse children
would leave their boots out by the hearth on Solstice Eve, filled with hay
and sugar, for Sleipnir's journey. In return, Wotan would leave them a gift
for their kindness. In modern times, Sleipnir was changed to a reindeer and
the grey-bearded Wotan became the kindly Santa Claus (Father Christmas).
Thurseblot
(Thor's Feast: Full Moon of January) Minor feast honoring Thor, the protector
of Midgard. During this time, the height of the Storm season, Thor's power
is invoked to drive back the frost Jotuns so that Spring may return to Midgard.
Disting
2 February
Festival of the Idises, when the effects of Winter are beginning to lessen
and the world prepares itself for Spring. Corresponds to the pagan holiday
of Imbolc. Disting is characterized by preparing the land for planting. In
ancient times, Disting was the time when the cattle were counted and one's
wealth was tallied; thus making it a festival of finance as well. It was said
that new calves born during Disting were a sign of great prosperity for the
coming year.
Valisblot
14 February Many modern Asatruar celebrate Valisblot, or Vali's Feast, even
though there is no historical precedent for associating Odin's youngest son
with this festival; other than the name Vali associated with "Valentine."
The hero Svenfjotli, son of Sigimund, was reputed to have been born at this
time, and often blots are drunk to him as well.
Ostara
20-21 March
Festival of Ostara (Eostre), the Spring Goddess. This is a festival of renewal, rejoicing and fertility, although for most of the Northern People, the forces of Winter are still at full sway. In ancient times, the gift of colored eggs to one's friends and loved ones was a way of wishing them well for the coming season; a magical ritual of prosperity and fecundity. The rabbit was the symbol of this festival as well because of it's re-emergence during this season, and for its reproductive ability. These two rituals have survived into the modern holiday of Easter (which derives its name from Eostre) as Easter eggs and the Easter bunny. Like most ancient heathen rituals, they are relegated into the world of children; held for naught among adults; but the race memory lingers on.
Walpurgis/
Thrimilci
22 April - 1 May
The festival of Walpurgis, a night both of revelry and darkness. The nine
nights of April 22 (interestingly enough, the modern festival of Earth Day)
to April 30 are venerated as rememberance of the AllFather's self-sacrifice
upon the World Tree Yggdrasil. It was on the ninth night (April 30, Walpurgisnacht)
that he beheld the Runes, grasped them, and ritually died for an instant.
At that moment, all the Light in the 9 worlds is extinguished, and utter Chaos
reigns. At the final stroke of midnight, the Light returns in dazzling brilliance,
and the bale-fires are lit. On Walpurgisnacht, the dead have full sway upon
the earth; it is the ending night of the Wild Hunt. May 1 is the festival
of Thrimilci; the beginning of Summer. Thrimilci is a festival of joy and
fertility, much like Ostara; however, most of the Northern World is finally
escaping from the snow at this time.
Einherjar
30 May Minor modern Asatru festival honoring the warriors who fell during
battle and who asceded to Valhalla's halls. Corresponds with the modern American
holiday of Memorial Day.
Sigurdsblot
9 June Minor festival honoring Sigurd (Sigifrith or Siegfreid), the great
hero who slayed the dragon Fafnir and won back the treasure of the Rhine.
Midsummer
20-21 June
Celebration of the Summer Solstice, when the power of the Sun is at its height. It was at this time that most foreign trade was conducted, as well as shipping, fishing expeditions, and raiding. Thus, Midsummer was the festival of power and activity. It was not without its dark side as well. Midsummer was recognized as the longest day of the year; thus, the year began to age after this time and the days grow progressively shorter. The god Baldur is said to have been sacrificed at this time, but is reborn at Jul; the hero Sigurd was also said to have been slain by treachery at Midsummer by his blood-brothers Hagan and Gunthur (Gundahar).
Lithasblot
31 July - 1 August
The harvest festival; giving thanks to Urda (Ertha) for her bounty. Often
alms are given to the unfortunate at this time, or loaves in the shape of
the fylfot (the Sun-wheel, which fell into regrettable disrepute during the
dark times of the second World War when the symbol was perverted as a symbol
of chaos and darkeness). Interestingly, Lithasblot 1941 was allegedly the
time when the magical lodges of England performed rituals to keep the Nazi
forces from invading their country; which may have worked, since Hitler eventually
abandoned plans to invade Great Britain. Lithasblot has long been associated
with ceremonial magic and magical workings.
Harvest End
(Mabon)
22-23 September Mabon is a minor blot acknowledging the end of the Harvest
Season, also associate with vintage and mead-making. Most people held off
the full celebration of this holiday, though, until the main festival of Winternights.
Winternights
29 October -
2 November
The beginning of the winter season for the Northern folk. Rememberances
of the dead and one's ancestors were made during this feast. Winternights
was a ceremony of wild abandon; much like the Carnivale season in the Mediterranean
countries, and it marked the end of the summer season of commerce and travel
and the beginning of the winter season of hunting. Much divination was done
during Winternights to foretell the fates of those entering the coming year.
It was said that if one sat on a barrow-mound (grave) all night long on Winternights,
one would have full divinatory, shamanic (galdr and seith), and bardic (skaldr)
powers . . . that is, if one retained one's sanity! Winternights marked the
beginning of the Wild Hunt, which would continue until Walpurgisnacht. This
festival corresponds roughly to the Celtic Samhain, and the modern American
festival of Halloween, although the darker aspects of the festival are not
as pronounced among the Norse people. (The Norse festival of darkness was
Walpurgis, a full 6 months away).