Norse paganism is an interesting religion, dating back hundreds of years. However, thanks to the popularity of Nordic mythology in today’s world, it’s starting to have a bit of a resurgence.
Today, countless people are already aware of many of the deities involved in Norse paganism, from Thor and Loki to the all-father Odin. If you’ve watched a handful of Viking shows and movies from the Marvel cinematic universe, you might even be familiar with concepts like Yggdrasil and Valhalla.
Once a common part of Nordic life, Norse paganism began to disappear at the time when Christianity was spreading throughout Scandinavia. Many kings and leaders converted to Christianity for political and military reasons. However, Norse religion never truly disappeared.
Many pagan myths, legends, and folklore from Scandinavia still influence popular culture today, and have even been adapted into newer religions, like Christianity.
Here’s everything you need to know about Norse paganism.
What is Norse Paganism? The Basics
Paganism is a religious belief structure that exists outside of the traditional or primary world religions, such as Christianity or Judaism. Norse paganism is just one example as this. Sometimes referred to as “heathenry”, Norse paganism revolved around the worship of the old Gods relevant to Scandinavians before Christianity was introduced to the world.
Followers of this religion had a complex and somewhat magical view of the world. They believed life was centred around a sacred tree called Yggdrasil, which had branches supporting several realms, including the human world, “Midgard”.
Though it’s considered the primary “Old Norse” religion, what we know about Norse paganism is somewhat limited, because stories and beliefs were passed down orally. There’s no specific book outlining the rules of the religion, similar to the Christian bible.
Instead, what we know about Norse mythology, and paganism, is based on picture stones, runic inscriptions, and Old Norse manuscripts and sagas. For instance, the Poetic Edda is considered one of the best documents outlining the various concepts of Norse paganism.
What we do know for certain is that Norse Paganism is a polytheistic religion. In other words, its followers believed in multiple gods and goddesses, all with their own unique skills and abilities. Each of these deities had their own powers and flaws, and were separated into three pantheons:
- Æsir: The first pantheon of Norse deities were the Aesir gods, such as Odin and Thor, often associated with social concepts such as war, marriage, and justice.
- Vanir: The Vanir group of Norse deities were associated with wisdom, sexuality, fertility and magic, and included goddesses like Freyja.
- Jötunn: Sometimes referred to as “giants”, the Jötunn were non-human creatures, including elves and dwarves, often associated with chaos and destruction.
The Beliefs of Norse Paganism
Alongside worshipping a number of gods and goddesses, followers of Norse paganism also held a variety of other beliefs and traditions. For instance, they believed animals were sacred creatures, each with their own magical skills, and unique characteristics. Many animals are symbolic in Norse paganism. For instance, owls are seen as creatures of foresight and wisdom.
Norse pagans also believed in the importance of worshipping and respecting their ancestors. They regularly hosted events focused on paying homage to the lines that came before them. Norse pagans believed properly venerating their ancestors would bring happiness and prosperity to their families, while disregarding them would lead to bad fortune.
Norse pagans were also strong believers in fate. They believed a group of individuals known as the “Norns” controlled the fate of men and gods alike. However, they also felt that women and men had an active role in whether they chose to accept, or fight against their fate.
One particularly interesting aspect of Norse paganism is its approach to the afterlife. Norse pagans didn’t believe death was something to be feared. They instead championed the concept of facing death with honor and bravery, believing warrior spirits would reach Valhalla, and be united with the gods.
Do Norse Pagans Exist Today?
Our knowledge of ancient Norse paganism is somewhat limited, due to a lack of religious texts passed down through the generations. However, many experts believe the earliest roots of the religion may date back to the Iron, or Bronze ages. However, it was during the Viking age when Norse Paganism really began to expand its reach, to locations throughout Northern Europe.
Even when Christianity began to take over, it was difficult for the new belief system to eliminate Norse paganism entirely. This may be one of the reasons why many religious stories and celebrations today appear to take inspiration from these older belief systems.
While Scandinavia became more of a “Christian” continent in the 1700s, many aspects of Norse paganism remained, and tales from the old stories are still shared via folklore. Additionally, modern forms of Norse paganism have begun to emerge around the world, in beliefs such as:
- Ásatrú: Starting in the early 19th century and becoming an official religion in Iceland in 1973, Ásatrú is a religion which continues to celebrate the Aesir gods, such as Thor and Odin. This community-based religion centers around groups of people who see themselves as kindred spirits. The group promotes values like fairness, tolerance, and acceptance.
- Vanatru: Vanatru means “true to the Vanir”, and it’s the name for a religion that appeared in the early 90s, as an alternative to the Asatru belief system. The focus of this religion is on divination, nature, and folk magic. This religious path is less structured than Asatru, however the followers believe that each god and goddess is an individual, and that there are different ways to communicate with them.
- Rökkatru: The Rökkr religious tribe celebrate concepts like death, chaos, and primordial elements. They believe darkness and chaos doesn’t equate to evil, like it does in Christianity. Instead, death and destruction are parts of life which deserve as much worship as concepts like life and birth. This path is linked with Norse shamanism.
Common Practices in Norse Paganism
While there aren’t any traditional “holy texts” connected to Norse paganism, belief systems were still shared and passed down through the generations, often via stories and runes. Additionally, holy days were still celebrated by people in these religion.
Feasts and sacrifices were common among those trying to appease the gods, and experts have even discovered artifacts offerings in wetlands and Scandinavian dig sites over the years.
Though the Norse pagans didn’t have the same ritual, holy celebrations many of us know today, they still celebrated what they considered to be important events. Rites of passage were commonly celebrated, such as deaths, marriages, births, and even the naming of a newborn.
Today, individuals practicing modern versions of Norse paganism often focus on the following concepts as part of their belief structure:
- Acceptance and inclusivity: Most versions of Norse paganism champion inclusivity as crucial in the human world. Norse pagans aim to be truthful, honorable people, who are willing to fight what they believe is right. Norse pagans believe all people are worthy of respect, and accept anyone, regardless of age, gender, race, or sexuality.
- Culture and community: Heathenry, or Norse paganism is as much a culture as it is a faith. People following this belief system believe in the power of community, and connect with others as often as possible. They believe people are more powerful when they’re surrounded by likeminded, or kindred spirits.
- Keeping the frith: Many Norse pagans also believe in a concept called “frith”, which translates to unbreakable peace. While many people in this religion are still comfortable debating and arguing with others, they believe in finding ways to maintain faith with others.
Scandification: Discovering Scandinavia.
