Asatru
Asatru (Icelandic: Ásatrú) is a religion which involves the worship of ancient Germanic and Scandinavian Viking spirits and gods. It received official legal establishment in 1970s in Iceland through the efforts of Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson and other Icelanders, who rejected Christianity and performed "Launblót" (secret offering) to pre-"Kristnitaka" (Christianization of Iceland) Nordic gods and goddesses. The current recognized national organization of Asatru in Iceland is Ásatrúarfélagið. The name is derived from two Old Norse words. It means "faith in the Æsir," the Germanic and Viking gods.[1]
A person who practices Asatru is called an Asatruar, and is sometimes referred to as a Heathen. Asatru is also called Wodanism, Wotanism or Germanic paganism.[2]
Common books that describe the knowledge in depth include the Sagas and the Eddas.
In the United States, Asatruar parents often choose not to have their children circumcised, though some subgroups, including the Asatru Teutsch, do not strongly support or oppose the practice.[3]
Gods and Goddesses
Asatru is a polytheistic religion in which various goddesses and gods are worshiped. The most prominent are Thor, Odin, Freyja, Frigg, Freyr, Tyr, Loki, and Heimdall.
Festivals
Major holidays revolve around the changing seasons with Yule being the most important. It is celebrated in late December and continues for twelve days. Holidays also vary greatly between different groups.
| Festival | Date |
|---|---|
| Disting | First new moon in February |
| Ostara | 21st of March |
| Walpurgis Night | 30th of April to 1st of May |
| Midsummer | 21st of June |
| Freyfest | 21st of August |
| Fallfeast | 21st of September |
| Harvestfeast | 31st of October |
| Yule | 19th of December to 1st of January |
References
- "11 things to know about the present day practice of Ásatrú, the ancient religion of the Vikings".
- "What is Asatru?". 15 February 2020.
- Lale, Erin (August 2020). Asatru: A Beginner's Guide to the Heathen Path. ISBN 9781633411753.
4. AsatruTeutsch modern belief book https://acrobat.adobe.com/link/review?uri=urn:aaid:scds:US:46eecc48-d413-476c-a506-0ff22a6acc31