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JOHN
Starting Member
United Kingdom
42 Posts |
 Posted - 02/01/2007 : 13:56:38
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The last Ice Age ended about 12,000 years ago.Glaciers reached South to central England, and "Permafrost" stretched to the shores of the Mediterranean. Rising sea levels from the melting glaciers eventually cut England off from Europe about 7,000 years ago.By this time only a few shrubs; three conifers; and 32 broad leaved trees had made it across the land bridge. One of these was the Ash tree. They are quite common, and there is a small group at the lower end of Verney's Walk.
The sacred tree of the Scandinavians was an Ash, known as "Yggdrasil",(Tree of the World) It's roots reached the deepest darkest parts of hell, and it's leaves touched the highest, brightest parts of heaven. Their Chief God; Odin; carved the first man from the trunk of an Ash, and when the Vikings came to England, they brought their Gods with them. These started out in what is now Germany. The Chief, or Sky, God was Tiwar; Tyr to the Vikings. Wotan, God of War, became Odin and replaced Tyr in the top slot. Thorum,God of agriculture, became Thor, and Frijja; chief Goddess became Frigg. On arrival in England some names changed again, and days of the week were named after them. These we still use!
Tyr became Tiw. Tiwsday became Tuesday
Odin became Woden. Wodensday became Wednesday
Thor remained. Thorsday became Thursday
Frigg remained. Friday had always been her day
Viking Mona (Moon). Moonday became Monday
Viking Sunne (Sun). Sunneday became Sunday
The only non Viking god having a "day" was Saturn (Greek Kronos, from where we get Chronometer). Saturnday became Saturday.
Every day of the week we recall a Pagan God, mostly brought here by the Vikings, along with their Ash tree.
It was the Romans who brought us the Months.
January (Ianuarius) Named after Janus, god of journeys and doors
February (Februarius) after Februltus, a time of righting of wrongs. A month of purification.
March (Martius) after Mars god of war. Mars was once the first month of the year (not much fighting done in the winter) until Jan: and Feb: were added in about 700 BC
April (Aprilis) from aperire - to open as with buds. Or maybe from Aphrilis (Aphrodite) Roman Venus, goddess of love which is appropriate for the time of year.
May (Maius) after Maia goddess of fertility
June (Iunus) after Juno chief Goddess
July. Was originally Quintilis - fifth month, following March as the first month - Renamed in honour of Julius Caesar
August. Was originally Sextilis - sixth month. Renamed in honour on Emperor Augustus
September. seventh month - Latin Septem 7
October. Eighth month - Latin Octem 8
November. Ninth month - Latin Novem 9
December. Tenth month - Latin Decem 10
The original Roman calendar was quite complicated and so was re-organised by Julius Caesar, and this "Julian" calendar was still in use in some countries up to early last century. In the 16th century Pope Gregory instigated, by means of a Papal "Bull" the more accurate Gregorian calendar which is pretty much what we use today.
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Langley's Pagan Link
