Arith Härger | Cultural Identity and Folk Magic in Scandinavia @ArithH%C3%A4rger | Uploaded February 2021 | Updated October 2024, 2 hours ago.
To speak about the evolution of Scandinavian Folk Magic, especially Trolldom, first we must understand the background of Scandinavian Cultural Identity. Folk magic is a rich living tradition which is the product of several historical cultural developments.
My Social Media:
patreon.com/ArithHarger
youtube.com/user/VikingWidunder
society6.com/arithharger
facebook.com/ArithHarger
instagram.com/arithharger
twitter.com/ArithHarger
vikingwidunder.deviantart.com
arithharger.wordpress.com
http://whispersofyggdrasil.blogspot.pt/
Note: Contrary to what some believe, the Norse deities are almost completely absent in Scandinavian folk magic. The few exceptions: are Odin, mostly implored for help with money and crops; Thor, occurring occasionally in formulas (troll-formulas) concerning power; and Freyja and/or Frigg, mentioned in a few spells concerning future-seeing (in relation to marriage) and to increase luck in crops. The Norse deities are almost absent from Scandinavian Folk Magic because for a vast period the Norse Gods where only addressed and worshipped by aristocracy, and as such, the great majority of pre-Christian Medieval Scandinavians were a lot more concerned with other entities of place and practical behaviour (magic, fetishism, ritual) towards such entities. The Norse Gods, were in fact popularized during the 13th century by Snorri Sturlusson and the authors of other sagas (Icelandic Christians in a society where Christianity has already been the official religion for 200 years). And these people probably lacked the coherent cultic status or spiritual monopoly from a period, culture and even geographical reality already far from their own time. The Norse Gods were a religious phenomenon of aristocracy, and never had a strong anchor among commoners. For the great majority of Scandinavians (non-Aristocrats) asking the aid of the gods was only a small part of the Scandinavian’s patchwork of ancestral reverence and animistic beliefs.
The 19th century troll-formula in the video:
"jag manar dig, du döda lakmen med din anda, vid Jesu, [make the sight of the cross] Jungfru Marias börd och de heliga evangelisters och apostlars gang. Att du står upp och möter mig här på detta stället innan tolftiden, då jag vill fråga dig hemliga! Och du skall svara mig 3 ord, dem jag icke uppenbara skall! Och besvär jag dig, att du icke löper utom denna krets, ej heller till minsta hufvudhår skadar! I heliga trefaldighetens namn och Marias börd och de heliga evengelisters och apostlars gång. Amen"
English translation:
"I conjure you, dead body, with your spirit by jesus [mak the sign of the cross], the Virgin Mary's birth, and the walk of the holy Evangelists and Apostles. That you stand up and meet me here on this spot before twelve o'clock when I will ask you the secret! Then you will answer me in three words, which I shall not reveal! And I conjure you here and bind you that you will not go outside this circle, neither harm the slighest hair! In the name of the Holy Trinity and the birth of Mary, and the walk of the holy Evangelists and Apostles. Amen."
#culturalidentity #folkmagic #folktradition
To speak about the evolution of Scandinavian Folk Magic, especially Trolldom, first we must understand the background of Scandinavian Cultural Identity. Folk magic is a rich living tradition which is the product of several historical cultural developments.
My Social Media:
patreon.com/ArithHarger
youtube.com/user/VikingWidunder
society6.com/arithharger
facebook.com/ArithHarger
instagram.com/arithharger
twitter.com/ArithHarger
vikingwidunder.deviantart.com
arithharger.wordpress.com
http://whispersofyggdrasil.blogspot.pt/
Note: Contrary to what some believe, the Norse deities are almost completely absent in Scandinavian folk magic. The few exceptions: are Odin, mostly implored for help with money and crops; Thor, occurring occasionally in formulas (troll-formulas) concerning power; and Freyja and/or Frigg, mentioned in a few spells concerning future-seeing (in relation to marriage) and to increase luck in crops. The Norse deities are almost absent from Scandinavian Folk Magic because for a vast period the Norse Gods where only addressed and worshipped by aristocracy, and as such, the great majority of pre-Christian Medieval Scandinavians were a lot more concerned with other entities of place and practical behaviour (magic, fetishism, ritual) towards such entities. The Norse Gods, were in fact popularized during the 13th century by Snorri Sturlusson and the authors of other sagas (Icelandic Christians in a society where Christianity has already been the official religion for 200 years). And these people probably lacked the coherent cultic status or spiritual monopoly from a period, culture and even geographical reality already far from their own time. The Norse Gods were a religious phenomenon of aristocracy, and never had a strong anchor among commoners. For the great majority of Scandinavians (non-Aristocrats) asking the aid of the gods was only a small part of the Scandinavian’s patchwork of ancestral reverence and animistic beliefs.
The 19th century troll-formula in the video:
"jag manar dig, du döda lakmen med din anda, vid Jesu, [make the sight of the cross] Jungfru Marias börd och de heliga evangelisters och apostlars gang. Att du står upp och möter mig här på detta stället innan tolftiden, då jag vill fråga dig hemliga! Och du skall svara mig 3 ord, dem jag icke uppenbara skall! Och besvär jag dig, att du icke löper utom denna krets, ej heller till minsta hufvudhår skadar! I heliga trefaldighetens namn och Marias börd och de heliga evengelisters och apostlars gång. Amen"
English translation:
"I conjure you, dead body, with your spirit by jesus [mak the sign of the cross], the Virgin Mary's birth, and the walk of the holy Evangelists and Apostles. That you stand up and meet me here on this spot before twelve o'clock when I will ask you the secret! Then you will answer me in three words, which I shall not reveal! And I conjure you here and bind you that you will not go outside this circle, neither harm the slighest hair! In the name of the Holy Trinity and the birth of Mary, and the walk of the holy Evangelists and Apostles. Amen."
#culturalidentity #folkmagic #folktradition
