A History of Pagan Europe
Gods and Myths of Northern Europe
Asatru: A Native European Spirituality
Norse Mythology
A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru
The Ásatrú Edda: Sacred Lore of the North
Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs
The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion
Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions
The Prose Edda
Asatru Book of Blotar and Rituals
Pocket Havamal
Essential Asatru: Walking the Path of Norse Paganism
Vikings: Viking Mythology: The Complete Guide to Viking Mythology and the Myths of Thor, Odin and Loki
Understanding Asatru
The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths
Asatru
ADVERTISEMENT
| Fast Facts: Asatru | |
|---|---|
| Adherents | unknown |
| Name Means | Icelandic, "Æsir faith" |
| Date Founded | ancient form has no founding date; modern revival founded 1970s |
| Place Founded | ancient form flourished across northern Europe; modern revival founded in Iceland |
| Founder(s) | no founder of ancient form; modern revival founded by Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson |
| Practices | Sacrifice of food or drink, toast to the gods, shamanism (less frequently), celebration of solstice holidays. Nine Noble Virtues is moral code. |
| Holidays | Summer Finding, Winter Finding, Midsummer, Yule |
| Texts | Eddas (Norse epics); the Havamal (proverbs attributed to Odin) |
Ásatrú (Icelandic, "Æsir faith") is a modern revival of the pre-Christian Nordic religion as described in the Norse epic Eddas.
Ásatrú is an Old Norse word consisting of Ása, referring to the Norse gods, and trú, "troth" or "faith". Thus, Ásatrú means "religion of the Æsir." The term was coined by Edvard Grieg in his 1870 opera Olaf Trygvason, in the context of 19th century romantic nationalism.
Generally synonymous terms for Asatru include Germanic Neopaganism, Germanic Heathenism, Forn Sed, Odinism, Heithni or Heathenry.
Table of Contents
Sources
- “Germanic religion.” Hinnells, John R. (ed.), Penguin Dictionary of Religions (London: Penguin Books).
- Polomé, Edgar Charles; E.O.G. Turville-Petre. “Germanic religion and mythology.” Encyclopaedia Britannica Online.
- “Iceland.” Barrett, David B., George Thomas Kurian, and Todd M. Johnson (eds.), The World Christian Encyclopedia: A Comparative Survey of Churches and Religions in the Modern World (Oxford University Press).
- Rev. Patrick "Jordsvin" Buck. “Asatru, An Ancient Religion Reborn.” Irminsul Ættir.
Further Reading
- “Heathenry (new religious movement).” Wikipedia.
- Ellis Davidson, H.R. and H. R. Ellis Davidson, Myths and Symbols in Pagan Europe: Early Scandinavian and Celtic Religions (Syracuse University Press, 1989).
- Jones, Prudence, A History of Pagan Europe (Routledge, 1997).
- Julian D. Richards, The Vikings: A Very Short Introduction (Oxford University Press, 2005).
- The Oxford Illustrated History of the Vikings (Oxford University Press, 2001).
- Lafayllve, Patricia M., A Practical Heathen's Guide to Asatru .
- McNallen, Stephen A., Asatru: A Native European Spirituality .
- Paxson, Diana L., Essential Asatru: Walking the Path of Norse Paganism .
- Colum, Padraic, The Children of Odin: The Book of Northern Myths .
- Asatru Folk Assembly, Asatru Book of Blotar and Rituals .
- Pocket Havamal .
- Wilton, Bryan, Understanding Asatru .
- Norroena Society, The Ásatrú Edda: Sacred Lore of the North .
- Lindow, John, Norse Mythology: A Guide to Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs .
- Hawthorne, Simon, Vikings: Viking Mythology: The Complete Guide to Viking Mythology and the Myths of Thor, Odin and Loki .
- Gaiman, Neil, Norse Mythology .
- Sturluson, Snorri, The Prose Edda .
- Davidson, H.R. Ellis, Gods and Myths of Northern Europe .
- McCoy, Daniel, The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion .
ADVERTISEMENT
Article Info
| Title | Asatru |
|---|---|
| Published | December 18, 2005 |
| Last Updated | January 29, 2021 |
| URL | religionfacts.com/ |
| Short URL | rlft.co/526 |
| MLA Citation | “Asatru.” ReligionFacts.com. 29 Jan. 2021. Web. Accessed 25 Sep. 2021. <religionfacts.com/asatru> |