Though
we consider ourselves as not totally unacquainted with Germanic
mythology, we happily recognize that other people know more about it. So
it was with great interest we read an article on customs associated
with autumn and/or harvest by a young man named Nick Krekelbergh in a Dutch language magazine called TeKoS yesterday. And our interest was rewarded: we learned more about Frau Holle (aka Frau Holda).
Okay
… but who is this Frau Holle anyway ? Well, we’ve got two options here:
tell you all about it and bore those acquainted with Germanic mythology
to death or provide you with a summary, meanwhile hoping to make it
interesting enough to get you to look up further information and not
chasing the already informed away. Since we’re trying to get you to read
our free prequel too, we’ll be going for option two.
Frau Holle is best known as protector of agriculture and women’s crafts, though Jacob Grimm
(one of the Brothers, indeed, but also a philologist and mythologist)
connected her with the Germanic goddess Hludana or Holda. Other
connections are those to Hlóðyn,
mother of the Old Norse Thor, Nerthus, another Germanic goddess who
like Frau Holle rides a wagon, and Frigg, Odin’s wife and highest
goddess of the Aesir (who in turn may be the same as Freyja, highest
goddess of the Vanir). Known alternate names for her are Frau Guaden (or
Wodan, also known as Odin) and Frau Frekke (see the resemblance with
Frigg and Freyja), while she is also claimed to be mistress of the Wild
Hunt (those familiar with the origins of Sinterklaas, from which is
derived Santa Claus, will know that Odin seated on his horse Sleipnir is
more frequently claimed to be so).
So
much for Frau Holle’s name. But what did she do again ? Well, she was
the protector of women’s crafts, in particular spinning (weaving), an
activity strongly connected to magic and the other world (remember the
Cathars), just like Frigg. Spinning and Christmas Eve or Twelfth Night
are still associated in parts of Germany where festivals for Holda are
observed. Frau Holle was also closely associated with the wilderness,
wild animals, remote places and the weather. Holda shaking her feather
pillows made it snow, fog was smoke from her fire, thunder was heard
when she reeled her flax. Holle is said to be the protector of children,
whose souls enter the world through a sacred pool she owns, but she
also haunts lakes and fountains and is seen as a White Lady bathing in
the water and disappearing, just like Nerthus. And we already told she
is one of the supposed leaders of the Wild Hunt.
What
we didn’t know, and learned from Krekelbergh’s article, is that in some
parts of Germany Frau Holle was considered to be the Corn Mother (Grain
Mother). When mowing the villagers would let some stalks stand,
sometimes decorate them with flowers and call for Frau Holle (also Fru
Gaue or Fru Gode) or just leave the stalks for her. From the corn mother
to Holle’s last occupation is just a small step: though the Corn Mother
was a positive appearance in pagan religion, catholic church gradually
demonized her and Frau Holle became a witch. In old church documents she
was identified with the goddess Diana, but starting at the beginning of
the eleventh century she was even designated as matron of witches.
Though
there’s much more to tell about the subject we’d like to finish this
story. Frau Holle, a goddess claimed to be matron of witches and maybe
being another denomination for Hludana or Holda, the Germanic goddess of
death (also known as Hel), is namely … one of the main characters in The Maier-Files. She has a small part in the free prequel,
but starts playing a major role in Book 1 – The Inauguration (to appear
this month). Actually, in that book she’s mowing the enemies down.
Now,
why would we name that character Frau Holle ? Well, because there’s a
lot more to The Maier-Files than meets the eye at first glance. As we
said before: it’s a story about secret services and covert wars, but
it’s also about UFOs and … witches. Want to know more ? Read the prequel
and buy Book 1. When will that be published ? Subscribe to our free
newsletter, receive the prequel in high definition, and we’ll keep you
posted.
Illustration above: Frau Holle waking Dorn from the dead at the Externsteine
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