  In the southern countries of Europe, the days of the week were named after the gods of the Greeks and Romans. But in our country, and in some of the countries of northern Europe, the gods of the North have given their names to the days. Sunday and Monday received their names from the sun and the moon—the radiant lamps that light the earth by day and by night. Tiw is the god of honorable war, the son of Odin and Frigga, the earth mother. His emblem is the sword, and in olden days the people did him great homage. Tuesday, the third day of the week, was named in his honor. Wednesday was called Woden’s day, in honor of Woden, or Odin, the king of the gods. He was often called the All Father. Thor, the son of Odin, is one of the twelve great gods of northern mythology. “Whenever he throws his wonderful hammer,” they used to say, “the noise of thunder is heard through the heavens. He is the only god who cannot cross from earth to heaven upon the rainbow, for he is so heavy and powerful that the gods fear it will break under his weight.” Thursday was sacred to Thor. Thor, carrying his hammer, rides in an open cart pulled by two goats Thor. Here in my Northland, My fastness and fortress, Reign I forever!” Friday was the day sacred to Frigga, queen of the gods. Saturday received its name from SÆter, god of the harvest. “One poor day!— Remember whose, and not how short it is! It is God’s day, it is Columbus’s. A lavish day! One day, with life and heart, Is more than time enough to find a world.” “No man is born into the world whose work Is not born with him. There is always work, And tools to work withal, for those who will; And blessÉd are the horny hands of toil! The busy world shoves angrily aside The man who stands with arms akimbo set, Until occasion tells him what to do; And he who waits to have his task marked out Shall die and leave his errand unfulfilled.” |
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