Frigg

Frigg, also known as Frigga in Norse mythology, is the goddess of motherhood, fertility, family, and marriage. Married to Odin, the All-Father of the gods, Frigg is the queen of Aesir. The Aesir were the warrior gods of the skies. Her name means ‘beloved’ and symbolizes how people, mostly women, looked to her for comfort and peace during times of mothering, birth and marriage problems. Sometimes compared to or confused with the goddess Freya, Frigg is her own goddess with her own symbolism and strengths.

Seer and Sorceress

The devoted mother of Baldur, Frigg became well-known for her efforts to save the life of her son. Known as a seer, someone who can see into the future but doesn’t have the ability to change it, Frigg saw the death of her son. The myth states that she asked every living being to promise to not play a part in her son’s death but did not get an oath from the mistletoe. Floki, a trickster god, used the mistletoe to kill Baldur and sent Frigg into a long period of sadness and mourning for her son. Some believe that the tears of Frigg formed the white berries of the mistletoe.

Frigg, while being a well-known seer, also practiced seidr. A type of Norse magic and sorcery, seidr involved meditation and visions that allowed gods and goddesses to interact with spirits. This interaction could help them change the fates of people. Seidr consisted of more magic and sorcery, similar to witchcraft, that worked to change the outcomes of people’s lives.

Wife, Mother, and Midwife

Frigg is the goddess of the home. Her sacred animal was the goose and she’s affectionately known as the first mother goose. Frigg gave birth to Baldur on New Year’s Eve night, which Northern Europeans call ‘Mother Night’ in reference to the birth of Baldur. Many women turned to the goddess Frigg to help them with fertility issues and bless their marriages so that they would have many babies and happy homes. Women today can receive the blessing of Frigg by burning a white candle during the winter solstice to prepare for a calm, safe delivery.

Although Frigg was married to Odin, a very powerful god, she was more like his partner than a piece of property that he owned. She reigned over their homeplace of Asgard, and she’s often pictured standing next to him as his capable, smart, nurturing partner. She’s even credited with ending a feud between outside rivals by outsmarting her husband.

Two outside tribes, the Vandals and the Winnilers, were at odds. Odin decided to choose a victor by picking whichever tribe he saw out of his bedroom window in the morning. Frigg had the women of the Winnilers tribe fix their hair to look like beards. When Odin awoke in the morning, he thought the women were the men of the Winnilers tribe and declared them the victors. He realized later he’d been outsmarted by his wife, but he did admit that his wife was right by wanting to grant victory to the Winnilers tribe. This proves that Odin respected his wife’s decisions and valued her opinions.

Quick Facts About Frigg

  • Swept away the clouds.
  • Responsible for rain, sun, and fertility of crops.
  • Symbols include the moon, sky, spinning wheel and spindle, and mistletoe.
  • The word Friday is how her name carries on in modern English.
  • Helped to keep the peace and social order among the gods.

Frigg is a domestic goddess who worked hard to love her sons and create a nurturing environment. People honored her for her power and authority over all things domestic, including love, marriage, domestic chores, pregnancy, and family protection.