DANDERSDAGA, Dutch. The "THUNDERER'S DAY," or that on which the Deity was worshipped as the God of Vengeance, or of Terror.

"The idol Thor, who was not only served and sacrificed unto of the antient Pagan Sarons, but of all the Teutonick people of the Septentrionall_regions, pea, even of the people that dwelt beyond Thule or Island; for in Greeneland was he knowne, and adored; in memory whereof a promontory, or high popnt of land Iping

out into the sea at the said promontory, doth pet hear his name; and the manner how he was made, his picture both declare. This great reputed God, being of more estimation than many of the rest of the like sort, though of as little worth as any of the meanest of that rabble, was majestically placed in a very large and spacious hall, and there set as if he had reposed himselfe upon a covered bed. On his head he wore a crown of gold, and round in a compass above, and about the same, were set or fired twelve bright burnished golden starres. And in hig right hand he held a kingly sceptre. He was of the ses duced pagans believed to be of most marvelous power and might; yea, and that there were no people throughout the whole world, that were not subjected unto him, and did not owe him divine honour and service. That there was no puissance comparable to his. His dominion of all others most farthest extending itselfe, both in heaven and earth. That in the aire he governed the winds, and the cloudes; and being displeased, did cause lightning, thunder, and tempest, with excessive raine, haile, and all ill weather: But being well-pleased, by the adoration, sacrifice, and service of his suppliants, he then bestowed upon them most faire and seasonable weather; and caused corne abundantly to growe; as all sorts of fruits, c. and kept away the plague, and all other evill and infectious diseases.—Of the weekly day which was dedicated unto his peculiar service, we pet retaine the name of Thursday, the which the Danes and Swedians doe pet call Thors-day. In the Netherlands it is called Danders-dagh, which being written according to our Eng. Lish orthography, is Thunders-day, whereby it may

appeare that they antiently therein intended the day of the God of Thunder; and in some of our old Saron bookes I find it to have been written Thunres-Deag: —So as it seemeth that the name of Thor, or Thur, was abbreviated of Thunre, which we now write Thunder." Verstegan.

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The Laplanders were the last who retained the worship of this tremendous idol: They represented him by a stump of a tree, rudely formed like the head of a man, in which they stuck pieces of steel and flint, that he might strike fire when he pleased, and placed a hammer near him, which they fancied he used against evil spirits, as well as his bow and arrows; attributing to him sovereign authority over all the mischievous and malevolent spirits which inhabit the air, mountains, lakes, &c.

The Northern nations used to hold a high festival at the winter solstice, in honour of this powerful Deity, under the appellation of Juul, or Yuul (see Longest Day and Christmas Day,) to supplicate for a propitious year, which, from the elements having been considered under his controul, he alone could grant; and at this festival, as at that of the Saturnalia of the Romans, every excess of extravagant and dissolute pleasure was authorised, as not only admissible, but requisite. Descended from their supreme Deity, and esteemed "The eldest of his sons," he partook of the presumed attributes of his father on the one side; and, springing from Frega or the Earth, he was considered as more immediately

connected with matter. Hence he became the principal mediator for mankind; and hence was regarded as the one who," as the son of Odin and the Earth," could most effectually promote and secure their welfare.

The Romans called Thursday Dies Jovis, feria quinta; and the great resemblance between the alleged powers of the Thunderer Jupiter, and the Thunderer Thor, has given occasion to their being considered as the same idol under different titles.-The French nation retain in their Jeudi, the old appellation of Dies Jovis, and in the Cornish language that day was called De-Jeu; an evident corruption of the Latin origin, or a reverse mode of expressing the French Jeu-Di, or the English Joves-day.

Friday,

the sixth day of the week, took its appellation from FREA, FRIGA, or FRIGGA, the wife of Odin or Woden; FRIGEDAG, Sax.; FRIGDAG, Dan. ; FREITAG, or FREYTAG, Teut.; FRYDAG, Belg.; FRIGA'S DEG, Sax.

This pagan divinity was held in the highest esteem and veneration for her power of procuring easy child-birth, and bestowing every felicity connected with the softer endearments of life: She was thought to have been the mother, as Odin was the father, of all the other pagan divi

nities of the Northern nations; though it would appear doubtful whether FRIGA had not usurped the honours originally mentioned in the Northern mythology, as belonging to Herthus, or the Earth, or "Mother Earth," as she is termed, and also "Mother of the Gods;" according to the opinion entertained by Heathens of all countries, that the supreme Deity had united with the Earth, and thereby given origin to all their other gods.