Speculations on Teutonic Religious Philosophy:

Liþa, Geola, and the Seasons

By Gary Stanfield

Last edited 7 Jan 2003

Based a posting in Rune-Net I of 7 Jan 2003.

Perhaps it is significant that in Teutonic polytheism the solstices

are not called "Winter Solstice" and "Summer Solstice". In Old

English they are "Geola" and "Liþa".

Some experts theorize that the solstice which occurs in the Northern

Hemisphere's summer is called "liþa" because early summer is

is "easy" or "pleasant" in England. However, I suggest that Geola and

Liþa are simply names for the two solstices and that any other

associations for those words are unrelated to liturgical schedules.

(Many words have two or more unrelated meanings. For example,

þaet rymet means "space, extent, room", but also "comfort, benefit".

Seon means "to look", but also "to filter". Reordan means "to speak"

but also "to feed". In Modern English, "run" means to go quickly

on one's feet but also to manage or control.)

The lack of specific reference to a season in the names for the

solstices appears to indicate an awareness of global variations in

the meanings of seasons. In other words, our Teutonic ancestors knew

that the seasons were not the same everywhere in the world at any

given time of year.

This supports the notion that there is a commonality (an Earth unity)

in the Teutonic liturgical schedule along with local adaptations. It

also means that a Sunnablot would be appropriate at Yule in the

Southern Hemisphere. It implies that I could have celebrated the Dry

Season in Vietnam in 1969 and also observed a traditional Mothers'

Night or Geola (had I known this religion and if conditions would

allow). It also implies that people in Murmansk could celebrate a

traditional Liþa at the same time of the calendar year as others even

though they have Arctic seasons and would adapt their liturgy

accordingly.