Holda
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In Germanic folklore Holda or Holle is the supernatural patron of the mystery of spinning with its links to the other world (See weaving (mythology)). She is well known throughout northern Europe (see Huld in Scandinavian mythology).
Holda teaches, inspires and rewards the hard worker. Extending from her role rewarding the skillful and diligent spinner and punishing the idle, Holda brings fertility to women and has some control over the weather. She first taught the craft of making linen from flax. Her connection to the spirit world through the magic of spinning and weaving has associated her with witchcraft in Catholic German folklore.
The most interesting account of Holda was collected by the brothers Grimm, the fairy tale 'Frau Holle'.
A mother had two daughters, the elder was spoilt and idle, the younger one unloved and overworked. Every day she would sit outside the cottage and spin beside the well. One day she pricked her finger on the point of the spindle (compare Sleeping Beauty). When she washed the blood away, the spindle fell from her hand and sank out of sight. When she leapt into the well after it, she found herself in the otherworld of Holda, who kept her as maidservant for several weeks. Then Holda was so impressed by the girl's meekness and industry she sent her back to her family, with an apronful of gold.
The mother sent the lazy daughter down the well to get more gold. Copying her sister, the lazy daughter bloodied her finger and leapt into the well. But Holda reproved her idle nature by sending her home covered with soot.
External links
- Thorskegga Thorn, "Spinning in myths and folktales" (http://www.thorshof.org/spinmyth.htm)
- Thorskegga Thorn, "Holda" (http://www.thorshof.org/holda.htm)
- Holda and the Cult of Witches (http://www.ealdriht.org/witchholda.html): neo-medieval view of Holda