A European phenomenon, the Wild Hunt is a supernatural event crossing several cultures including German, Norse, Roman, French, English and Celtic. The Hunt occurs sporadically, as a tempestuous gathering of gods and legendary creatures. It grows into a raging host known in the south of Germany as Wütendes Heer.
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Among the attendees are historical or mythological warriors and heroes, kings, satyrs, centaurs, three, six and eight-legged horses, elves, dwarfs and spirits of all persuasion. In Christian lore, like Hexennacht the Wild Hunt is associated with the Devil.
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Three major goddesses have leadership roles in the Wild Hunt, who are often cognate in mythology. They're all linked to fertility, women and nature. Another Wild Hunt leader, in the region of Tyrol, is Sträggele.
German Goddess Frau Holle
Frau Holle (Holda, Hulda) is a deity of home, trees, snow, women, spinning and weaving. Equated with Diana of the Romans and Frigg of the Norse, she's a leader of the Wild Hunt. She embodies both dark and light qualities with roles as White Lady and Dark Grandmother.
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Her favored trees are apple and elderberry, and the flowers of these. Like Diana and Frigg she relates to silver. A feminine metal and color, silver's one of the metals of antiquity, representing the moon and moonlight.
Frau Holle makes snow by fluffing her bedding out the window from her home in the clouds. She can create a soft downfall or blinding blizzard. She's a kind-hearted goddess but punishment is swift for those who break rules, such as rudeness or spinning on a feast day.
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Frau Holle's feast covers the Zwölften, or the Twelve Days of Yule. Although she's associated with Solstice as a goddess of light, her official feast begins 25 December and goes to Jan 5 or 6, known to practicing Christians and Shakespeare buffs as Twelfth Night.
READ: Lora Ley Fantasy Fiction - German Mythology Adventures
Symbols of Frau Holle include the round shield, spinning wheel or wheel of life; moon, dogs and apples. Leading the wild hunt she often runs with a pack of dogs. A spear represents her warrior aspect. She shares arrow symbolism with Roman Diana the Huntress.
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In the South of Germany to Tyrol, warrior Hulda's equivalent is Perchta or Wild Berchta. She's often a leader of the Wild Hunt as a terrifying hag goddess. One who beholds her is thought to sink into trance, and upon awakening can predict the yield of the next harvest.
Roman Goddess Diana the Huntress
Diana's origins go back to ancient Greece and Rome. She's a Goddess of the Hunt, both the countryside and wilderness, wild animals, fertility, childbirth and the Moon. Also called Divine Huntress, she's equated with the Greek Artemis.
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Dogs, deer and apples are sacred to Diana. She shares the sanctity of the apple with Roman Venus, goddess of love. Her symbols include the bow and/or arrow, and the crown of the crescent moon.
Diana's tree is cypress or cedar. She often wears the color white. Equated with light, white reflects Diana's status as a divine virgin. Silver is sacred to her as is the moon. In ancient writings she's Diana Lucifera ("light-bearer"). In alchemy Diana means silver or the moon.
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Diana is an aspect of a triple goddess, known as Diana triformis. The cosmic triad is composed of Diana, Luna, and Hecate. Luna, a moon goddess, is sister of the sun Sol and the dawn, Aurora. Her crescent moon crown is often applied to Diana.
Hecate first appears in writings of 8th century BCE as a goddess of crossroads, night, light, doorways, magic, protection and the Moon. She knows herbs and poisons, She relates to graves, ghosts, necromancy and sorcery. Her name may be based on Heka magic of Egypt.
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Diana is also a Goddess of Triads or groups of three. Besides the triple goddess aspect Diana, in earlier times she's part of a divine triad with Egeria the water nymph and Virbius the woodland god. This, and her involvement as one of three women who lead the Wild Hunt, associate her with triangles, triples of triples and number nine.
Norse Goddess Frigg
Frigg is one of Aesir (Old Gods) of Norse mythology. She belongs to the Vanir group of deities, those relating to fertility, wisdom and prophecy. The Norse have a complex mythology, partly due to the long cold winter nights in the north when the sun barely peeked over the horizon. Stories developed as they were told, twining into the culture of the people.
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When the Norse settle up north they bring history and mythology of Denmark with them, and incorporate parts of the existing Sami culture into their religious philosophy as well. German Frau Holle and Danish Hulondermutter relate to the Norse Goddess Frigg.
In Norse mythology Frigg is the wife of Odin and mother of ill-fated Baldr. If dedicating an altar or tree to Frigg be careful with mistletoe, as this is the plant who (mistakenly) killed her son, and it's a symbol of motherly grief.
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Frigg often holds a distaff, a symbol of spinning and women, corresponding with her aspect as a domestic deity. In her warrior phase Frigg is among the leaders of the Wild Hunt. Ferocious, she rides a many-legged steed and may be clad in plate armor.
According to the 14th century Prose Edda, Frigg dwells in a splendid realm, Fensalir (Old Norse "Fen Halls"). Four female deities attend her. They are
Fulla, who carries Frigg's ashen box, looks after her footwear and shares her secrets
Lofn, given permission by Frigg and Odin to arrange unions among men and women
Hlín, a protector of those Frigg deems worthy
Gná, a messenger sent by Frigg into various worlds to carry out her business
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In quieter times Frigg is associated with birch and elder trees. She wears a large blue cloak symbolizing the sky, and is also a goddess of the Moon. The English weekday name Friday comes from Old English Frīġedæġ, meaning 'day of Frigg'.
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