Folk Song
Lokka Tattur. I have had some people argue against this ballad’s merit as it wasn’t recorded until the 1800s. I find this silly. Our lore wasn’t recorded until potentially hundreds of years after the stories were first told around the fire (Loki’s fire as you will soon see!). In addition- being later reveals how Loki has remained within the hearts and minds of native folk. If you know of another song please pass it on to me. To note- the Lokka Tattur was considered a forbidden ballad as there are invocations to the old Gods within the words. People were supposedly fined if caught singing this tale.
Folk Charm
In Lincolnshire the ague was charmed away by nailing three horse shoes to the foot of the bed with a hammer placed crosswise over them. The charm was to take the hammer in the left hand, tap the horse shoes with it and say:
Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
Nail the Devil to the post.
Thrice I strike with holy crook,
One for God, one for Wod, and one for Lok.
This charm is an amazing blend of Christianity and old Scandinavian heathenism. The idea was that when the ‘old un’ came to take the sufferer, the horseshoes plus the charm would keep him ‘safe as a church spire.’ This is from the Encycolopedia of Superstitions 1949 by E. and M. Radford. Since considered a recent book I have found many asatruar will not accept this as evidence of Loki being admired and not considered evil as he has since Christian influence. I ask people to reconsider. For this charm, and ballads such as the Lokka Tattur, to have survived through the onslaught of christianity says, at least to me, that the old Gods, including Loki, we so admired their inclusion within the folk culture remained.
Folk Ways and Sayings–
~ Loki’s Bloom- the Dandelion flower. Any gardener will attest to this. I may as well have the Loki’s Garden sign out in my front yard.
~ Btw, did you know that in Sweden there’s an old saying, when the corn has ripened on the fields: “Loki has been busy”.
~… in Norway, among older people who still keep the old traditions they grew up with, Loki is closely linked to hearth fire. It’s an ancient tradition to sprinkle a bit of your drink, and throw small leftovers of your meal into the hearth fire for Loki. When the hearth fire crackled loudly and spit sparks it was said that Loki was spanking his children or that he was lively.
~It seems that it was a common thing in southern Norway, especially in the county of Telemark, to associate Loki with the hearth fire. It was believed that as long as you treated the fire well – like not letting it go out, and by giving it offerings of food and drink – then Loki, as the hearth fire, would be a good ally against king Bure (Lord of winter, and also Odin’s granddad), and a good friend in the kitchen.
~One custom was to give a pinch of flour to the fire as an offering, while making the traditional morning porridge, and saying: “Loki shall have his”.
~There are those who say that because there hasn’t been found any altars or shrines to Loki, that this is more “evidence” that he wasn’t worshipped or honoured in any way. I’ve come across this theory: since Loki was clearly worshipped and honoured in his aspect as the hearth fire – and there’s plenty of evidence of this in the southern parts of Norway, and certain parts of Sweden – there are no altars, because the hearth itself served that function.
~Another curious custom several places in Scandinavia:
When a child lost a milk tooth, it was thrown into the hearth fire, and something like this was said: “Loke, Loke ram – gi meg bentann for gulltann.” Ram means strong, powerful or bitter (a drink can be ram – too strong or bitter). What it means in this context is unclear – though considering that Loki as the hearth fire was considered a friend, I’d guess “strong”. Translated, the prayers goes: “Loki, Loki, strong – give me bone tooth for gold tooth”. Another version of that prayer uses the word “rang” instead of “ram”. Rang is another spelling of the word vrang, and can mean “inside out” – as in, if you put on your sweater turned inside out, you’re wearing it på rangen. It can mean crooked, as in not straight. It can also mean stubborn and difficult – but seen from another angle, it means someone who can’t be ordered around, who is strong-willed, assertive and have a mind of their own.”
~its a folklorish tradition from the finnish samer to burn the top crust of porridge in honor to a “Loke/lue” (Loki/flame).
~ the Dog Star, Sirius, is called the Lokabrenna (well known). Interestingly, arab traveler Ibn Fadlan is said to have written in around 921 A.D. of this stars worship. I am looking into obtaining the text, it recently came out again on Amazon at a fairly high price so… I cannot document this myself yet.
~ A sulphurous smell, after lightning, will-o’-the-wisp, and other airlightning, are called Lokadaun or Lokalykt [*].
~Something there also have ben very much used, are a ‘kaupaloki’, a line-figure made of paper, who should be hiden under ones left arm, this should grant luck with ones trading [*].
~Also do there exist words for special clever lies and surch, like Lokalýgi, Loka ráð, and Loka heilræði [*]
[*] Retrieved from: Loke hin Vaette
Got the text from HERE.
liefullyloki 