MEETING DETAILS
- WHEN: Fourth Saturday1 of month at 10:00 am
- WHERE: Sons of Norway Hall, 6710 North Country Homes Blvd., Spokane WA
LODGE HIGHLIGHTS
Freya Lodge now offers women of the greater Spokane, Washington area an opportunity to share their Nordic heritage. Members enjoy learning more about their Scandinavian background and encourage women in the greater Spokane area to join!
Their meetings include various Scandinavian programs such as these:
- Special Luncheons
- Hardanger Embroidery
- Nordic Heritage Sharing
- Nordic Rug Factory Tour
- Norwegian Historical Items
- Norwegian Language Classes
- Cooking Demonstrations (Rosettes)
Freya Lodge #50 Institution Ceremony, Nov. 2009
LODGE'S NAME
The lodge is named Freya (aka Freyja, Friia), the Norsk warrior goddess of fertility, love and beauty. She is mentioned in The Eddas, The Vanir, and in Heimskringla. She was considered the leader of the Valkyries and as such, those that were killed in battles. The Eddas state she was a blue-eyed, blonde beauty who was the fairest of all goddesses. She is known to be the patron goddess of crops and birth, the symbol of sensuality and all matters of love. Freya loved music, spring and flowers and fond of the elves (fairies).
It is said she had a precious necklace which she received by sleeping with four dwarfs. Also, she has is seen as wearing a cloak of bird features that allows her to change into a falcon and a chariot pulled by two cats. She owns a boar, Hildesvini used in battle (attributed as being her actual human lover Ottar in disguise). Freya lives in Folkvang where love songs are always played. Her hall is called Sessrumnir. Her palace is said to hold slain warriors who she splits up with Odin (he takes them Valhalla), and dead women go to Sessrumnir. Interestingly enough she was seen as helpful in happiness for love, assisting childbirths and good seasons. On the other hand, she was also associated with such things as death and battle in addition to magic, prophecy and wealth.
Her name is also mentioned in Heimskringla, where it is said she was a mythological Princess of Sweden who was the daughter of Njord (Njörðr), the sister of Freyr, and the twin of Yngve. Freya is said to have married another god Od (thought to be another form of Odin). It is said when she mourned his lost, she shed tears that turned into gold.
- 1 Lodge may not hold meetings in July and August.
