The Saami count this sun goddess third in order of supernatural precedence. This wonderful being, who traveled with her daughter Beiwe-Neida through the sky in an enclosure of reindeer antlers, brought back greeness to the arctic spring; she made new plants grow so that reindeer could prosper and reproduce, thereby allowing her human children to flourish.

At each solstice, her worshipers sacrificed white female animals, the meat of which was threaded onto sticks, bent into rings, and then tied with bright ribbons. When she was invoked, a special prayer was said for the insane, for it was believed that her winter absence was the cause of madness.

On the day that light first appeared in the arctic following the winter's darkness, the Saami smeared their doors with butter so that Beiwe could eat the rich food with her hot beams and begin her yearly recovery. On summer solstice, 'sun rings' - twists of leafy branches - were hung about, and butter 'sun porridge' was sacramentally eaten. Prayers were offered that the sun goddess would "pour her merciful rays over the reindeer, and everything else."

Back To Goddesses Archives
Back to Goddess of the Week

This page was last updated on - May 1997. "Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!"
Copyright © 1997Lia Wolf-Gentry A member of