Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1878-08-22

ORsuS or ThE NAMES OF DAYs.-A
The idols which our Saxon ancesiuFs
wor,hiped, and from which the days Of
the week derive their names. were va.
rious, and were the principal objects Of
their alteration.
The Idol of hs Sun.-This idol,
which represents the glorious luminary
Of the day, was the ehiei object OF their
worship. II is described like the bust
Of a man, set upon pillcws holding with
ousstrelched arms burning wheel be-
fore his breast. The first day. Of the
week was especially dedicated to its
alteration, which they termed the Strn's
Daeg; hence y derived the word SuF@
day.
7as Eiof of iks .Afoon.--1'he nexl was
the idol Of the moon, which they woF-
shipped on the second day Of the week,
called BY them Moons Daeg; and since
by us Monday. The form OF this idol Is
intended to represent woman, liabited
in short coat and a hood, with too
long cars. The moon is held in her
hands.
The Idol of Twisro.-Tuisco was at
first defined rs the father and ruler Of
the Teulonic race, but in course OF time
he was worshiped as the son OF the
earth. From this came the Saxon words,
TEiseo's Daeg; which we call Tuesday.
lie is represented rs a venerable sage,
standing on pedestal clothed in the
skin Of an animal, and holding a scep-
ter in has right hand.
The Idol Of Wooden or 0ien.-Woden
or Odin was one Of the supreme divinl.
ties Of the northern nations. This hero
is supposed to have emigrated from the
east, but from what country, or at what
time is not known. His exploits form
the greater part the mythological creed
OF the northern nations, and his achieve.
ments are magnificent beyond all cred
ibiliiy. The name of the fourth day in
the week, called by the Saxons WOdeR's
Daeg, and by us Wednesday, is deriS ed
from this parsonage. Wooden is repre-
sented in a bold and martial attitude
clad in armor, with broadsword upliil.
ed in his right hand.
The Idol THor.-Thor, the oldest and
bravest of the sons oil Wooden and Friga
was, after his parents, considered The
greatest god OF the Saxons and Danes.
To him the fifth day ofthe week, called by
them ThOr's Ddeg, aud by US Thursday,
was consecratcd. Thor is represented
as sitting on throne, with a crown OF
gold on his head, adorned with a circle
in front, wherein were set twelve
bright, buraished gold stars, and with a
regal scepter in his right hand.
The Idol Fri9G or frega.--FFiga or
Frega was lhe wife OF Wooden OF Odin:
and next TO him, the most reverend di-
vinitY among heather Saxons, Danes
and other northern nations. In The
most ancient times Friga or Frega, wus
the same with the goddess Hcrtha or
Earth. To her the sixth day Of the
week was consecraied. winch by thu
Saxons was written FJiga'S DGeg cor
responding with cur Friday. Fnga is
represented with 4 drawn sword in her
right hand. and bow in her left.
The MOL Seater,-The idol Scatter il
represented on pedestal whereon il
placed perch, on the sharp pricklcd
back of which he stood. His head was
uncovered, and his visage lean. In bis
left hard he held up a wheel and in his
right was pail of water, wherein wers
flowers and fruits: and his dress conSis-
ted Of long coat, grIded with linin.-.
The appellaLion given TO the day Of his
celebration is still retained. The Saxons
named it Seater's Daeg. which we call
Saturday.