The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-17

false religion, they named the days
in the week after some Of the more
prominent subjects of their worship
and to this day these names have
been retained though in slightly
modified form.
AS they devoted the first day of
the week ESPECIALLY to the work of the
sun, they called the day Sun doeg
or Sunday, as we have it. Their
idol, intended to personate the sun
had bust Of man, and held in out.
stretched arms fiery wheel before
his breast. The whole aspect was
very fierce, and the figure was placed
on lofty pedestal, 80 as to be seen
at a great distance.
The second day, being set apar,
for the worship Of the moon, they
called it Moons doeg, or Moon-day
now Monday. The idol by which
they represented tire moon was in
the form of a woman, with very long
ears. She was clothed in a short
dress and hood AID held the moon in
her hand.
They had also All idol named Tui-
isco, who was at first worshipcd as
the father of the Teutonic race, but
later AS the Son of the Earth. He
Was represented AS a venerable sage,
with mild countenance, and was
clothed in the skin of some amin 81
All h>ld Il sccptre in his right hand,
To this god the Saxons dedicated
the third day, calling it Tuisco doeg
which we have gradually soitened
down 20 Tuesday.
The name of the fourth Woden's
doeg. whence we derive our W ednes-
day. Wod N or Olin was the su-
prcme god oftne Norsemen, or men
of the North of whom the Saxons
were part and their MYTHOLOGY is
chiefly made up Of the wonderful
feats of this 'avorite idol. His i'm
age was Of fierce, war-like aspect
and he held huge sword in his
right hand, which was uplifted
as il ready to strike down his
foes.
Wodeh's eldest son was Thor,
who, next 10 his parents. was esteem
ed as tue greatest Of gods, both by
The S .xons and Danes. In appear
ance he is the most distinguished of
all their idols. and is represented
as seate Oh the throne, with roval
sceptre in his hanl, and his head
adorned with golden crown, iu
which are set twelve brightly gleam~
ing stars. The fifth day was deyot-
ed to his worship, and thence called
rhor's, or Thursday.
Friday, or Friga's doeg, derives
Its name from Frigs's, the wife of
Wooden and the mother of Thor.
She, like her husband and son, was a
favorite with all the Norsemen, and
the different clans Wed with each
other in making the most costly sac
rifices to her. She was represented
with sword in her right hand, and
. bow in her lert-the first for con-
qnest, second for defense,
The Saxon dedicated. the seventh
or last day of the week, to Scatter Or
Satern", calling it Seater's doeg, or
Saturday, as We now express it.
Tnis idol was shown with a lean
face and figure, his head uncovered
and his long garments girt about the
wais', thus symDolizing the binding
together of the seven days; wkile the
wheel in one hand ana the pail of
fruits and flowers in the other, are
supposed to represent, the former
the passage of time, and the latter
the result Of the weeks labor.
The names of our months we de-
rive from the Romans, who conquer
ed Great Britain very soon after the |
of the Christian era.
January is named from Janus, two
faced Roman idol. to indicate that
It points toward the old season lust
inished. and the new one just begun. !;
February was named by Eomulus,
rom Februa, the mother of Mars.
and March from Mars, the god of
var himself. April receives it's name
rom Apure, to open, because then
he earth opens her bosom TO pour
.r.h her long hidden treasu -cs. Nav
vas SO called from NJ ,io, the mother
If Mercury. and June from Juno, the
wife Of Jupiter, all favorite deilies of