Wednesday-the Day of Woden

The names of some of our ancient Gods are reflected in the days of the week. Today I would like to focus on Wednesday, a day devoted to our All-Father Woden. His name is to be found in this day in most Germanic languages. The Proto-Germanic term for Wednesday has been reconstructed as *Wodanesdag. Old English: Wodnesdaeg. Middle English: Wednesdei. Old High German: Wodnesdaeg. Old Low German: Wodansdach. Middle Low German: Wodensdach. Old Frisian: Wednesdei/Wensdei/Wemsdei. Middle Dutch: Woensdag. Modern Dutch: Woensdag. Old Norse: Othinsdagr. Modern Danish: Onsdag. Modern Swedish: Onsdag. Modern Norwegian: Onsdag. It is interesting to note the similarity between the pronunciation of Modern English Wednesday and Old Frisian Wensdei and their development from Wodnesdaeg and Wednesdei respectively. Too often we ignore the influence of the Netherlandic/Frisian language and tribes on the formation of Anglo-Saxon England. In Modern German Wednesday is Mittwoch[`mid-week`] and this appears to be out of step with all other Germanic languages apart from the Modern Icelandic Mithvikudagur[`mid-week`]. The cult of Woden was known throughout most of Germany, having spread from the Saxons in the north. `Gardenstone` in his The Mercury-Woden Complex attempts to make a case for denying the existence of the cult south of the Harz mountains. I am not particularly convinced by his arguments although I will keep an open mind. Clearly the replacement of Wodnesdaeg in Germany with Mittwoch] was an attempt by the christian clergy to eradicate all knowledge and memory of the All-Father, more so than our other deities. As Old Icelandic is derived from Old Norse I must assume the same attempt to eradicate All-Father`s memory as there is no reason why Othinsdagr should be substituted for Mithvikudagur except on religious grounds. I understand that certain christian sects such as the quakers substitute Wednesday for `fourth day` so as not speak Woden`s name. This clearly demonstrates the christian mentality and if this should be happening today in 2012 then think how much more this kind of thinking was prevalent over 1000 years ago! So the next time you say Wednesday reflect on our High God Woden!