Holler – Holder of the Oath Ring; The Silent One
Holler is the Lord of Frost and King of Winter. He is a particularly primordial Norse deity, a mysterious, shadowy spirit. It’s unclear exactly where he sits on the Aesir/Vanir spectrum. Holler may be the son of Sif, the Golden-Tressed One. His father, if any, is unknown, although some suggest that he is of Frost Giant descent. Holler’s name may be related to “glory.” He seems to have been venerated throughout Scandinavia, the Germanic lands, and the British Isles. According to some myths, when Odin goes wandering, he leaves Holler in charge of Asgard.
Holler is a master archer and hunter and a brilliant skier. Holler skis through the heavens, leaving stars in his wake. He controls the Aurora Borealis. Holler is the lord of justice and dueling. Allegedly invoking his name before a duel brings good luck. When he’s not zipping over the snow on his skis, Holler travels in a ship made from bone.
Holler the Hunter has associations with death. His sacred tree, the yew, is a funerary tree, found in graveyards, not least because of its poisonous berries. Holler may have hunted with poisoned arrows. He may be married to Hulda, weather goddess of birth and death. Like her, he is now associated with the Wild Hunt. Post-Christianity, many of his functions seem to have been transferred to Saint Hubert.
ALSO KNOWN AS:
Oiler; Ull; Uller; Ullr; Vuldor
ORIGIN:
Norse
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Holler likes the ladies. Skiers love Holler, and he seems to love them right back.
Rune:
Ihwaz
Tree:
Yew. (Holler’s home is Ydalir, Yew Tree Valley.)
SEE ALSO:
- Aesir
- Hulda
- Jotun
- Odin
- Sif
- Vanir
- Wild Hunt
- Norse Mythology
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by :Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.