Modern Adaptations of the Lore: The Marriage of Skaði

One of the groups that I am a part of challenged people to write the story of the marriage of Skaði, but wrong answers only. Naturally, many rose to the challenge. There were a number of witty results, and many that were well thought out. It was requested that I write a longer version of mine because it was quite enjoyable, so I will do that here. First, however, I wanted to talk about storytelling and how our Lore changes over time with different tellings. 

Historically, there were many versions of a story. They would vary each time they were told depending on the Skald and the audience and what was being conveyed through the retelling. You could hear a story 100 times and each time it would be different. Part of this was your life experience, and part of it was what the Skald was trying to say through the story. When our Lore was written down often it was taken from multiple versions of the oral story, and mixed with the biases of the person who recorded it. Since then the bias of each copyest or translator has changed the story further. 

In this way, the first telling of a story could look entirely different from the modern version(s) of the same story. Often elements are completely omitted or replaced. For this reason, the stories reflect the times, and as modern Heathens we should think about how the Lore serves us in the modern world. It is great to reconstruct our religion, as long as it is beneficial to us in our modern lives. With that in mind, what stories might you retell differently to reflect modern times? What messages might be important for our communities to convey?

While you wrestle with that, enjoy this “wrong” version of the marriage of Skaði:

After Þjazi’s death, his daughter Skaði began to wonder what had become of him, until word reached her hall high in the mountains about his gruesome fate. Enraged, she put on her skis and traversed down the mountain to Asgard. There she stormed into the hall of Óðinn, where she found many of the Æsir seated in feast. She had with her both bow and sword, ready to exact revenge, but the Gods offered her gold to ease her suffering. She would not accept but proposed a counter offer, she wanted the Æsir to make her laugh, and she wanted to marry so that the loneliness of her father’s absence was eased. 

The Gods tried many things to make Skaði laugh but were not successful, until finally Loki took a rope and tied one end to a goat and the other end to his testicles. The tug-o-war that ensued made even the stoic Skaði chuckle. 

The Æsir were less thrilled with Skaði wanting a marriage, and so they said that she could have a husband if she chose him by his feet only. However, Skaði had other ideas. The Æsir were trying to act like they were better than her, but she would show them! Her counter proposal was that she would marry whoever could beat her in 3 competitions. Archery, Riddles, and Mountain Climbing. The Æsir liked a good contest, so they agreed.

Ullr was a good archer, and a fair hand at mountain climbing, but he didn’t have a head for riddles. 

Óðinn was excellent at riddles, and also fairly good at mountain climbing, but less steady with a bow.

Freyr was an excellent archer, but could not compete with Skaði in the other categories.

Þórr wasn’t great with a bow, or with riddles. When he tried to mountain climb his grip was too strong and the mountain crumbled away beneath him.

Loki was a good archer, and had a clever tongue, but the mountain defeated him.

Njörðr hated the mountains, and was terrible with a bow. His riddles were all pretty good but all had to do with the sea. 

It seemed like no one could beat Skaði in her contests. She smiled to herself. No man was a match for her! And secretly this pleased her.

The Æsir were distressed, because how could they repay her if no one could beat her challenge?

It was then that a cloaked figure stepped forward, holding a bow. 

“And who might you be?” Skaði asked.

But the figure just shook their head and did not answer. They raised their bow and their arrow flew true, right into the center of the target. 

Skaði too raised her bow, and shot an arrow clean through the arrow already lodged in the target’s center. 

The mystery contestant raised their bow and shot a second arrow through Skaði’s arrow. It continued like this until both competitors were out of arrows.

Next, they set out to climb the mountain and both Skaði and the mystery contestant were once again equally matched.

Last it was riddles. Skaði started “I am unexpected, ferocious, cold, dreadful, bitter, violent and terrible, for when I come I can ruin your plans. What am I?”

The figure paused for a moment, and then in an affected raspy voice responded, “A blizzard.”

Skaði was surprised, but waited for this contestant to take their turn. 

“Spirited, I dance bright,

Banishing all but darkest night.

Give me food and I will live;

Give me water and I will die.

What am I?”

Skaði frowned slightly and thought it over. Finally she responded, “Fire.”

The figure nodded solemnly.

They were evenly matched once again. Skaði said, “This cannot be. No man could better me.”

“It is good then,” said the figure, “That I am no man.” and with that she threw back her feathered cloak to reveal that she was Freyja.

Skaði gaped a little, but slowly a smile spread across her face. The beautiful Goddess was definitely her equal, “Then we shall be married.” she proclaimed.

There was some muttering among the Æsir, who were reluctant to give up their prized Freyja, but the debt must be paid, so the marriage went forward.

Skaði and Freyja were seen riding together in Fólkvangr in the summer, hunting in the forest nearby. In the winter they scaled the icy slopes near Thrymheim and skiing down together, laughing. They were truly happy, the shiny brides of the Æsir. 

The important part of adapting stories is leaving in the key elements while changing other details to make the story more relevant. To me, that Skaði married Njörðr did not seem necessary to the greater body of Lore, and adding a feminist twist to make up for how much the Goddesses have been written out of the Lore seemed like a powerful alternative. This story has more meaning for modern Heathens and still keeps many of the original elements. It also alludes to the nature of the Gods, keeping with what we know of their natures from other stories. No one does something you wouldn't expect that they might do.

What stories would you retell in your communities and why?

Image Source:

"Historia de gentibus septentrionalibus" by Olaus Magnus, 1555.