Are there any Norse pagans left?

The religion of the original Viking settlers of Iceland, the old Norse paganism Ásatrú, is not just still alive and well in Iceland, it is undergoing something of a renaissance.

Is Norse Paganism Asatru?

The name comes from two words in a language called Old Norse. It means “faith in the Æsir.” The Æsir are the Germanic gods. A person who practices Asatru is called an Asatrui (pl. Asatruar), and is sometimes referred to as a heathen….Festivals.

Is Asatru the same as Norse mythology?

Another name for the religion is the Icelandic Ásatrú, which translates as “Æsir belief”—the Æsir being a sub-set of deities in Norse mythology. This is more commonly rendered as Asatru in North America, with practitioners being known as Asatruar.

Do Asatru believe in Valhalla?

The Asatru believe that those who killed in battle are escorted to Valhalla by Freyja and her Valkyries. Some traditions of Asatruar believe that those who have lived a dishonorable or immoral life go to Hifhel, a place of torment.

What is Norse paganism called?

Old Norse Religion, also known as Norse Paganism, is the most common name for a branch of Germanic religion which developed during the Proto-Norse period, when the North Germanic peoples separated into a distinct branch of the Germanic peoples.

Are there any Asatru?

Rich symbolism. Today the Asatru has close to 3,000 members and is one of the fastest growing religions in Iceland. Its principles are non-authoritarian and decentralised, with no sacred text or official founder. Its philosophy promotes tolerance and individual liberty.

When did Asatru end?

McNallen was one of the earliest advocates in the United States of reconstructing Germanic Paganism. The Viking Brotherhood evolved into the Asatru Free Assembly in 1974, and was disbanded in 1986, splitting into two successor organizations, the “folkish” Ásatrú Alliance, and the “universalist” Troth.