~ By Courtesy of Others ~
Edgeonga is a reconstruction of Idunna's name into Old English. Edgeonga, holder
of the apples of youth is a goddess of innocence and undying trust. She is known for her beauty and kindness
The modern English is followed by the Anglo-Saxon version.
Idunna Prayer
Idunna apple goddess ••• giver of youth to the gods,
red and gold fruit ••• apples of everlasting youth,
Shining fruit ••• half as beautiful as you,
Grows in your orchard ••• given to gods and heroes,
so they never grow old ••• so gray they never go.
Away to Thrymheim ••• Thurses did carry,
When Loki with a trick ••• lured you to the woods,
The Gods interrogated ••• tortured Loki,
So with Freya's falcon coat ••• Loki flew to Thursland,
Into a nut he made you ••• So was your lot,
When to Asgard he flew ••• Aesir goddess in hand,
Home to Asgard ••• where apples grow.
Orchard goddess ••• giver of good health,
I wassail your trees ••• I wassail your troth,
I wassail apples ••• fruit of everlasting youth!
Edgeongan Bede
Edgeongan æpples gyden ••• geifre geoguða goda,
réad ond gold wstmas ••• æpplas eallgeonges,
sceinde bléd ••• healf swa scír swa þu,
on þin ortgeard wæxð ••• æpplas goda ond hæledas,
swa eald næfre weaxð ••• græg næfre wend.
Aweg tó Þrymham ••• þyrsas bæron,
hwonne Puca mid wrenc ••• getihtde tó weald,
Godas þéagon ••• Puca wes þéowon ,
Fréon hafoces hama ••• Puca fléag tó þyrslond,
hnut macode þe ••• swa wes þin hlot,
hwonne Ésageard fléag ••• Ésegyden on hond
ham to Ésageard ••• hwær æpplas weaxð.
Ortgeardes gyden ••• giefre hæl gódes
Wesað hal þin tréowas ••• wes hal þin tréowð,
Wes hal æpplas ••• æpllas eallgeonges!
© Swain Wodening Canote
(for Hluðwiga, devoted follower of Idunna)
Swain and Teresa Wodening´s Website
Image: "Idunna", © Analemma McKee Burrows.
Stained glass original, available at
Analemma´s Glass Art.