Germanic Paganism - Modern Influence

Modern Influence

Elements of Germanic paganism have survived for centuries after Christianisation, partly within Germanic Christianity, partly as part of secular folklore. A scholarly revival of interest in ancient Germanic traditions arose as early as the 16th century, culminating in the "Viking revival" of 19th-century Romanticism, and by means of popular works such as Wagner's Ring Cycle became part of modern-day pop culture. Germanic neopaganism in the sense of a new religious movement was influenced by Romanticism but arises later, in the early 20th century, apparently first in Germany in the years prior to World War I, but had mostly disappeared again by the end of World War II. A second, ongoing revival of Germanic religion originated in North America and in Iceland in the early 1970s.

Elements of Germanic paganism also survive within certain Germanic given names (such as Alfred "elf-counsel", or originally theophoric name such as Ingrid, Thorsten or Oswald). Traces of pagan mythology and worship are also found in toponymy. Theophoric toponyms in England include Woodway House, Wansdyke, Wednesbury and Thundersley. Scandinavia has many theophoric placenames, in particular named after Odin or after Thor.

The names of the days of the week are based on a Roman scheme, introduced in the 2nd century (first attested by Vettius Valens; the pre-Christian Germanic calendar did not have a seven-day week). However, as the Latin names were translated into early Germanic still before Christianisation, the days remain named for Germanic deities according to their interpretatio romana.