Also called Kvásir.
Their story
When the Æsir and Vanir made peace, they all spat into a vat, and from that spittle they made a man, Kvasir, so wise that no one could ask him a question he could not answer. The dwarves Fjalar and Galar killed him and mixed his blood with honey, making the mead that turns whoever drinks it into a poet or scholar. The mead passed to the giant Suttungr and was won back by Odin.
Best times to give to them
- when starting homebrew or ferments
- before writing poetry
- at a peace-making
What they like being given
- a little mead, or honey and water
- a poem read aloud
- a jar of something you fermented yourself
How to honour them
- Brew or ferment something and dedicate the first taste to him.
- Answer questions from others as fully and kindly as you can.
How they can help you
- creativity
- poetry and song
- reconciliation
- answering hard questions
Symbols
- a mead vat
- the cauldron Óðrerir
- the vessels Són and Boðn
- shared spittle in a bowl
Ynglinga saga instead makes Kvasir a wise Vanir hostage; the name may be linked to words for fermented drinks.
Sources
- Prose Edda, Skáldskaparmál (the mead of poetry)
- Snorri Sturluson, Ynglinga saga 4
- Poetic Edda, Hávamál 104–110