Also called Nanna Nepsdóttir.
Their story
Nanna is the daughter of Nepr and wife of Baldr, and mother of Forseti. When Baldr was laid on his ship Hringhorni, Nanna's heart broke with grief and she died, and was placed on the pyre beside him. When Hermóðr rode to Hel to plead for Baldr, Nanna sent Frigg a linen robe and other gifts, and Fulla a gold ring.
Best times to give to them
- at a funeral or memorial
- anniversaries of a loss
- midsummer
What they like being given
- a linen or cotton cloth
- flowers for the dead
- a letter to a loved one who has died
How to honour them
- Light a candle for a partner or spouse who has died and speak to them.
- Send a small gift to someone in grief.
How they can help you
- grief
- faithful love
- keeping bonds across death
Symbols
- a linen robe
- a finger-ring
- a funeral ship
Saxo tells a very different version in which Nanna is wooed by both Balderus and Hotherus.
Sources
- Prose Edda, Gylfaginning 49
- Saxo Grammaticus, Gesta Danorum, Book 3
More Norse goddesses
- Frigg Queen of Asgard, keeper of the hearth
- Sif The golden-haired, wife of Thor
- Freyja The Lady, mistress of seiðr and love
- Iðunn Keeper of the apples of youth
- Hel Keeper of the realm of the dead
- Eir The best of physicians
- Sága Keeper of stories, who drinks with Odin
- Gefjon The giving one, ploughwoman of Zealand