Also called Sol, Sunna, Sunne, Alfröðull.
Their story
Sól, daughter of Mundilfari, drives the chariot of the sun, pulled by the horses Árvakr and Alsviðr, with bellows beneath them to keep them cool. Before her is the shield Svalinn, without which the mountains and seas would burn. She is chased by the wolf Sköll, but the Vafþrúðnismál promises that before she is caught she will bear a daughter, who will ride her mother's path in the new world.
Their day
Sunday. Old English Sunnandæg, the day of the sun.
Best times to give to them
- Sundays
- sunrise
- Midsummer
- the winter solstice, when the light returns
What they like being given
- mead or golden ale, or orange juice
- sunflowers or marigolds
- honey
- golden bread
- a candle lit at dawn
How to honour them
- Greet the sun each morning with a word of thanks.
- Keep a sun wheel or a golden disc on your altar.
- Spend time in daylight with the intention of honouring her.
- Keep a sunrise vigil at Midsummer or after the winter solstice.
How they can help you
- energy and vitality
- lifting low mood in dark months
- hope and optimism
- healing
- growing plants
Symbols
- the sun wheel
- horses Árvakr and Alsviðr
- the shield Svalinn
- gold
- the Sowilo rune
Festivals
- Sigrblót (Summer Finding) The start of summer in the old Norse reckoning, often kept around the first day of summer in Iceland, the Thursday between 19 and 25 April
- Litha Summer solstice, around 21 June
- Midsummer (Miðsumar) Around the summer solstice; in Scandinavian folk custom usually Midsummer Eve, 23 June
- Yule Winter solstice, around 21 December, traditionally kept for twelve nights
More Norse beings
- Skaði Huntress of the snowy mountains
- Máni The Moon, who counts the years
- Nótt Night, mother of Day
- Dagr Day, the bright son of Night
- Jörð The Earth, mother of Thor
- Rán Mistress of the deep, who gathers the drowned
- Ægir Lord of the sea and brewer for the gods
- The Norns The weavers of fate at the well of Urðr