Also called Víðarr, the Silent God.
Their story
Vidar is a son of Odin and the giantess Gríðr, second only to Thor in strength and a god the others rely on in hard straits. At Ragnarök, when Fenrir swallows Odin, Vidar sets his foot in the wolf's lower jaw and tears the jaws apart, or in the Poetic Edda stabs it to the heart. His shoe is made from all the scraps people cut from the toes and heels of their shoes. He survives the end of the world and dwells in the renewed land.
Best times to give to them
- in times of quiet resolve
- after a loss
- the turning of the year
What they like being given
- leather offcuts or scraps saved over time, after his shoe
- a period of kept silence
- plain water or dark ale, or apple juice
- bread left in a quiet corner
How to honour them
- Sit in silence for a few minutes and dedicate it to him.
- Save a small scrap of leather or cloth for him, as the tales say people once did for his shoe.
- Finish a long, patient task and offer the effort to him.
How they can help you
- patience
- quiet determination
- recovering after a heavy blow
- standing firm
Symbols
- a thick shoe
- a wolf's jaws
- thickets and tall grass
His title "the silent god" comes from Snorri; little else about his worship is known.
Sources
- Prose Edda, Gylfaginning 29 and 51
- Poetic Edda, Vafþrúðnismál 53
- Poetic Edda, Völuspá
- Poetic Edda, Grímnismál 17
More Norse gods
- Odin The Allfather, seeker of wisdom
- Thor The Thunderer, protector of gods and people
- Freyr Lord of the harvest, giver of peace and plenty
- Njörðr Lord of the harbour, the wind and the sea
- Tyr The one-handed god of justice and oaths
- Heimdall Watchman of the gods at the rainbow bridge
- Baldr The shining one, beloved of all
- Bragi God of poetry, skald of Valhalla