~ FAQ ~

What is Norse Heathenism / Heathenry / Asatru, anyway ?

Asatru is a reconstructed religion rooting in the beliefs of  the pre-Christian Scandinavian peoples (Norway, Sweden, Denmark) and the continental Germanic tribes.

The Icelandic word "Asatru" means "Faith in the Aesir" (and the Vanir), two families of deities who are best known as the gods and goddesses of the old Norse legends. Because the old Norse legends provide the best knowledge of them, we usually refer to them by their old Norse names: Odin, Thor, Freya, Freyr, Tyr, and so on. 
The continentals had similar names for them: Wodan, Donar, Friia, Frey, Ziu etc. 
Traces remain in modern English: Tuesday means Ziu´s/Tyr's day, Wednesday = Wodan´s day, Thursday = Thor's day, and Friday = either Frigg's day or Freyja's day (scholars debate which).

Heathens often form local groups for the same reasons that people of other religions come together. These groups are sometimes called Hearths, or Kindreds, or other names. However, many heathens live too far away from any of their coreligionists to be able to join such a group, or they choose to practice solitary.

That much being rather general, most other details vary from group to group and from believer to believer. So if you want to see it through someone else´s eyes, have a look at e.g.

Ingeborg´s unofficial Asatru FAQ 

Erich's Definition of Ásatrú

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