Home > Myths and Legends of the World > Balder

In Norsereferring to the people and culture of Scandinavia: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Iceland mythology, Balder (or Baldur) was the son of Odin, king of the gods, and of Odin's wife, Frigg. Balder was the most beautiful of the gods and the one most beloved by Odin. As a youth, he led a happy life and eventually married Nanna. Soon, however, Balder began to suffer from terrible dreams that threatened him with death. Fearing for his safety, Frigg asked everything in creation, whether living or not—including animals, birds, stones, wood, and metal—to take an oath not to hurt Balder. There was only one thing that she did not ask to make such a promise: the mistletoe plant. Frigg thought that the mistletoe was too young to take an oath.

After everyone and everything had taken Frigg's oath, the gods would amuse themselves by throwing things at Balder because they knew...