Holda

Alternative:Holle, Frau Holle, Hulda Pronunciation: Hool-dah
A goddess known through German folklore, her name means “the Gracious One”. She has much in common with Frigga, being the patroness of spinners and the keeper of social order, especially enforcing taboos about working on holy days. She is also said to be the keeper of the souls of young children, and women who want to bear children ask for them at her well. Holda also appears at times as the leader of the Wild Hunt. According to one tale, it was she who taught humans how to plant and process flax. When it snows, Holda is supposed to be shaking out her feather-bed. Hulda – Despite the ill treatment we see of the Goddess in later legends (which often depicts her as cruel, ugly / physically deformed or malicious), Holda is in fact a kindly, gracious and helpful Goddess -as indicated by the root meaning of her name (OHG hold: inclined, devoted, gracious, kind). This name is a later derivative of Holda