Conference turris::scandia

364.0. "Saint Olaf" by 16BITS::SAVAGE (Neil @ Spit Brook) Mon Sep 18 1989 10:51

    Group soc.culture.nordic

    From: [email protected] (Paul C. Dolber)
    Subject: St. Olaf in the calendar and in art

    Bj�rn Larsen indicated that despite having lived his whole life in
    Norway he had never heard of St. Olaf's Day; Gisle Hannemyr and Dave
    Golber (not to be confused with me) subsequently noted that it was
    vaguely celebrated as Olsok on July 29th (which is indeed St. Olaf's
    Day). I had further noted that my Polish and Slovak in-laws, with whom
    my son usually spends and celebrates St. Olaf's Day, didn't get into
    the proper St. Olaf's Day spirit, which prompted Bj�rn to wonder how
    that spirit is manifested. I suppose from all this that they *do* get
    into the proper spirit, which could only be uncomprehending -- but,
    like Dave, I believe in any excuse for a party.

    Regarding St. Olaf, Susan Cohen noted that in the Stockholm Historiska
    Museet she saw several triptychs picturing St. Olaf standing on "a
    figure with the head and neck of a young boy and the trunk and limbs of
    a lion" and wondered what that might be about. I could get no answer
    from "Lives of the Saints"-type books, nor from histories of Norway,
    but finally did get what might be the answer (if dragons can look like
    lions) deep in bowels of the Divinity School library:

    Reau, L. 1958. Iconographie de l'art chretien. Tome III. Iconographie
    des saints. II. G-O. Press Universitaires de France, Paris, p. 1005.

    "Il est represente avec une couronne sur la tete, arme d'une hache de
    guerre (bipenne) ou d'une hallebarde, foulant aux pieds un dragon
    enchaine a tete humaine, symbole du paganisme vaincu."

    "Il a aussi pour attributs un echelle qu'il vit en reve ou un hanap
    (Humpen) dont l'eau se serait miraculeusement transformee en biere."

    Now, I've forgotten 99% of what French I ever knew, and lots of accents
    and carats were left out of the above since I don't know how to put
    them in, but the vital part seems to be that he is frequently pictured
    standing on a chained dragon with a human head, a symbol of vanquished
    paganism. A fitting image for St. Olaf, who converted very
    enthusiastically with the sword and battleaxe. And if I understand the
    last paragraph aright, then Dave and I would probably celebrate the
    fellow appropriately, since it says -- yes? -- that he transforms water
    into beer.

    Regards, Paul Dolber ([email protected]).                
    
    [Moderator's Note: According to information I have, the St. Olaf
    observed in Norway is Olaf II, a Norwegian king, killed in battle at
    Stikelstad, 1030 A.D.]

    Strangely enough, the place that Olsok is really celebrated as a
    national holiday is not in Norway, but in the Faroe Islands.
    
    Otherwise, it is always noted here, when Olsok comes about, but
    it is not official holiday (i.e., outdoor plays at Stiklestad, etc.)
    
    Mauritz