The Differences Between Germanic and Nordic Paganism

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Welcome to The Wisdom of Odin! I’m Jacob Toddson, and I created this channel to explore ancient wisdom and spiritual practices from around the world. My journey began with Norse Paganism, and now I travel globally, uncovering knowledge on historical religions, shamanism, plant medicines, and various spiritual paths. Together, we explore how these ancient teachings can inspire and guide us toward a more balanced and meaningful future.

On this channel, I aim to foster unity and understanding across spiritual traditions, beyond boundaries of race, sexuality, gender, or politics. You’ll find an inclusive, open-minded space free from divisive content, drama, and bias. Join me as we discover and share the timeless wisdom that can heal and uplift us all.

[samuellassman]

The weird part with saying germanic paganism is that scandinavia is also germanic people. Germanic, not German.

[jonhalvorson]

I have also found Christian laws seem to be a good source on Pagan rituals. In banning them they actually preserved some information which is funny.

[janosch]

Maybe it would be better to use the terms South Germanic and North Germanic instead of Nordic and Germanic when speaking of religion? Because the term Germanic is meant to include all that is Germanic, which includes Nordic.
9:28 Tyr is called Ziu/Zio in the south, and is pronounced the same (as "Tsee-oo" or "Zee-oo"). For the (continental) Saxons it is said that Tyr's (or Freyr's) place was taken by Saxnot, for the Anglo-Saxons that's Seaxneat.
1:00 lol... 🤭

[Fulkvidr]

The nordic mythology is the northern branch of the germanic mythology. This video should have been called The Differences Between west germanic and north germanic paganism. Wodan and Odin are the west and north germanic names for the same god (proto germanic wodanaz), as are Donar/Þunor and Thor. Ti(modern swedish)/Tyr(old norse) are north germanic names for the proto germanic god Tiwaz, Tiw and Ziu in old english and old high german respectively. It is also worth remembering that Adam of Bremen described a fairly late version of nordic paganism. In earlier nordic paganism worshiping was also done outside in places called Vi, still found in many placenames around sweden like Odensvi (Odin´s place of worshipp), Ullevi (Ull´s place of worship) and Frösvi (Frey´s place of worship). West germanic paganism died fairly early compared to north germanic paganism due to the spread of christianity, so comparing the two should be done at a time when both where widly practiced.

[dracodistortion]

some important info:

the ancient people who lived in Scandinavia and Germany after the ice age were not Germanic nor worshipped Germanic gods. That didn't happen until the Indo-Europeans invaded from the Eurasian steppes and conquered different cultures, picking up different traditions and mixing those with their pre-existing traditions in different ways. Germanic people formed from Indo-Europeans mixing with the Northern European natives mixed their traditions and religions... this is where the Vanir gods are from is the native Europeans. Then what happened is Germanic peoples developed their own traditions, into East Germanic (Goths, Vandals, Alans), West Germanic (Alemanni, Franks) and North Germanic (Nordic, Saxon, Jutish, etc). With this, the proto-Germanic faith also split into local variants.

As for Thor, Donar and Perun... they all originate from the same god, as do Taranis, Perkunas, Hercules, Zeus and many others. The Indo-European god Perkwunos, a chariot-riding axe-wielding storm god and dragon-slayer.

The YouTube channel Survive the Jive has great videos on it.


Simply put: Nordic people and Nordic Paganism are Germanic, but Germanic paganism isn't Nordic. Germanic Paganism split into Nordic, Anglo, Saxon, Jutish, Gothic, Vandalic, etc. and those are what stuck. Those are all Germanic but Germanic Paganism itself is the faith of the common ancestor culture of them all.

[meep]

as someone who’s tried to study the differences between these two but failed, i really appreciate this video thanks man

[nagamata]

Hey man, just wanted to say great job! Most videos which talk of history are just faceless voices with pictures of artifacts, but I like how you show yourself speaking on location, and your delivery flows confidently and conversationally. Kudos, keep it up.

[Checkyoursix]

What many people fail to understand is that the Germanic tribes originated from Scandinavia. The Germanic culture derived from the culture of the Nordic Bronze Age. The Germanic tribes started to leave Scandinavia during the pre Roman Iron Age. They were newcomers to continental Europe when they first encountered the Romans.

[veronicajensen]

Danes and other Scandinavians were/are also Germanic people

[saliamae]

Aaww…as a german I love that you have visited here and I feel honoured that you took the time to get to know our pagan history ❤🎉

[simon_magusad]

Just a small tip for writing words like "Löwenmensch" containing an "ö". If you can´t easily spell an "ö" you can just replace it with an "oe" in german (same goes for ä - ae and ü -ue) It is a little old fashioned but grammatically correct and quite readible. Sorry for playing grammar nazi but seeing "ö" replaced with "o" just hurts my heart.

[Itsmemanthesnk]

If by any chance you visit Norway, I would suggest Tonsberg. It's the oldest city, built in the 9th century under the command of the first King of Norway, Harald Fairhair.

[charlieb]

It's germanic paganism. All is germanic. Not two different things sandwiched together. Same source germanic.

[hayleywood]

That sequence of waiting for the bells to end had me in stitches 😂

Really interesting video :) x

[tanuha]

But nordic is also germanic (except Finnland)
Difference between north and west germanic pagarism:
The north had Odin and the west had Wotan (or Wodan).

Related to Late Proto-Germanic *wōdaz (“rage, manic inspiration”). From Pre-Germanic *Wātónos, from Pre-Germanic *Wātós (“rage, manic inspiration, furor poeticus”), in turn from Proto-Indo-European *weh₂t- (“to be excited”). Compare Old Norse óðr (“rage”), Dutch woede (“rage”) and woeden (“to rage”), Latin vātēs.

[beastmode]

“What do you think happened to him” lmao Iv never laughed harder!!!! 😂😂😂

[molotulo]

I always say that the true era of the Gods and Goddess of Asgard is yet to come. We Germanic/Nordic Pagans don't have a holy text because it is to be written in the future. As more people return to the Gods and Goddess of their Ancestors, their praise is waking up the Gods and Goddess, because They are hearing our voices and if any Gods or Goddess have no worshipers, They have no reason to interact with Us. I am Asatru because I had an intense encounter with Odin. I have seen the results of my worship to Ullr and Idunna. When, if it hasn't happened already, learn your faith and pray to Them and you will have a moving interaction with the Gods and Goddess. I became an atheist at 12 years old but found the Gods at 57. It was such a moving event and interaction with The Allfather that I am now extremely Religious. Keep the Faith Everyone and Praise to the Gods and Goddess of Asgard!

[NordGermanicEmpire]

North Germanic peoples, commonly called Scandinavians, [1] Nordic peoples[2] and in a medieval context Norsemen, [1] are a Germanic ethnolinguistic group of the Nordic countries.[3] They are identified by their cultural similarities, common ancestry and common use of the Proto-Norse language from around 200 AD, a language that around 800 AD became the Old Norse language, which in turn later became the North Germanic languages of today.

[stormstrider]

The Gernanic and Nordic cultures are basically the same. The real difference is between North Germanic and South Germanic cultures. They were both shaped by their environment, and interraction with other cultures. The languages were similar, and so were their myths. The main difference was the ancient Germans lived in fortified cities surrounded by vast forests, fighting the Romans and each other. The Norsemen were cut off from mainland Europe by the Baltic Sea, and made their living fighting amongst themselves, and selling furs and tar to the Baltic tribes in exchange for amber, which they then sold to both the Germans and the Romans.

[andrewivarson]

Keep living the dream brother. You're doing a great job making this easier to follow and understand. Thanks man.