Northern mythology

278 EPITOME OF GERMAN MYTHOLOGY.
that, like Wodan, she leads the Wild Host. It is also said
that she has bristling, matted hair.
This goddess had apparently two chief festivals, one in
the twelve nights of Christmas, during which she makes
her tour; the other at Shrovetide, when she returns^.
Frau Berchta is particularly at home among the
Upper German races, in Austria, Bavaria, Swabia, Alsace,
Switzerland, also in some districts of Thuringia and Franconia.
She is even more degraded in popular stoiy than
Holda.
She also appears in the twelve nights as a female
with shaggy hair, to inspect the spinners, when fish and
porridge (Brei)- are to be eaten in honour of her,
and all
the distaffs must be spun off. She is also the queen of
the ^ Heimchen ' (little elementary spirits), who by watering
the fields rendered the soil fertile, while she ploughed
beneath the surface, and so far has claims to the character
of an earth-goddess and promoter of the fertility of the
land^.
To those who mend her chariot she gives the chips
by way of payment, which prove to be gold"^.
Between Berchta and Holle there is unquestionably a
considerable resemblance, although their identity is extremely
doubtful, as they apparently belong to different
German races. The name of Berchta (Berhta, Perahta,
Bertha) signifies resplendent^ shining, with which the Welsh
substantive berth, 'perfection, beauty, and the adjective
berth, beautiful, rich, may be compared. As this goddess
appears only in the south of Germany, it is a question
whether she did not pass from the Kelts to the German
^ Miiller, p. 122. For the Norwegian Iluldra, or Ilulla, see vol. ii.
pp. 2, 10, 15.
2 Of those who have eaten other food than her festival-dishes she rips
open the bodies, takes out the forbidden viands, stnfFs them with chatf,
and sews them up again with a ploughshare and an iron chain. Grimm,
D. S. No. 268 ; Abergl. No. 525.
3 Miiller, p. 124. ^ Grimm, D. M. p. 252.