Baldr

Baldr was the god of light, beauty, truth, justice and purity, he was so bright that he shined of himself.
He was the son of Odin and Frigg, twinbrother of the blind god Hödur and brother of Hermod.
With his wife Nanna, he was the father of Forseti (god of justice).
His hall called Breidablik ("Wide-Shining" or "Broad Splendor").
Baldr was the most beautiful and most liked god.

In Baldrs Draumar, Baldr had baleful dreams, therefore Odin, his father, rode down to Helheim and asked a dead Volva for advice. She then told him that Baldr has to die and that Vali will take vengence for his brother's death.
Being anxious about the life of her son, Frigg made all gods, living beings, plants and stones, vow to do him no harm (but forgot the mistletoe). Loki, who knew that, made an arrow with the branches of the mistletoe and gave it to Baldr's blind twinbrother Hödur, who then killed his brother (unknowingly).
After Baldr's death, Nanna died of her broken heart.
Baldr, Nanna and his horse were burned on the ship Hringorni (or Ringhorn).
When Baldr was burned, Hermod went on Sleipnir's back to Helheim and asked Hel, goddess of the dead, for Baldr's life.
Hel gave her consent, the only condition was, that everything and everyone had to cry for the god.
Hermod failled, becouse of one giantess called Thokk, that didn't cryied. This giantess was Loki.

Baldr gave Hermod Odin's ring Draupnir and Nanna sent Frigg a linen smock and to Fulla a golden finger-ring.
Baldr's death was the beginning of the Fimbulvetr.
After Ragnarok Baldr will be reborn and rule in a new pure world.

The Anglo Saxon version of this story goes as follows: Balder and Hother are rivals, both of them is wooing Nanna. Hother, who had a magic sword (the only weapon which was able to harm Balder) killed finally the fair god.
Baldr or Bældæg was also connected with the germanic goddess Bertha (= "Bright Goddess").
Dólgr Haðar ("Adversary of Hödr"), Heljar Sinni ("Companion of Hel") and Gráta-Goð ("God of Tears") were titles of the fair god.

The rune "Sowilo" was dedicated to the god Baldr.
According to Snorri, he had a son named Brandr (Prose Edda: Prologue). In the Anglo-Saxon tradition Brandr was named Brond.

Old Norse: Baldr
Anglo-Saxon: Bealdor/Baldor, Bældæg/Beldegg
Old High German: Palter
Gothic: Baldrs
Meaning: ON. “The Best” or “Foremost”; AS. Bældæg means “White-God” or “Light-God”, Bald ro Beald = “Bold”

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