Sunday, October 15, 2006 Cariño: Pagan conversations By Linda Grace Cariño Paradigm Shift
IT IS OVER lunch overlooking Lake Taal that my nephew Thor's name gets pronounced by Norwegian friends dear and near to me. It sounds closer to "Tour" than "Thor." And of course, since it is pronounced "Tour" by those from the name's country of origin, I figure that my family is going to have to start calling our little boy "Tour."
Biggs asks why he is named after a pagan god, even saying that at a point in time of Norway's history - after it had become Christianized - naming a child after a pagan god would have meant getting one's head cut off. Though according to Clive Cussler, the old ways prevailed even after Christendom included Norway. I am then reminded that the Vikings of Norway do have a history that includes cutting off heads as they sail throughout the world on adventures of conquest.
Lunch talk moves to Odin, Loki, and Thor's hammer, which has a name, Mjolnir. It is pronounced, in Norsk: me-yol-neer. There is discussion about Asgard and Valhalla and Freya. And Biggs wants to know how come Pinoys know so much Norse mythology. Answer from the Pinoy side: "Comics."
It's true. Growing up, Thor is a Marvel Superhero. With matching cartoon show too. "...'Cross the rainbow bridge of Asgard, where the blooming heavens roar... you'll behold the god of thunder, the god of thunder, mighty Thor!" Now we know it's "Tour," there.
And then the sun comes out over a misty Tagaytay, and there is the rush to take pictures while Taal Volcano is somewhat visible. The mist, however, does not let up. We do not get the clear day view the brochures beckon to us with. The sunset, however, is to die for.
Back on flatland, I ponder misty Taal, wondering about the myths and legends that must surely surround it. All pagan, for sure. And I note that just as Biggs earlier professes not to know a single thing about Loki, I do not know a single tale about Taal.
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