Frouwasege un Grumbieredaag

Ebbes Griene, Ebbes Schwatze


Ebbes Weisse fer Ihre Katze.


Backt mer Datsch am Frouwesdaag,
*

Strae die Grimmle wu Sie mag,


Vum Eck zum Eck am Gaarderanft,


So wachse die Greider uff ‘s Land


Something Green, Something Black


Something white for Her cats,


One bakes Datsch on Frouwe’s Day,*


Scatter the crumbs where She wishes.


From corner to corner along the garden’s edge,


So the plants grow on the land.

Frouwasege/Grumbierdaag altar with Datsch bread

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Hallicher Grumbieredaag!

Happy Potato Day!

Hallicher Frouwasege! 

Happy Frouwa/Freya Sege/Blót!

Aspects of the goddess Frouwa (cognate of Freya) are believed to have been retained (accidentally) in the lore of the Church in the form of St. Gertrude of Nivelles and "Fraa Trudi," who shares some similar attributes of Frouwa. 

Ironically, it was Protestant and Plain sectarian churches that kept the lore most active upon arrival here in Pennsylvania. Today opens the planting season for hardy items, such as potatoes, cabbage, and spring onions. 

Urglaawe observes this day in the context of Frouwa rather than St. Gertrude. In either case, though, this is a distinctly Deitsch/Pennsylvania Dutch observance in form and function.

Frouwasege is also an observance of the sacredness of cats. Give your cats treats (tradition is something white in color, but any will do) and to leave some for Frouwa's cats and strays. Indeed, the barn cat plays a significant role in the success of the farm by controlling the population of the vermin that can destroy or consume the crops.

We also have rituals associated with specific land spirits today. The ritual program is available here on www.urglaawe.net.

If you plant today, be sure to honor the soil before using the shovel. Next year, we will put this rite into the program in a more pronounced way.

Heele zu der Frouwa!

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* In the original poem by Amanda Baer Stoudt, the spelling of some words was different. For the Urglaawe context, we have replaced references to Trudisdaag and St. Gertrude with references to Frouwa.