The Widinga Saga - Ersatz
The Wild Hunt Idea
Widinga
Ynglinga
Widinga
Ynglinga
Look into Viking culture and find Nicknames. Names bestowed as an honor; or as a joke. Nicknames in Norse culture.
Naming is a cultural matter. Northmen:
"Many Vikings also had a nickname which was used instead of their family name. Giving a nickname was like naming a newborn baby; it created a special tie between the name-giver and name-taker. The newly named person could claim a gift from the name-giver, either a present or a favour, even if the name was derogatory, which many of them were."That from ://www.regia.org/languag.htm/
2. Families pass on stories and about who they are, how they were named, or were, or wish(ed) to be.
Look for the roots, corroboration. For example, where, if anywhere, is there a young man in the woods who saves the King on a hunt, from the charging Bear, and given an honorary name, Widing (sounds far to modern and ordinary to have ancient roots) or whatever its ancient derivation.
No luck? Here is one vaguely like it, but about a Bull instead; from the Ynglinga Saga, section 30, Of Egil and Tunne, at ://www.american-buddha.com/lit.ynglingsaga.htm: fair use quote. The King does not live long, however, and it is not just one of his men who saves him, but a group:
It happened in Sweden that an old bull, which was destined for sacrifice, was fed so high that he became dangerous to people; and when they were going to lay hold of him he escaped into the woods, became furious, and was long in the forest committing great damage to the country. King Egil was a great hunter, and often rode into the forest to chase wild animals. Once he rode out with his men to hunt in the forest. The king had traced an animal a long while, and followed it in the forest, separated from all his men. He observed at last that it was the bull, and rode up to it to kill it. The bull turned round suddenly, and the king struck him with his spear; but it tore itself out of the wound. The bull now struck his horn in the side of the horse, so that he instantly fell flat on the earth with the king. The king sprang up, and was drawing his sword, when the bull struck his horns right into the king's breast. The king's men then came up and killed the bull. The king lived but a short time, and was buried in a mound at Upsal.This is a site that mixes the old poem with summary narrative sections.
3. Stories with nicknames.
See the New Northvegr Center for northern pre-Christian history and stories, at ://www.northvegr.org/mission%20statement.html/. Reading it now.
4. The Wild Hunt.
Wild, wide, Widing. That is a stretch, because names and pronunciations change, but the idea is fun -- ghost riders in the sky stemming from Norse mythology. Johnny Cash, your source. Hear and see ://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lxn48wSiCzg/
This is a common idea, theme, fierce in the night, horses' hooves flashing sparks, see ://www.vinland.org/heathen/mt/wildhunt.html/ Wild rides with ghosts and hounds and weather to keep good folks inside.
Norse follow the wild ride pattern, see ://www.orkneyjar.com/tradition/hunt.htm/ See the Gandreich in Njal's Saga -- CXXV is cited -- the Furious Host appears. Scroll down for it at the Wild Hunt site.
The Norse Odin, the Germanic Wodan, Widing? Oh, stretch on. See ://www.timelessmyths.com/norse/way.html
5. This sounds close in concept: But is this all we can find?
We get back to Custom in this regard. That the retinue is rewarded by the Hunter. In our case, was the reward a name that referred to the king, not just a bearskin.
"Those who help the Hunter or members of his train, however, are often rewarded with gifts."
Brave Knave, saved the King, got a new name: Widing. So say our Swedes.
