December: Gift-ology of Mythology
Hello Demigods, Mortals, and Monsters
‘Tis the season of giving, both the gratitude and thanks we give our friends and family as the fall comes to an end and the physical gifts we’ll share around our hearths later this month. To honor the spirit of giving, we’ve taken a moment to focus on the best Myth-gifts! A series of treasures and items of wonder given to both gods and mortals from stories in mythology.
If you’re looking for inspiration on gifts to give this season, we have fantastic selections in our Demigod Store: the Demigod Holiday Bundle, a perfect collection of items for this winter; the Gift of Camp, a golden ticket to camp this summer; and a compendium of mythological books found in our bookshop.
Best Gifts in Mythology
Viking Arm Ring, Source: The British Museum
Some of the best gifts in Norse mythology were the result of an apology. After cutting off Sif’s hair as a prank, Loki made up for it by soliciting magical gifts for the gods from the dark elves and from the dwarf brothers Brokk and Eitri. Sif was given new, brilliantly golden hair, and Thor got his hammer Mjölnir. Odin received the spear Gungnir, which never misses, and the golden arm-ring Draupnir, which multiplies itself every ninth night. In imitation of Odin, Norse leaders would give their warriors arm-rings after great battles and heroic deeds.
Māui Snaring the Sun, pen and ink drawing by Arman Manookian, circa 1927, Honolulu Academy of Arts
In various Polynesian traditions, the demigod Maui, feeling rejected by his divine kin, used his powers to give gifts to humanity. He used his magic fish hook to pull islands up from under the sea and to harpoon the sun, forcing it to slow down in the sky so that people could enjoy its warmth. He also taught his people how to make fire, made birds visible to the human eye, and pushed up the sky so it would not fall and crush the earth.
Lady of the Lake by Elinore Eaton
One of mythology’s most famous weapons was a gift: the sword Excalibur, granted to King Arthur by the Lady of the Lake. The blade was engraved with words: on one side, “Take me up,” and on the other side, “Cast me away,” indicating that upon Arthur’s death, it would have to be returned to the Lake. Less well-known is Excalibur’s scabbard, a gift from Merlin, which was enchanted so that the bearer would not shed blood. The scabbard protected Arthur through many battles, but it was stolen by his sister Morgan le Fay before his final battle at Camlann.
Gifts For You and Your Demigod
Frost Giants beware! This collection of items is the perfect panoply for adventurers and heroes of all sizes. In each designed box of the Demigod Holiday Bundle, you’ll find a handmade shiny silver sword, a cozy Medusa hoodie available in 3 colors, a tough insulated water bottle, and a unique bronze-finish laser-engraved metal bookmark. The best news of all: one lucky box will contain a golden ticket for a free week of camp!
This holiday season, we’re offering the ability to give the special young hero in your life a present that will make memories for years to come: a summer of adventure and magic. Available in our online store now, you can buy a golden ticket for one lucky demigod to unwrap this holiday — a ticket that says, “You’re going on an adventure this summer!”
Mythological Books from Around the World: the Plato Learning Bookshop
Want to travel the world this winter without leaving the couch? We’ve got a trove of mythic stories from cultures all over the globe, not to mention some great collections of multicultural myths on everything from creation stories to cautionary tales to dragon lore and much more.
Top Recs from Director of Story Alex Tissiere, son of Hephaestus:
“There has been a Poseidon-level deluge of exciting new releases this year. Speaking of dragons — Zachary Ying and the Dragon Emperor by Xiran Jay Zhao was billed as ‘Percy Jackson meets Tristan Strong,’ which is a tall order, but this modern middle grades story of ancient Chinese ghosts, demons, and dragon-water powers totally delivers on the promise (and then some). Another brand new release I can’t wait to read is The Lords of Night by J.C. Cervantes, a spinoff of the Mayan mythology-inspired Storm Runner series that is one of my all-time favorites under the ‘Riordan Presents’ label.”
