Myths of the Norsemen: From the Eddas and Sagas

“On to the Brocken the witches are flocking—

Merry meet—merry part—how they gallop and drive,

Yellow stubble and stalk are rocking,

And young green corn is merry alive,

With the shapes and shadows swimming by.

To the highest heights they fly,

Where Sir Urian sits on high—

Throughout and about,

With clamour and shout,

Drives the maddening rout,

Over stock, over stone;

Shriek, laughter, and moan,

Before them are blown.”

As the swallow, cuckoo, and cat were held sacred to Freya in heathen times, these creatures were supposed to have demoniacal attributes, and to this day witches are always depicted with coal-black cats beside them.