Sumarr and Vetr


In Norse mythology, Sumarr and Vetr are personified seasons. Sumarr and Vetr, personified, are attested in the Poetic Edda, compiled in the 13th century from earlier traditional sources, and the Prose Edda, written in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. In both, the two are given genealogies, while in the Prose Edda the two figure into a number of kennings used by various skalds.

Attestations

''Poetic Edda''

In the stanza 26 of the Poetic Edda poem Vafþrúðnismál, the god Odin asks the jötunn Vafþrúðnir from where warm Sumarr and Vetr come from, stating that they arrived "first among the Wise powers". In stanza 27, Vafþrúðnir responds:


The second half of this stanza is missing from early manuscripts, but some later manuscripts feature the addition of:

''Prose Edda''

In chapter 19 of the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning, Gangleri asks why there's an evident difference between summer and winter. The enthroned figure of High responds, and states that the father of Sumarr is Svásuðr, who is quite pleasant, while the father of Vetr is referred to as Vindsvalr or, alternately, Vindljóni, and that Vetr derives his countenance from his ancestors, as they are "cruel and cold-hearted kinsmen".
Sumarr and Vetr are additionally personified in the Prose Edda book Skáldskaparmál, where they are referred to in kennings. Kennings for Sumarr are given in chapter 30, including "son of Svásuðr", "comfort of the snakes", "growth of men", exemplified in an excerpt given from a work by the skald Egill Skallagrímsson where "Valley-fish's mercy" points to "Snake's mercy", which signifies "Summer". Kennings are given for Vetr in chapter 26; "Son of Vindsvalr", "snake's death", and "storm season". Excerpts of works by the skalds Ormr Steinþórsson and Ásgrímr are then given as examples. Both Sumarr and Vetr are given as terms for "times" in chapter 63.