"Thor was the god of the peasants and the common people. He was represented
as an elderly man, jovial and friendly, of heavy build, with a long white beard.
His element was fire, his color red. The rumble and roar of thunder were said to
be caused by the rolling of his chariot, for he alone among the gods never rode
on horseback, but drove in a chariot drawn by two white goats (called Cracker
and Gnasher). He was fighting the giants of ice and snow, and thus became the
Yule-god. He was said to live in the "Northland," where he had his palace among
the icebergs. By our pagan forefathers he was considered as the cheerful and
friendly god, never harming humans, but rather helping and protecting them. The
fireplace in every home was especially sacred to him, and he was said to come
down through the chimney into his element, the fire."
MYTHS OF NORTHERN LANDS (1895) H.A. Guerber
