Mother Holle is best known under her German name “Frau Holle”. She features prominently in Grimm’s fairytales. Jacob Grimm believed her to be a Germanic goddess.
Either way, Holle has deep roots in many regions, as she is known under the names Holla, Holda, Perchta, Berchta, Berta, Bertha, Vrou-Elde, Huda, Frau Venus, Hulle, Herke, and Harfer.
Holle remained a well known mythical figure in folkish belief untill the nineteenth century, mainly in Germany and the Netherlands.
Holle may be the continental equivalent of Huldra, although this cannot be said with certainty.
Holle is sometimes seen as the leader of the wild hunt, which implies some relation with Odin, who is also seen as leader of the wild hunt. Between 23 December and 5 January she judges whether or not people have been industrious. Others have associated Holle with Nerthus, a goddess described by Tacitus in his Germania.
