Many pre-Christian societies paid homage to a variety of
hearth gods. These hearth gods were thought to bestow good fortune to
the household. These gods were often times dressed in red and traveled
down the chimney to bless the houses of the people that they were
pleased with but were thought to perform mischief if they were angry
with the inhabitants of the household. The people would leave offerings
such as food and drink on the edge of the hearth or mantle place in
order to appease the gods and prevent them from becoming angry with the
members of the household. These red clad hearth gods are still
worshipped in many Asian societies and may have been the origin of the
folklore associated with our modern-day Santa Claus.
Members of ancient tribes thought that fire had tremendous powers. Fire
gave ancient peoples warmth and protection from inclement weather, heat
in which to cook their food and light to illuminate the darkness of
night. The spirits of fire gods are believed to inhabit the wood that
is used to start the fires of the hearth and home. You may wish to
dedicate your kitchen practices and activities to one or more of these
gods and goddesses of the hearth, fire and household.
Kitchen Gods and Goddesses
- Agni - Indian fire god and god of the home and hearth.
- Atar - Zoroastrian god of celestial and terrestrial fire.
- Ayabba - Africa goddess of the hearth.
- Bast - Egyptian cat-headed goddess, goddess of the flame and fire.
- Brigit - Celtic fertility goddess and goddess of the hearth, fire, healing, poetry and wisdom.
- Chantico - Aztec goddess of hearth fires and volcano fires.
- Chiconahui - Aztec goddess of the hearth and guardian of the household.
- Chu Jung - Chinese god of fire.
- Gibil - Babylonian god of fire.
- Ephesus - Greek god of fire and volcanoes.
- Hestia - Greek goddess of the hearth, fire and family life.
- Hyang Api - Indonesian god of fire.
- Hyang Kehen - Indonesian god of the hearth.
- Kagutsuchi - Japanese fire god.
- Kiyoshikojin Seichoji - Japanese god of the cooking stove.
- Loki - Norse god of the hearth, fire and lightning. Also known as the trickster god.
- Ong Tao - Asian god of the hearth, stove and household.
- Pele - Hawaiian fire goddess, goddess of volcanoes.
- Prometheus - Greek Titan, he stole fire from the gods and presented this gift to humans.
- Sanpo Kojin - Japanese god of the hearth.
- Tsao Wang - Chinese god of the hearth and family.
- Ut - Siberian goddess of the hearth.
- Vesta - Roman goddess of the hearth and eternal fires.
- Vulcan - Roman god of fire and volcanoes.
- Xiuhtecuhtli - Aztec fire god.
Take care,
The Backyard Diva
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