Sif is counted among the Æsir and is attested to in the Poetic Edda, Prose Edda, and in Skaldic poetry. Her sphere of influence overlaps at times with her sister-in-law Frigga, but she stands on her own as one of the Asynjur—a major goddess of Ásgard. She is iconic for her sublimely beautiful, long golden hair.

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Her name means “related by marriage,” and she is the wife of Thor. With him, she is the mother of Þrúðr (Trude), one of the Valkyries.

Sif is a goddess of the harvest and autumn, and her hair symbolizes golden fields of wheat and the bright leaves that fall in the turning season. As autumn fades into winter, she becomes the mother of Ullr—a god of winter. Her hair represents vitality and abundance, and it is counted among the treasures of the gods, just as sacred in its way as Mjölnir, Thor’s hammer.

The most well-known myth about her tells of Loki sneaking into her bedchamber while she sleeps and cutting off her golden hair. Some accounts say he drugged her and Thor before doing so. Loki’s jealousy often leads to acts of sabotage, especially toward those whose beauty or esteem rivals his own. His cruelty in this story nearly gets him killed—only his promise to replace her hair with something even greater spares him. He seeks out the dwarves and commissions not just new golden hair for Sif, but also five more magical items that become known as the treasures of the gods: Mjölnir (Thor’s hammer), Skíðblaðnir (Freyr’s ship), Gungnir (Odin’s spear), Gullinbursti (Freyr’s boar), and Draupnir (Odin’s ring).

Sif’s new hair is crafted from real gold and flows like water. It is more luminous than her natural hair, and it grows on her head like a living thing, just as before. The wig is said to multiply itself, growing golden strands like living wheat.

In the poem Lokasenna, Sif plays the role of peacekeeper during a gathering where Loki insults the gods one by one. She attempts to calm the room and shift the energy, an act that modern Heathens often interpret as symbolic of her role as a goddess of civility, harmony, and family ties.

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Thoughts on Sif
Sif’s hair is often understood as a symbol of golden grain crops and autumnal leaves. She represents the abundant harvest that feeds the family and the clan. She is also linked to the changing of the seasons, from summer storms fertilizing the fields to the dying of the leaves and the coming of winter through her son Ullr.

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The story of her sheared hair and its regrowth mirrors agricultural cycles—cutting down and replanting, shedding and renewal. Sif is a goddess of harvest, bread, family meals, and the sacred act of gathering together. She holds the familial thread—grandparents, aunts and uncles, godparents, foster children, in-laws, and clan. In a time where kinship meant survival, Sif was a protector of those bonds.

Her presence may also be reflected in other mythic figures. Some scholars connect her to Wealhþeow in Beowulf—a golden-crowned queen known for calming disputes in the hall. Others compare her to Demeter or Ceres, goddesses of golden grain and motherly love, who likewise grieve when violated and cloak the land in barrenness.

Among the Sámi, she is remembered as Ravdna, goddess of the rowan tree. In one tale, Thor clings to a rowan to save himself from drowning. That tree is said to be Sif in another form—his anchor, his salvation.

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Signs and Symbols
Golden hair, wigs, hairpieces, combs
Cosmetics and beauty tools
Wheat, grain, bread, meadows, and harvests
Autumn leaves and seasonal shifts
The act of breaking bread together
Family and kin networks
Rowan trees
Gold
The rune Ár

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Associated Names
Sibb, Ravdna