Asatru and the Vanir, I got this from an Asatru group I am part of?

Someone on this group posted an interesting hypothesis, he suggested that the Vanir may have been the Gods of the Picts/Celts that were adopted into the Norse Pantheon. Your thoughts?

Thanks!

Incompatible with the Eddas. Further, the Celtic deification of the virtues doesn't mesh with the chaos-aspects of the Vanir.

Still, an interesting hypothesis, I grant.

Makes sense, but it's tough to say. There are so many parallels in all mythologies from around the world it's difficult to say whether the ideas were adopted or not. Mimir's head giving advice to Odin is very similar to the oracular head of Bran for instance, and this could have been integrated into the Norse tradition.

Possibly, considering that there was quite a bit of contact between the Norse and the Celts/Picts.

that's kinda like saying the Aesir are from Troy. i cant get behind it.

Well know one can say for sure. But as the viking where very good at integrating themselves. They may have, or not. Most of what we know, was written down after that viking era. Snorri lived at the end of the viking era mostly in Iceland. We don't know how much main land Asatru, he Incorporated in to the Edda's.

There is a strong feeling that the Aesir/Vanir war is an analogy for a separate cult that were absorbed into the existing early Germanic tribes. I doubt that the Vanir come from the Celts though. For a thorough examination of the relation of Celtic and Teutonic myth, check out Hilda Ellis Davidson's "Myths and Symbols of Norther Europe".