Beneath the Lexicon with Anna

01/03/2026

📖The Story Of Baldr

Odin's second son is named Baldr, and many good things are said about him.
That he is the best and that everyone loves and praises him. His features are so fair and bright that light shines from him.

🌻There is even a type of flower that is now called “Baldr’s brow” (Baldrsbra). Of all the herbs, it is the whitest and you can imagine Baldr’s color, in both hair and complexion.

Baldr is said to be the wisest of all the Aesir, the most well spoken and the most gracious and kind. Nobody can argue with his judgments for those qualities that are always with him.

His home is in a place called Breidablik, which is in heaven, and nothing unclean can be found there.

-Breidablik ‘tis called, where Baldr
Has a hall made for himself.
In that land, where I know lie
Fewest baneful runes.
-Gylfaginning, XXII. Prose Edda, Snorri Sturlson

01/03/2026

https://open.substack.com/pub/annanomadicsenglish/p/the-story-of-baldr?r=5ufgrs&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true

01/03/2026

Persephone & the Pomegranate 🌱🍎
Persephone ate six pomegranate seeds, sealing her fate in the Underworld. The word “pomegranate” literally means “apple with many seeds”.

01/02/2026

Happy New Year! 🎉

The word "January" comes from the Latin "Ianuarius", named after Janus, the Roman god of endings and beginnings.

Janus had two faces, one looking to the past, the other to the future. He represented the "doorway" between the past and the future.

Do you have any New Years resolutions for this January?
Share in the comments!

12/19/2025

Happy Holidays from a ferocious kitty

12/16/2025

The Snow Queen ❄️👑
In the original story, the Snow Queen freezes hearts with shards of ice. The word “shard” comes from an ancient root word "sker-" meaning "to cut", making her magic sharper than it seems.

Fun note: This story inspired a very popular modern Disney movie about another “snow queen.” Tell me which movie in the comments ❄️

12/15/2025

Tom, the first cat to be replaced by AI. 🤖
But even cartoons knew: machines can’t replace character.

AI helps you practice. I help you connect.

In my small group English classes, we use storytelling, myths, and real conversation to build confidence and fluency the human way.

📚 Stories give language meaning.
🗣 Small groups give you a voice.

👉 Comment for more info or to join the next group.
Registering now for the New Year 🎉

12/15/2025

Mistletoe 💚 – Plant under which people traditionally kiss.

Example: They laughed as they stood under the mistletoe.

Ask: Have you ever kissed under the mistletoe?

12/14/2025

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Saefullah Yana, Arief Exiszh Slaloe, Manowar Y Hossain, Susan Dewi, Damaris Palimbong, Almas Hossain Hira, Evi Riani DiChina, Jackie's Tips Vlog, Juan E. Cintron, Anuj Tomar, Mhyra Fathu, Iqbal Khan Khesor, Acko C Edward Garcia, Suleman Ahmed, Jy Son, Kashif Abbas, Yulia Fakhira, Inna Seimode, Janet Arena Armario Moro, Brave BD, Omoya Yemi, Åña Håña Møntånã, سامح العمده, Rasheed Ahmed Chachar, Ezhi Wirdana, Datok Maringgi, Himmat Singh Bajor, Sohel Islam, Md Johirul Islam, Saber Khan, Shafiqul Islam Shahid, Erol Bayat, Lý Khắc Minh, Cipto Harianto, Phul Ray, MD Khokon, Ishfaque Ahmed Adrani, Sheak Forid, Jakaria Ahmed, Sikandar Ali Doda Tahr, Didi Nedidi, Marlina Zivana, Abdo Eid, Md Aminul Islam Rajib, Agus Agiyanto Mulyana, Md Rashed Khan, Mesut Bedir, Foyjur Rahman Khoyer, Ahsan Ahmed, Nandia Panjilie

12/14/2025

The Crane & the Wolf 🐦🐺
A crane carefully pulled a bone from a wolf’s throat. In English, “to crane” also means to stretch your neck—a great vocabulary connection to the clever bird’s action. Fables often teach words through actions!

12/14/2025

Scarcity, curiosity, and a pot of soup. 🍲
Explore Stone Soup, an Eastern European folktale, while learning the difference between Past Simple and Past Continuous through story.

Lesson One: Stone Soup -- Past Simple and Continuous in Eastern European Folklore