Balder, the Beautiful

From Encyclopediak

Balder, the Beautiful, in Northern mythology, son of Odin by Frigga, the personification of the sun, and the god of light and spring. He was cherished by all the gods except the jealous Loki, god of fire and of evil. Frigga, fearing for her son, obtained a promise from all things in the universe, barring the mistletoe, that they would not injure Balder. So the gods, in sport, amused themselves by hurling their weapons at him, only to see them fall harmless. But one day Loki fashioned a dart of mistletoe. With malicious intent he gave it to Hodur, Balder's twin brother, who was the blind god of darkness. Unwittingly he hurled this weapon at the smiling god of light, who fell dead. Vali, personification of lengthening days, avenged his death by slaying Hodur.