The Disting is an annual market which is held in Uppsala, Sweden, since pre-historic times. The name (Old Swedish: Disæþing^[1] or Disaþing^[2]) originally referred to the great assembly called the Thing of all Swedes^[1], and it is derived from the fact that both the market and the thing were held in conjuction with the Dísablót^[1], the great sacrifices at the Temple at Uppsala. They were all originally held at the end of February or early March^[1]. Uppsala (older spelling Upsala) is a Swedish City in central Sweden, located about 70 km north of Stockholm. ... Old Swedish (Swedish: fornsvenska), general linguistic term for medieval Swedish. ... A thing or ting (Old Norse and Icelandic: þing; other modern Scandinavian: ting) was the governing assembly in Germanic societies, made up of the free men of the community and presided by lawspeakers. ... Freya, or Vanadís, was one of the dísir. ... The Temple at Uppsala was a temple in Gamla Uppsala (Old Uppsala), near modern Uppsala, Sweden, that was created to worship the Norse gods of ancient times. ... February is the second month of the calendar year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ... March is the third month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of seven Gregorian months with the length of 31 days. ...

The Icelandic historian Snorri Sturlusson, who was well-informed of Swedish matters and visited the country in 1219^[3], explained in the Heimskringla (1225): Snorri Sturlason (1178 – September 23, 1241) was an Icelandic historian, poet and politician. ... // Events Saint Francis of Assisi introduces Catholicism into Egypt, during the Fifth Crusade The Flag of Denmark fell from the sky during the Battle of Lyndanisse Ongoing events Fifth Crusade (1217-1221) Births Christopher I of Denmark (died 1259) Frederick II of Austria (died 1246) Guillaume de Gisors, supposedly the... Heimskringla is the Old Norse name of a collection of sagas recorded in Iceland around 1225 by the poet and historian Snorri Sturluson (1179-1242). ... Events Births Thomas Aquinas, Christian philosopher and theologian (d. ...

In Svithjod[4] it was the old custom, as long as heathenism prevailed, that the chief sacrifice took place in Goe month[5] at Upsala. Then sacrifice was offered for peace, and victory to the king; and thither came people from all parts of Svithjod. All the Things of the Swedes, also, were held there, and markets, and meetings for buying, which continued for a week: and after Christianity was introduced into Svithjod, the Things and fairs were held there as before. After Christianity had taken root in Svithjod, and the kings would no longer dwell in Upsala, the market-time was moved to Candlemas, and it has since continued so, and it lasts only three days.[6]

In 1611, the first play in the Swedish language named Disa by Johannes Messenius was enacted at the Disting showing a late medieval legend explaining the origins of the Disting, as the pagan origins had been forgotten^[7]. Instead of being held in honour of female powers, it was held in honour of a heroic girl who had prevailed on the king and the assembly to stop a great massacre of the weak and elderly to hinder overpopulation^[7]. Image File history File links Cquote1. ... Gamla Uppsala is an area rich in archaeological remains seen from the grave field whose larger mounds (left part) are close to the royal mounds. ... Candlemas (Russian: Sretenie, Spanish: Candelaria) is a Christian feast commemorating the purification of the Virgin Mary and the presentation of the infant Jesus in the Temple. ... Image File history File links Cquote2. ... Events June 23 - Henry Hudsons crew maroons him, his son and 7 others in a boat November 1 - At Whitehall Palace in London, William Shakespeares romantic comedy The Tempest is presented for the first time. ... The Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA), formerly known as the Defense Communications Agency is a combat support agency of the United States Department of Defense responsible for planning, developing, fielding, operating, and supporting command, control, communications, and information systems that serve the needs of the President, the Secretary of Defense... Johannes Messenius was a Swedish historian, dramatist and university professor. ...

The market was officially abolished in 1895, but continued informally, and it still held in early February^[2]. It is one of the most traditional Swedish markets^[2]. 1895 (MDCCCXCV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... February is the second month of the calendar year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. ...

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b c d} The article Disatinget, in the encyclopedia Nordisk familjebok.
2. ^ ^{a b c} The article Distingen, in the encyclopedia Nationalencyklopedin.
3. ^ The article Snorres Ynglingasaga at the official site of the Museum of Foteviken, Sweden
4. ^ An obsolete name for Sweden, or more specifically the old territory which today is named Svealand. It meant literally "the Swedish people".
5. ^ The month of February.
6. ^ Saga of Olaf Haraldson, part II.
7. ^ ^{a b} The article Disa, in the encyclopedia Nordisk familjebok.