Primstaven

The primstav is the old Norwegian calendar stave, used from the Middle Ages until well into the 19th century. Every day was a notch in the wood, and the important marked days had their own carved symbols: St. Olaf’s axe, St. Lawrence’s gridiron, St. Peter’s key and many more.

Primstaven brings this calendar to your iPhone and iPad. Browse the year on a beautifully carved stave that opens at today’s date, or use the list, divided into a summer side and a winter side – just as the stave was turned on Summer Day, 14 April, and Winter Day, 14 October.

For each marked day you get: • its name, and the original Norwegian name • who or what the day commemorates • the symbol from the primstav and what it means • the story behind the day, with folk beliefs, weather lore and old customs

Features: • A carved primstav showing the whole year – tap either end to jump back to today • A list of all marked days, with search by name, saint or symbol • Optional daily notification on marked days, at the time you choose • Two symbol sets: traditional woodcarving or simple carved signs • Wood or plain background, and the option to show only marked days on the stave • Share a marked day with others • English and Norwegian • Works offline – no ads, no accounts and no data collection

The texts are based on Store norske leksikon (the Great Norwegian Encyclopedia) and other sources on the primstav and the Norwegian tradition of marked days.

Señales de descubrimiento