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.

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