Final answer:
Germanic religion was a polytheistic tradition with deities like Wodan and Frigg, which transitioned into Christianity without immediately losing all pagan customs. Oral culture played a significant role in preserving Germanic traditions, and today.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Germanic religion was a form of polytheistic paganism, adhered to by the pre-Christian Germanic peoples. Their pantheon included deities such as Wodan (a god associated with war, wisdom, and death) and Frigg (a goddess of motherhood, marriage, and magic). By the third century, some Germans were converting to Christianity, including forms like Arian Christianity.
This shift did not spell the immediate end of Germanic traditions; rather, there was an overlap where pre-Christian customs and new Christian beliefs coexisted, exemplified by Scandinavian churches decorated with Norse mythological figures.
As Germanic tribes invaded the Roman Empire in the fifth century CE, and the Empire fell, the region saw a spread of Christianity while preserving much of the Roman culture. Nonetheless, the traditions of Germanic religion persisted through oral culture, and the tales preserved strong themes of warrior life and fate.
Throughout history, Germans have maintained a significant cultural identity through language, religion, and education. Today, a majority of Germans identify as Christian, with a notable proportion holding agnostic or atheistic beliefs, particularly influenced by the Communist era in East Germany.