The Vikings were one of the most dominant forces in Western Europe from the 9th until the 11th centuries. As well as building strong nations with fertile trading relationships in the East, they raided France and Spain for their riches, set themselves up as lords in England and Ireland, settled Iceland, Greenland, and the Orkney…
Today we imagine the Vikings saying “Skol” when they raised their cups, or drinking horns, during a feast. But what does Skol mean in Old Norse and is that really what the Vikings said? Toasts were a complex social ritual in Viking society that involved much more than just raising a glass. Let’s look at…
In modern Western society, the New Year is often a time to swear oaths or make promises to ourselves about things we intend to do in the new year. While the Vikings did not consider Yule the start of the new year, it was still an important moment when the cold days started to get…
While the Vikings did not celebrate Christmas, the end of the year when the nights were at their longest, darkest, and coldest, was an important time of year. It was marked with a 12-day festival called Yule (or Jul). When Scandinavian countries converted to Christianity, many Yule traditions were transformed into Christmas traditions. We’ve previously…
In Norse mythology, all existence emerges in the Ginnungagap, a vast primordial void. It is an important concept in Norse ideas around the creation of the world, but also its destruction. At Ragnarök, all existence will sink back into the primordial goop of Ginnungagap. But a concept that had such importance for the beginning and…
When Iceland was settled by the Vikings in the 9th century, it was established as a commonwealth of chiefs. They needed to find a way to agree on laws and solve disputes. They did this by establishing an Althing, a national assembly based on smaller regional Things that were common among German tribes for at…
In Norse mythology, the concept of the soul is not a singular, unified entity but a composite of various elements, each with its unique role and characteristics. In fact, the old Norse word for soul, sál, was only created after the Vikings started to convert to Christianity. This article delves into the intricate Norse understanding…
Since religions and mythology are often inspired by the things that we see in the natural world around us, it is no surprise that animals play an important role in most religions. Norse mythology is no different. Animals are important characters and motifs in the stories of the creation and destruction of the world, and…
Looking at the skeletal remains surviving from the Viking world, we know that the Vikings had some knowledge of medicine and healing. Skeletal remains from Skeljastadir in Iceland dating from 1000 to 1200 suggest that the settlement had a robust and healthy population that lived to a ripe old age for the day. We have…
The Einherjar are the brave fallen warriors who live in Valhalla and are destined to join the gods in the final battle of Ragnarök. This concept has been embraced in modern Viking culture, with all warriors wishing to live and die in a way worthy of Valhalla. But what did it really mean to join…
