Category: Hearthside History
These posts explore specific themes within Norse history, such as drinking, gift-giving, and healing! Explore this category to learn more about these specific themes!
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Feuding, I: What is Feud? Solving Problems with an Axe
Many of the great sagas and ancient lore from the medieval North recount endless, bloody feuds between generations of prominent families: a conflict ends, peace…
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Land-Spirits, III: Dealing with New Neighbors
☞ Before reading: This is part III of the (slightly modified) written form of the Fjörn’s Hall Podcast episode titled “Landvættir: The Land-Spirits of the Medieval North.” You may listen to it here, or you may enjoy it in written form below! Looking for part II? Dealing with New Neighbors: Iceland’s Settlers Encounter the Land-Spirits…
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Land-Spirits, II: Don’t Scare Them!
During the late 9th century, Norse famers, mostly from Norway and including a few small-scale chieftains, migrated to a new island… Read more:
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Land-Spirits, I: What Are They?
In the next few Hearthside History posts, we’re going to talk about the landvættir, or the land-spirits of the medieval North. A lot of folk hear about them whenever October comes around because contemporary followers of the Old Ways consider them important during harvest-related holidays, such as Vetrnætr (Winter Nights), which was between October 19th…
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The Old Norse-Icelandic Calendar
This blog post will teach you how to tell time like a Viking! Well….not exactly. First of all, not all Scandinavians were Vikings, but that’s a conversation for another post (like this one). Secondly, the information that we actually do have about the Norse calendar comes from medieval Icelandic sources, hence why I constantly add…
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Farmsteads and Agriculture
In this gathering by the Hearthside, I share the history of the medieval North’s farmsteads and agriculture. While many of us flock to learn about raids, runes, and magic, this blog-post offers a refreshing look into the daily lives of the Norsefolk. Join me by the Hearthside to learn more!
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Kickstarting the Viking Age
Many people considered the coming of the #Vikings as divine punishment, but what really caused them to take the rest of #medieval Europe by storm? Find out in this #HistoryRaid:
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The Norse Homeland
What was the ‘Viking’ homeland like? What kind of environment was it? What hardships did they face? How did the land shape their society? Who lived in there? And what kind of kingdoms were there? — Join me on this Raid to explore the history of the Vikings!
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The Vikings and Their Era
Who were the Vikings? What were they really like? Were they really all violent berserks? What was their reputation? Is it true? And what was their world like? — Join me on this Raid to explore the history of the Vikings!
