Category: Legacy
I’ve been doing this for a long time, which means some of my content is, well…a bit old. That doesn’t make it useless, though, so I’ve made a special place for it here in this delightful category.
-
Landvættir: The Land-Spirits of the Medieval North
Winter Nights is nearly upon us! And what better time is there to chat about spirits? In this gathering, we explore the roles and importance of the land-spirits in Norse culture and society through 16 different primary sources from the medieval period. Along the way, we discuss the heathen holiday known as Winter Nights, some…
-
Rímur: Reciting Part I of Gisli Sursson’s Epic
Behold! a modern Viking’s poem! Hear a skald recite the first part of an epic poem inspired by Gisli Sursson’s Saga, a work of medieval Icelandic literature written during the 13th century. This part of the poem recounts the first chapter of that saga, which takes place in Norway just a few generations before Gisli’s time. Quick…
-
A ‘Viking’ Gift: A Beautiful Polar Bear for Feuding Kings
A bear is a Viking’s best friend, so why not make it a fancy one? In this tale, we follow the journey of a humble Icelandic farmer, an attractive polar bear with rosy red cheeks, and two salty Norse kings who are at war with one another. Audun’s goal is to deliver this bear as…
-
Unn or Aud? The Saga(s) of a Remarkable Woman
In this gathering we talk about the remarkable Aud the Deep-minded, an impressive woman from medieval Iceland who boldly saved her family from destruction and became one of Iceland’s most famous settlers. But there’s a catch: she hasn’t always been remembered in quite the same way. In the sagas recounting her deeds, she has been…
-
Legendary Swords: Gramr, Sköfnungr, and Grásíða
In this gathering by the hearthside, we’re sharing the stories of three legendary swords from the sagas of the medieval North: Gramr, Sköfnungr, and Grásíða! And while we do, we’re going to find them plunged into trees by a strange old man, stolen from burial mounds by Icelandic Vikings, and manhandled by a headstrong poet.…
-
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…
-
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!
-
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:
-
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!
-
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!
-
Asking the Norse Gods for Things
norse-witch asked: Is it a no-no to ask the gods and goddesses for things? Such as to heal the sick and ill? That sort of thing? or would that be okay? Certainly not. There are several examples from the sagas of folk asking the gods for things (if we decided to consider them at face value,…
-
How Old is Written Language in Scandinavia?
Anonymous asked: how old is written language in scandinavia? a stuck up English teacher was acting like beowulf was the absolute first written literature from that entire region and that sounds super wrong to me I was hoping you’d know First of all, the date for the origin of Beowulf (as an Old English poem) is a hot…
