Tag: History
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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…
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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.…
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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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The Saga of Iceland’s Independence
Gleðilega þjóðhátíð! Today is June 17th, which means that it is Icelandic National Day! To celebrate, I am sharing the Saga of Iceland’s Independence, which explores the history surrounding Iceland’s road to independence — Join me in the Hall to learn more!
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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!
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Drinking in the Medieval North
Please gather around, friends, for another anonymous wanderer has sent a request to this hall! I hate to admit that it was long ago now, but a raven once came to me bearing this message: “i’d be curious to hear from a possibly more academic side how you see drinking/alcohol playing into heathenism? i’ve heard…
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Notes on Old English Literature
Anonymous asked: Did Anglo-Saxon speaking peoples have anything similar to Nordic sagas? They most certainly did, although I know much less about their literature than I should. Based on what time has allowed us to recover, it seems that the Norse (but especially the Icelanders) produced more saga-type writing than their neighbors did in England. But,…
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King Hakon the Good Complicates Yule
As many are of you are already aware, this time of year is popularly regarded as a Revived Yuletide with the Winter Solstice typically being the beginning of this ‘New’ Old Yule. Yet, although I too regard this day as a New Yule, I must also admit that this is not historically true. Long ago,…
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Hord and the Mound of Soti the Viking
Today is Old Yule Eve, and I have quite the story to share with you all tonight! A wanderer by the name of paganoldsoul requested that I tell stories about Odin and Yule, and so I have found one worthy of a retelling. While it may not be exactly what they had in mind, it is…
