The Viking Age: Interesting Viking Traditions

Modern day Norse society has been shaped by Viking customs and traditions. In medieval Scandinavia, the Vikings were known for their warriors, large ships, horned helmets, and violent raids: but this image is not entirely accurate. Viking traditions reinforced social bonds, upheld honour and loyalty, and connected communities to their mythological heritage. Here are some Viking traditions and rituals you might not have heard of: 

• Blót

Blót was a religious ceremony performed by Vikings to honour their gods and goddesses. It was led by a priest or priestess, who would begin the ritual by invoking the deity of their choice. In Norse mythology, some of the most prominent deities include Thor (God of thunder and storms), Odinn (God of warfare and the dead), and Frigg (Goddess of  marriage and fertility). During a Blót ceremony, participants would feast and drink, and sacrifice objects like pigs, horses, oxen, food, and sometimes humans or other gods. 

• Viking Weddings 

A Viking wedding ceremony was a big ordeal with many customs. Unmarried Viking women wore their hair in loose braids to symbolize their status as maidens. In addition to these braids, women wore a kransen: a hair piece similar to a headband, passed down from mothers to daughters.  When a woman was to be married, she would remove her kransen, replacing it with a wedding crown. A Viking groom would attain a sword from one of his ancestors, which he would carry during the wedding ceremony as a symbol of Thor. A wedding was held on Friday, Frigg's day. It began by sacrificing an animal to gain the attention and satisfaction of the gods. A post-ceremonial feast would occur, where the groom would plunge his sword into a pillar to determine how many children the couple would have. Mead would be shared, and witnesses would accompany the newlyweds to their bed to confirm the consummation of their marriage. 

• Holmgang

Holmgang, or trial by combat, was a common way of settling legal disputes in Old Norse society. Two opponents would fight to the death, with weapons such as swords or axes, and the surviving opponent would be considered "right". Holmgang was used in circumstances where the truth could not be determined in any other way. 

• Viking Funerals

Similar to a Viking wedding, a funeral was an elaborate affair with spiritual meaning. A funeral took place on the shore, intended to help the deceased reach Valhalla safely. The body was dressed in fine clothes, adorned with jewelry and weapons, and placed either in a ship or a funeral pyre. Bodies placed in ships were set adrift at sea, and bodies placed pyres were set ablaze and consumed by flames. 

• Berserkers and Ulfhednar

Vikings have a reputation as violent and battle-hungry; however, some warriors were more ferocious than others. In Viking culture, berserkers and ulfhednar were the results of shamanistic war rituals, greatly feared by their enemies. Though similar in nature, they symbolized different animals; berserkers became bear-men, and ulfhednar became wolf-men. These men would go to war without weapons or shields, using their hands and teeth to fight. According to legend, they possessed superhuman strength and felt no pain or fatigue, allowing them to engage in battle for unnaturally long periods and defeat anyone that took them on. 

There are multiple theories as to what allowed berserkers and ulfhednar to become so powerful. It's said that they lived in the wild like animals: exposing themselves to extreme heat, ritualistic dances, and fasting. This might have resulted in a sort of hypnotic trance, allowing these warriors to lose sense of pain and conscious body control. 

• Infant Rituals

Due to high infant mortality rates during the Viking Age, a series of rituals occurred after the birth of a baby. Prior to these rituals, an infant was not considered a real person. When a baby was born, he was placed on the ground until being picked up by his father and wrapped in the father's coat. The father would then examine the baby closely and, if the infant seemed unhealthy, he would be left to die. If the infant was healthy, he would be sprinkled with water in a ritual called ausa vatni. After the ritual, the baby was named and given a gift in a ceremony known as nafnfesti. He was then considered a "real person" and could no longer be left to the elements. 

•  Runestones

Viking runestones were typically carved from large stones, most commonly granite or gneiss. Used to commemorate important events, they were inscribed with runes, and then painted with red or black paint to increase visibility. Carved runestones were often placed in prominent locations, such as near major roads or gravesites. They were carved to be read by passersby, providing a great source of insight into Viking culture, religion, values, and history. 

The lives of the Vikings can be further explored through our Old Norse collection, Subscribe for behind the scenes looks and to be the first to know about new stories and arrivals.