It is customary in Iceland to give books as gifts on Christmas Eve. This tradition should come as no surprise to foreigners as Iceland disposes of a tremendous cultural heritage with respect to literature. So it is that from the Viking Age and High Middle Ages (periods of time throughout which슠the Icelandic sagas and the…
The archaeological site of Jarlshof on the isle of Mainland (formerly known in Old Norse as ‘Megenland’), Shetlands, is doubtlessly one of the most remarkable historical vestiges of the British Isles. The site, comprising remains which date from Antiquity up to the Modern Age, preserves equally reminiscences of a past Norse settlement. South Mainland in…
Christmas is one of the most important Christian holidays, being observed most commonly on the 25 December on all of the continents across the world. Nowadays, this holy celebration brings people together in many ways, all the more by attending various Christmas markets globally. However, what some people might not know about this holiday is…
Even before the start of the Viking Age the Norsemen (Vikings) used to write and read in the Runic alphabet of their own language, namely Old Norse. This Runic alphabet that was used by the Norsemen before and in the time of the Viking Age is commonly known as ‘fu쎾ark’ (futhark). Regarding its origin, three…
Life during the Viking Age in the Norse realms wasn’t as dull as some people assume. On the contrary, the Norsemen had been practicing a series of games and sports that nowadays we collectively can call entertainment. According to medieval Icelandic literature and archaeological discoveries, it is known that they played both indoor and outdoor…
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