Aalborg (alternatively spelled in Danish as ‘Ålborg’) is currently Denmark’s fourth-largest city by means of total population and area as well as an important university centre in Northern Europe. The city is situated in the proximity of Limfjorden (a 110 miles-long strait in the north of Jutland) and almost halfway between the North and Baltic…
It is no secret that J.R.R. Tolkien found inspiration in many cultures and mythologies from all across the world prior to finishing writing the highly critically acclaimed ‘Lord of the Rings’ high-fantasy trilogy (1954-1955) and its predecessor, ‘The Hobbit’ (1937). Amongst his most notable influences it is very much indicated to mention the Norse culture…
Crisp bread was one of the most popular snacks of the Norsemen during the perilous and tumultuous Viking period. As a matter of fact, even before the start of this historical era crisp bread was baked in central present-day Sweden as early as c. 500 A.D. Under different varieties (including wheat loaf, rye loaf, and…
Kleppmelk is a traditional Norwegian dish specific mostly to the regions of Trøndelag (central Norway) and Nord-Norge (northern Norway). It is a soup that consists of solid small doughs softened in milk. It is safe to assume that this culinary treat dates to the Viking period as the modern Norwegian word ‘klepp’ was derived from…
The Icelandic sagas, written during the High Middle Ages, constitute a significant body of work of the medieval Icelandic literature, alongside the eddas and the skaldic poems. These manuscripts were mostly penned by anonymous authors, whose identities were either not revealed or remained very much obscure in the passing of time. However, these medieval literary…
