Viking/medieval Markets of Norway, 2017

 Here is a list of all the viking and medieval markets that I (and google + facebook) know of in Norway, 2017. I doubt that I will be able to make it to markets in other countries than my own this year (due to a -for now- secret project that will require a lot of time and some traveling). If you know of more markets, please let me know in the comments below:)

*Oh – The Sól rune ( ᛋ )  means that I shall attend that market/festival *

May
19th-21st Vikingting at Tingvatn  (Tingvatn fornminnepark og besøkssenter, Vest-Agder)
26th-28th Oslo Medieval Festival (Akershus Festning, Oslo) ᛋ

June
2nd-4th Tønsberg Medieval Festival (Tønsberg, Vestfold) ᛋ
2nd-4th Bjørgvin Marknad (Hordnesvegen 24, Bergen, Hordaland)
3rd-4th Viking Market at Leikvin (Sunndal Bygdemuseum, Sunndal, Møre og Romsdal)
8th-11th Vikingfestivalen Avdalsnes (Avdalsnes, Rogaland)
9th-11th Hamar Medieval Festival (Strandvegen 100, Hamar, Hedmark)
16th-18th Hafrsfjordkaupangen (Møllebukta, Stavanger, Rogaland)

July
1st-2nd Midgard Viking Festival (Midgard Historiske senter, Horten, Vestfold) ᛋ
3rd-9th Bronseplassen Viking Market (Bronseplassen, Høvåg, Aust-Agder) ᛋ
18th-23rd Gudvangen Viking Market  (Gudvangen, Sogn og Fjordane) ᛋ
24th-30th Oslodagene at Stiklestad (Leksdalsveien 1, Verdalsøra, Nord-Trøndelag)

August
9th-13th Lofotr Viking Festival (Lofotr Viking Museum, Bøstad, Nordland)
12th-13th Viking Festival at Osen Gard (Bygstad, Sogn og Fjordane)
17th-19th Midgardsblot (Open-Air Festival (Borre, Vestfold) ᛋ
25th-27th Askøy Viking Market (Herdla Fort, Askøy, Hordaland)
27th-28th Viking Festival at Landa Park (Camping Landa Lysefjord Cafe, Kulturhus, Øvre Espedal, Rogaland)
26th-27th Hove Viking Market (Hove, Tromøya, Aust-Agder) ᛋ
28th Drafn Viking Market at Elvefestivalen (Drammen Elvefestival, Buskerud)

September
2nd-3rd Gjallarstadir Viking Market (Nebbursvollen Friluftsbad, Badeveien , Lillestrøm, Akershus) ᛋ
8th-10th Tønsberg Viking Festival (Tønsberg, Vestfold) ᛋ

– Sól, The Viking Queen 

 

Daydreaming about the upcoming market season

My friends and I are currently planning the upcoming season – carefully choosing which markets to attend. Naturally, I would love to experience them all- but that is simply not possible. Though plans are still in the making – we do know one thing for sure; This summer shall be a celebration worthy of the gods and goddesses! I am really looking forward to the Medieval- and Viking Market season this year…So much that I find myself daydreaming about it on a daily basis. The smell of bonfire, late night shenanigans and mead drinking is so close that I can almost taste it. Sigh.. We’ll just have to wait a little longer. It shall be worth it, I can promise you that.

Which market(s) are you going to?

– Sól, The Viking Queen

The glorious Viking Ship Museum (part four) – The animal heads

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Five carved animal heads were found in the Oseberg grave. Four of them are displayed at the Viking Ship Museum for the public to behold. The fifth is in very poor condition, and the remains are therefore kept in the Museum’s depository. Because none of the animal heads are alike, researchers believe that the animal heads have been made by different woodcarvers. The heads are carved out of maple wood, and two of them are adorned with silver rivets. The making of the animal heads must have been quite the challenge. The woodcarver(s) had to find a naturally curved piece of wood from the lower part of a suitable tree trunk.

We do not know for certain what the animal heads have been used for. As with many of the mysteries of the Viking Age, one can only wonder. Four of the animal heads were found in the burial chamber, and one on the forward deck. They were all found with a rattle and a piece of rope. One of the ropes passed through the mouth of one of the animal heads, like reins. There was a shaft about half a meter long at the base of the neck of each of the heads. It is possible that the heads were carried using the shafts. They might also have been mounted on walls, or perhaps even on a throne (or anything, really). But most interessting of all is the theory that they had some sort of magical or religious significance. They might have played a significant part in offerings, and maybe the burial ritual of the Oseberg Queen herself.

Sources: Museum of Cultural History, UiO
Photos: Sól Geirsdóttir

Winter Viking (wee photoshoot)

Photos by my Viking Man, Kristian ❤

Greetings from the North! Yule is upon us and Tis the season to be preparing oneself for a traditional Heathen celebration – Mead, meat and honey, family and loved ones. Be good to each other, people of Midgard. You never know what people around you might be struggling with and the gods knows that it is cold enough here already.

Sól Geirsdóttir – The Viking Queen

Sarpsborg Viking Market “2016”

The visit at Sarpsborg was a short one this year. It was just a day trip to breathe some viking vibes with my friends. In hindsight, I wish I had taken more pictures, but I will probably have a chance to do so the coming year. One can never take too many pictures. Never ever.
Preparing for a feast, the Viking Way. A couple of men occasionally appeared to turn the animal whilst humming to themselves.   I absolutely adore these mugs. They made me daydream of happy times surrounded by friends and loved ones, sitting in front of a bonfire deep in the norse woods. I imagined sharing stories and laughing for hours, singing and enjoying each others company. Ah, that would be grand. It saddens me to say that there is too little of the sort in my life these days. But I would love to change that.
Oddities like these have fascinated me ever since I was a weird, kinda lonely child. Crow claws are über cool and crows are my favourite birds. I am well aware of the fact that ravens “should be” my first choice- but I guess I have strange preferences. (Ps – these are ethically harvested. No birds were killed to collect their feet)
Okay back to my daydream about the bonfire. In that daydream, these would be filled with mead, and the mead would never end. Anything goes when you imagine it, therefore my mind tends to wander a lot. And wander it does when I am beholding glorious viking goods like these! I could sell myself the whole market with that imagination of mine.
I’ll take the Hammer over the cross any day. Therefore I cropped it away, didn’t let it stay. 
Lamb meat and a viking lady being crafty in the background
I like to change my viking boob bling occasionally. The black beads are actually volcano rocks. Btw- those are my natural nails…Unfortunately, the ones on my right hand were shorter than those on my left. I love symmetry godsdamnit! My nails tend to break a lot due to heavy lifting at the gym. Oh well, totally worth it.  
Been thinking about buying a drum ever since last summer. Any day now… Any day.
Viking kitchen awesomeness goods and epic wall decor, heathen statement style.BaBadass Wood carving on a throne
Outfit hand stitched by me – 100% wool & 100% linen. The tablet weave is Oseberg style, I wear it to Honor one of the queens that ruled before me *wink* 

Like I said in my last post, I am going through a lot of photos that I simply forgot about in order to finally share them with you guys. So – Stay tuned for more:) Hope you are all having a wonderful night.

Sól Geirsdóttir, The Viking Queen

Sarpsborg Viking Market “2015” (forgotten pictures)

I love taking photos at viking markets. To me, it is all about capturing the moments--it is all about inviting you into my world, to take you with me on a modern day time travelThrough my blog, I am trying to show you why I feel so drawn to the viking Era
I want to show you my love for it by presenting its beautyWords are not enough when your soul is screaming with longing for something that cannot be reduced to academic descriptionsIn all honesty, pictures are not enough either – because if you live it,
you live it with all of your being; your Heathen Heart, body and soul.
I can only hope that some of my passion shines through

(With Ekota, a glorious somali cat that granted Frøya vibes to stroll like a true viking! (In case you have been living under a rock – the norse goddess Frøya was known for being a crazy cat lady – kinda like us – xD) Fun fact: Ekota is the grandfather of my blue somali Sága. I can tell that Ekota’s wonderful personality has rubbed off on her – he is one of the coolest cats ever.)

 Finally done with my exams and the annoying, creativity-vibe-destroying stress levels are going down (phew!)  This post is a little throwback to start the quest of sharing forgotten viking photography with you guys. There shall be loads of them the coming days!

– Sól Geirsdóttir, The Viking Queen

Norsk Folkemuseum (part two)

“The Stave Church from Gol. Hallingdal, Buskerud, ca. 1200 (Rebuilt and reconstructed at Bygdøy). There are several runic inscriptions and carvings dated to the early Middle Ages in the church.” 

Storehouse from Søndre Berdal. Loft from Nesland, Vinje in Telemark, 1759s

Wood carving, Stave church

Fjording, Norwegian horse breed


Is it just me or is there a man in the tree?

Ah! I feel like going back there when I go through all my photos. The atmosphere was so peaceful and inspiring that I wish I could hide from security until it closes and spend the night hidden under a loft (hahaha!) No.. that would be silly, simply impossible! Or…would it? Who wants to join my unconventional slumberparty? Seriously though – if I were ever to go to jail for something, it would be a stupid thing like that – for being a way too enthusiastic tourist, so to speak . Yup – just my type of crime. Argh…You know I’m just kidding, I promise to behave. It’s just that I need to have more time here, to actually read the information and not just run against the clock like a madwoman. Oh well, I’ll be back as soon as I can. (I’ll make sure to bring a tent and an invisibility cloak. Hehe;)

Sól Geirsdóttir / The Viking Queen