Norse and Viking Blog

Mead - The Iconic Viking Drink

Mead is said to be the world's oldest alcoholic drink. Read about its history and significance in Viking myths, legends and festivals. We also include a simple recipe to enable you to brew this iconic drink in your own home.

Viking Age Food and Cooking

Life for the Norse people was physically tough and plenty of calories were required to live and thrive, especially in the cold winters of Northern Scandinavia. Here we explore the main food sources and cooking techniques of the Vikings.

Viking Myths, Legends and Symbols : A Brief Summary

In this post, we explore some of the more common symbols found in Viking culture and mythology and try to shed some light on their meaning and significance to the people of the time.

Jormungand - the Midgard Serpent

Jormungand or the Midgard Serpent is a sea dragon so large that his body wraps around the whole of Midgard. Along with Hel and Fenrir, he is one of the three children of Loki and Angrboda. In the Eddas, Thor is said to have caught Jormungand on a fishing line that Hymir then cuts as he is afraid that catching Jormungand will bring about Ragnarok.

The Poetic Edda - Free Digital Download

Our good friend Noah from "The History of Vikings" has written a new book and study guide on 'The Poetic Edda'.

Free digital download available for limited time

Viking Axes - At Home, and In Battle

For people living in cold, heavily wooded lands in northern Europe, owing an axe, and knowing how to use it, was pretty much essential. It is widely believed that one of the main reasons they became popular as a weapon was simply because pretty much everyone had one!

The Vadstena Bracteate

The Vadstena Bracteate is so called because it was discovered in Vadstena, Sweden in 1774 and is formed of a thin sheet of round gold (bracteate in Latin means a thin piece of metal). The treasure was found alongside a ring and a piece of gold sheet and was nearly melted down by a local goldsmith.

The Spillings Hoard - The World's Largest Viking Hoard

On July 16th 1999, the largest haul of Viking silver treasure was accidentally discovered in a field on the Spilling Farm in Northern Gotland, Sweden.

Viking and Norse Runes and Their Meanings

We know from interactions with our customers in store, and followers on our Social Media channels, that there are a wide variety of reasons why people are interested in Viking history and mythology. One thing that is pretty much guaranteed to generate comments and questions is anything we post that relates to The Runes.

The Super-strong 'Ulfberht' Viking Sword

A small number of 'super-strong' Viking swords have been uncovered that are forged of metal so pure that researchers are currently unable to explain how they were made with the technology believed to be available at the time. To add to the mystery, all of the weapons are inscribed with a single word - 'Ulfberht'

Viking Jewelry - History and Uses

Vikings enjoyed fashion and the allure of precious metals and they strived to incorporate this into their day-to-day lives by crafting beautiful ornate jewelry. However, unlike most cultures, jewelry pieces in Viking culture typically had a dual purpose, being used both for aesthetic appeal and as a form of currency

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