Many people know that our names for the days of the week carry the memories of ancient gods. And while the Romans had their own official names for each day of the week, the gods of Norse mythology have a very strong presence in the day names we use today. For example, Thursday comes from Thursdaeg or Thorsdagr (Old Norse: Þórsdagr), which both mean "Thor's day".

Jörmungandr is not the only world-coiling serpent across the thousands of years and hundreds of cultures that color the human imagination.  In fact, the image of a tail-swallowing dragon can be found worldwide and throughout history.  This symbol of the circular snake is called the ouroboros. The earliest known ouroboros depiction is from the grave of Pharaoh Tutankhamen (“King Tut”) from the 13^th century B.C. 

The land was closest to England and right along the main continental (Viking) raiding route south from Scandinavia.  As a direct result, this land became known as Normandy. Medieval Latin documents referred to them as Nortmanni, which means "men of the North".

Many people know that Halloween is rooted in the ancient Celtic holy day, Samhain. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Irish immigrants brought these traditions to America, where they developed into one of our most popular holidays. However, some of the best-known themes and elements in modern Halloween come from Viking lore, and not Celtic alone. This article will briefly look at some of these motifs and stories, exploring the Viking and/or Norse mythology influences on Halloween.

In Viking lore, the giants were the enemies of the gods. Though numerous movies and pop culture themes have made this divine enmity well-known, the giants themselves are widely misunderstood by many modern Viking enthusiasts.  Growing up on stories like Jack and the Beanstalk and the like, we tend to think of giants as massive, brutish creatures whose steps shake the ground and bake people into pies, but are easily duped by a clever hero.  But the giants of Norse lore are not “creatures” – they are supernatural beings, with much the same ancestry as the gods themselves.  They are usually not stupid, but in some cases, understand the universe or see the future even better than the gods can. ...

Consider how the bible, a collection of 66 different "books" (ancient written documents) offers a deeper understanding of the history relating to early Jews and Christians, those of us who are Scandinavian descendants or even anyone interested in Vikings and Norse mythology have asked, "What kind of ancient written documents do WE have?"The answer is the Icelandic writings known as the Sagas and Eddas. While some have turned portions of these documents into "scripture" (to support the worship of ancient Germanic spirits and gods), most people see these 12th and 13th century writings as the closest thing we have to ancient written accounts of Norse mythology and Viking history. Edda / ed-uh /nounEither of two 13th-century Icelandic books, the older 'Poetic Edda'...

A Brief Introduction to the six styles of Viking Art The Norse of the Viking Age (circa 793-1066) were very artistic people.  Unlike Classical artists who sculpted or painted as an end unto itself, though, the Vikings used art to beautify everyday things. They would chisel the prows of their ships into dragon heads, and carve spiraling designs on the gunwales. They would engrave bone combs and drinking horns, or carve walrus tusks into ivory game pieces. They used sophisticated metallurgic techniques to decorate weapons and make cunningly-designed jewelry. Sometimes their art would serve as an eternal memorial to the deeds of mighty ancestors, such as the many rune stones that dot the Scandinavian countryside. Other times, it would grace...

The Vikings in Greenland and America (part 4 of 4) The previous articles in this short series described the Viking expeditions to North America recorded in the sagas.  We can say with some confidence, though, that there were more of these adventures.  There are hints in the historical record of journeys to Vinland and Markland for lumber or raw materials.  There is also the possibility that some small numbers of people may have attempted colonies there as conditions in Greenland deteriorated.   Archaeologists are finding artifacts spread over various parts of Newfoundland and beyond.  However, finding definitive proof of lasting contact can be like looking for a needle in a haystack.  Experts caution against over-reaching or accepting evidence uncritically, and more than once...

The Vikings in Greenland and America (part 3 of 4) Part 1 (Erik the Red) is available here. The Greenland Vikings mounted several more expeditions to America.  These ranged in size and success.  But each showed the new world was a place of both potential and peril.  The scions of Erik the Red took the lead in most of these early adventures.   Thorvald’s Ill-fated Expedition (1002) The year after Leif’s return and Thorstein’s unsuccessful expedition, their brother Thorvald set out with one ship.  He found Vinland and chose a spot for a settlement. Thorvald and his men had not been there long when they caught three Native Americans spying on them.  When attempts at communication failed, Thorvald simply murdered the strangers.  The...

There are many different interpretations of what Vikings looked like. While some may be more verifiable than others, no single image matches the vast diversity of the Viking Age that spanned more than 250 years and inhabited more than a dozen geopolitical areas with a wide variety of different cultures and influences.  While there have been substantial archaeological finds and active scholarship, much of that world is lost to time.  It is a shame, then, that sometimes people let quarrels about what may or may not be “accurate” get in the way of their shared interests and appreciation.