There was holly pinned to his shirt and ivy draped over her skirt. Some of the bright red berries broke free when he moved forward. He caught them, then clasped her hand as the vows were called.
He should have never agreed to this. She was not safe. But it was too late now. She was his. Willing and lovely and exactly who he needed.
She would most certainly be the death of him.
I love finding out about traditions and customs, whether it is the Snapdragon who roams Norwich or the last pieces of wheat cut during harvest time being twisted into a corn dolly to house the harvest spirit (which is touched upon in my short story collection The Wherryman's Daughter).
I’m going to start off with more commonly known Viking myths and beliefs, then move on to ones which are specific to The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm.
 |
| Pencil drawing of Rosa |
Names held power in Viking times. A child’s name was carefully selected to honour a specific God, invoke the protection of a deceased ancestor or in the hopes the child would emulate a specific trait.
Rosamund is the heroine of The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm. Her name has two meanings depending on the language – Germanic is a combination of horse and protection, whereas in Latin it means pure rose. While both suit her, my choice veered towards the Germanic version as she begins the story riding desperately to a mead hall on a stolen horse. Her fellow novice is called Mildritha, which means gentle strength.
Meanwhile, on the Viking side, Grimulf is a mix of Grimr for mask wearer and Ulf for wolf. His servant is Gunhild, meaning war, and his close confidante is Rudolf, his name a combination of glory and wolf. Other names include Thorstein (Thor’s Stone), Bjorn (bear), Orm (snake), and Olaf (ancestor’s descendent).
 |
| Freyja pencil drawing. As she is associated with cats I wanted to give her a feline appearance. Other symbols for her include daisies and the sun. |
The Norse version of the creation myth was that everything began with a void known as Ginnungagap. Either side of this were the lands of fire and ice, which steadily crept towards each other. When they finally collided and the ice melted, these droplets formed the first living being… not a human but the giant Ymir, who had the ability to give birth to more giants via their legs and sweat.
As more of the ice melted, other creatures appeared, including a divine cow and the first of the Gods – Buri of the Æsir tribe, who was Odin’s grandfather. The rest of the Gods and Goddesses were born from Æsir mating with the giants.
Odin, frustrated by Ymir’s ability to overwhelm the lands with their progeny, decided to slay the giant. With Ymir's corpse, Odin and his brothers formed the land, rivers and soil as we know it today.
One day, while strolling along the sands, Odin came upon driftwood shaped in the form of a man and woman. He gave them the breath of life, creating the first humans. To protect them from the remaining giants, the Gods and Goddesses fenced off where the couple lived and called it Midgard – Earth.
The Gods and Goddesses:
Odin is most recognised as a one-eyed man with a long beard and two ravens Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) upon his shoulders. Considered the king of the Norse Gods, he represents war, death, wisdom, poetry, magic and healing.
Odin is most recognised as a one-eyed man with a long beard and two ravens Hugin (thought) and Munin (memory) upon his shoulders. Considered the king of the Norse Gods, he represents war, death, wisdom, poetry, magic and healing.
Often depicted as a wanderer in stories, he travelled across Midgard in various disguises in his constant search for knowledge. He would sacrifice parts of himself in this eternal hunt – his eye was exchanged for wisdom – so he might discover all that happened in the world and be able to see into the future.
Thor is the hammer wielding son of Odin and husband of the earth Goddess Sif. He is known for lightning, storms, trees, strength and fertility. Rather than the blonde depiction who appears in the Marvel comics, he is a fierce warrior with red hair. Storms sparked when he rode through the skies in his goat pulled chariot.
Most of his adventures are battles against various giants and the giant sea serpent Jörmungandr. His weapon, the hammer Mjölnir, was a symbol of protection and power, which is why some jewellery had its image carved into them.
Loki is not the brother of Thor in Norse mythology. He is the son of a frost giant and the Goddess Laufey. This chaotic trickster is associated with snakes and would often change his shape and gender to frustrate the other Gods. These little shape changing episodes led to him giving birth to the eight-legged horse Sleipnir, which Odin claimed as his steed. Loki also fathered the Goddess of Death, the monstrous wolf Fenrir and Jörmungandr. Throughout the Eddas, he veered between being an ally to the Gods to causing upset and destruction.
Throughout The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm, Vikings and even Rosa invoke the Goddess Freyja. This Goddess is often seen wearing a stunning golden torc (Brisingamen), cats pull her chariot and her companion animal is a boar. She represents love, sexuality, fertility, gold, magic and war – a strong deity and one I wanted as the focus of Viking spiritual belief in my story.
It is she who Rosa and Grimulf call to during their marriage ceremony. When the marriage is rushed and there is no proper offering, the villagers perceive this as an insult towards Freyja. Any bad luck soon to come is considered the couple’s own fault, especially as Freyja's own marriage to Óðr (God of divine madness) is fraught when he vanishes. She spends the rest of her years weeping tears of gold, awaiting his return.
The Prose and Poetic Edda are a collection of tales and poems written down in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. As these stories were originally passed down by oral lore, many are considered to have been influenced by the arrival of Christianity in Scandinavia during the 12th century.
Spirits wandered the land alongside giants, dwarves and elves. These tales feel like a soap opera at times, describing the adventures of the Gods and Goddesses and how they came to be so powerful.
One tale I enjoyed, because of its similarities to the Red Riding Hood fairy tale, is Þrymskviða. Thor loses his hammer to the frost giants and the only way to get it back is to offer Freyja’s hand in marriage – something she refuses. Instead, Thor and Loki dress themselves in bridal wear and proceed with the marriage ceremony. The rather short-sighted giant tries to work out why his new bride looks as if she could take all his men on in battle and has the table manners of a pig. Loki quickly comes up with reasons for this in much the same way as the wolf dressed up as granny dismisses Red Riding Hood’s concerns.
The Prose and Poetic Edda are a collection of tales and poems written down in the 13th century by Snorri Sturluson. As these stories were originally passed down by oral lore, many are considered to have been influenced by the arrival of Christianity in Scandinavia during the 12th century.
Spirits wandered the land alongside giants, dwarves and elves. These tales feel like a soap opera at times, describing the adventures of the Gods and Goddesses and how they came to be so powerful.
One tale I enjoyed, because of its similarities to the Red Riding Hood fairy tale, is Þrymskviða. Thor loses his hammer to the frost giants and the only way to get it back is to offer Freyja’s hand in marriage – something she refuses. Instead, Thor and Loki dress themselves in bridal wear and proceed with the marriage ceremony. The rather short-sighted giant tries to work out why his new bride looks as if she could take all his men on in battle and has the table manners of a pig. Loki quickly comes up with reasons for this in much the same way as the wolf dressed up as granny dismisses Red Riding Hood’s concerns.
Rosamund herself comes from a line of Anglo-Saxons who have been converted to Christianity, most likely during the 7th century when missionaries from Rome arrived in England and Ireland. When she is forced to live with the Danish Vikings, she finds herself adrift amongst their pagan revelries.
However, a few generations earlier she would have felt at home. Before the arrival of Christianity, the Anglo-Saxons believed in Woden, Tiw (God of War), Thunor (God of Thunder) and Frige (Goddess of Love).
Do some of those names sound familiar? They were Germanic versions of the Viking Gods. They're also the origin of the words we use for days of the week: Wednesday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Saxons also believed in potions, charms and the power of a rhyme to banish bad spirits, to increase their luck or cure sickness.
The following are some of the rituals Vikings would have performed for important life events:
Birth
Giving birth was incredibly dangerous in the past, and in a time of myth and magic many cultures came up with ways to gain control and ‘combat’ these threats. For Vikings, prayers were made during the labour to the fertility Goddesses Frigg and Freyja alongside Galdr, which were incantations sung for protection.
Once the child was born, it had to be recognised by their parents. This was done by witnesses watching the mother nurse for the first time. The father then put the child upon his knee, sprinkled their head with water and bestowed the protection of the clan upon them along with their name.
The following are some of the rituals Vikings would have performed for important life events:
Birth
Giving birth was incredibly dangerous in the past, and in a time of myth and magic many cultures came up with ways to gain control and ‘combat’ these threats. For Vikings, prayers were made during the labour to the fertility Goddesses Frigg and Freyja alongside Galdr, which were incantations sung for protection.
Once the child was born, it had to be recognised by their parents. This was done by witnesses watching the mother nurse for the first time. The father then put the child upon his knee, sprinkled their head with water and bestowed the protection of the clan upon them along with their name.
If the father had perished or could not be found, the closest male relative performed the ritual. It was incredibly important for the child, as being recognised meant they were safe from being exposed to the elements, a common fate for babies who were unwanted or seen as not strong enough.
Marriage
Vikings might well have been the very first Bridezillas. There were so many different things to account for. A single wedding could take ages to plan, and rue the day if you got something wrong for the Gods would curse your remaining years.
The main important decision was the date of the wedding. Most often it was on a Friday as this was Frigg’s day (the Goddess of Marriage) as well as giving enough time to prepare the feasts and for guests to arrive.
The groom and bride would be separated. The woman was stripped of her clothes and bathed. Her head wreath, a circlet known as a kransen, was also removed and replaced with a bridal crown. This was a symbol of her virginity, relinquishing it meant she was ready to be wed.
The groom meanwhile was sent to steal a sword from his relation’s grave and emerge as a new man. After this, he would also bathe while family members offered helpful tips for his future.
Next, the Gods and Goddesses would be invoked and an animal sacrifice made to satisfy them. Ancestral swords were passed between the bride and groom to symbolise a promise of protection. Then the rings were exchanged. Afterwards, during the feasting, a bride might also have a carving or piece of jewellery resembling Thor’s hammer dumped into her lap to promote fertility.
“I am a stranger here. As my husband, you will be my guide. I have no ties to any who might be your enemy. The only ally I have will be you.”
Rosa pushed herself the rest of the way, dragging her body against his. Their mouths crushed together.
Her first kiss had been stolen from her two nights ago. That one had been rough and sloppy, like being smothered. This was different. She assumed because she had initiated it. She braced herself, preparing for him to wrench back control.
Grimulf’s mouth remained soft upon hers. His gentleness surprised her.
Gone was the rest of the hall. She heard a rushing noise akin to the lapping of waves, her blood running quick. This moment became the same as a held breath.
The scrape of his beard was a strange sensation. She was not certain whether she liked it much, though supposed she would have to get used to it. Delicately, his teeth scraped over her lip and, curious, she opened her mouth. His tongue entered, so sudden and strange her lips clamped shut.
She remembered. When the man who hunted her had forced his foul breath upon her, their teeth had crashed together.
Grimulf stilled, thinking she meant to bite him. When she did not he chuckled, the sound travelling between them, vibrating into her core. Her lips were wet and burning when he withdrew.
“Well, I’ll certainly enjoy showing you how to properly kiss,” he murmured, just to her.
“Then…?”
He turned to look upon his people. His arm remained draped around her waist.
“Welcome to my new bride Rosamund, daughter of Edward Thorne, sent by the Nailed God himself! We will be wed—”
“Tonight,” Rosa interrupted. “I must be your bride before sunrise.”
Considering how rushed Grimulf and Rosa’s marriage is in The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm, it’s hardly surprising how annoyed the rest of the settlement are with them ;) No proper sacrifice, no kransen or bridal wreath, and the only sword that could be offered was Grimulf's own weapon.
Marriage
Vikings might well have been the very first Bridezillas. There were so many different things to account for. A single wedding could take ages to plan, and rue the day if you got something wrong for the Gods would curse your remaining years.
The main important decision was the date of the wedding. Most often it was on a Friday as this was Frigg’s day (the Goddess of Marriage) as well as giving enough time to prepare the feasts and for guests to arrive.
The groom and bride would be separated. The woman was stripped of her clothes and bathed. Her head wreath, a circlet known as a kransen, was also removed and replaced with a bridal crown. This was a symbol of her virginity, relinquishing it meant she was ready to be wed.
The groom meanwhile was sent to steal a sword from his relation’s grave and emerge as a new man. After this, he would also bathe while family members offered helpful tips for his future.
Next, the Gods and Goddesses would be invoked and an animal sacrifice made to satisfy them. Ancestral swords were passed between the bride and groom to symbolise a promise of protection. Then the rings were exchanged. Afterwards, during the feasting, a bride might also have a carving or piece of jewellery resembling Thor’s hammer dumped into her lap to promote fertility.
“I am a stranger here. As my husband, you will be my guide. I have no ties to any who might be your enemy. The only ally I have will be you.”
Rosa pushed herself the rest of the way, dragging her body against his. Their mouths crushed together.
Her first kiss had been stolen from her two nights ago. That one had been rough and sloppy, like being smothered. This was different. She assumed because she had initiated it. She braced herself, preparing for him to wrench back control.
Grimulf’s mouth remained soft upon hers. His gentleness surprised her.
Gone was the rest of the hall. She heard a rushing noise akin to the lapping of waves, her blood running quick. This moment became the same as a held breath.
The scrape of his beard was a strange sensation. She was not certain whether she liked it much, though supposed she would have to get used to it. Delicately, his teeth scraped over her lip and, curious, she opened her mouth. His tongue entered, so sudden and strange her lips clamped shut.
She remembered. When the man who hunted her had forced his foul breath upon her, their teeth had crashed together.
Grimulf stilled, thinking she meant to bite him. When she did not he chuckled, the sound travelling between them, vibrating into her core. Her lips were wet and burning when he withdrew.
“Well, I’ll certainly enjoy showing you how to properly kiss,” he murmured, just to her.
“Then…?”
He turned to look upon his people. His arm remained draped around her waist.
“Welcome to my new bride Rosamund, daughter of Edward Thorne, sent by the Nailed God himself! We will be wed—”
“Tonight,” Rosa interrupted. “I must be your bride before sunrise.”
Considering how rushed Grimulf and Rosa’s marriage is in The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm, it’s hardly surprising how annoyed the rest of the settlement are with them ;) No proper sacrifice, no kransen or bridal wreath, and the only sword that could be offered was Grimulf's own weapon.
At least they had a bath, I suppose! Hopefully I'll be able to include a more traditional Viking wedding in any future books.
Norse women had more of a say in who they married compared to Christian women at the time. They could divorce a husband they were unhappy with if they had not slept in the same bed for three years or because of violence. All a woman or man had to do was say in front of witnesses they wished to be divorced.
Death
Tools, weapons and food were buried or burnt with the dead so they would have them by their side in the final journey – sometimes slaves were forced to join their masters in the next life.
Norse women had more of a say in who they married compared to Christian women at the time. They could divorce a husband they were unhappy with if they had not slept in the same bed for three years or because of violence. All a woman or man had to do was say in front of witnesses they wished to be divorced.
Death
Tools, weapons and food were buried or burnt with the dead so they would have them by their side in the final journey – sometimes slaves were forced to join their masters in the next life.
Boats symbolised safe passage to the afterlife, which is why many Anglo-Saxon and Viking graves resembled ships. The most famous example of this type of burial in the UK is the Sutton Hoo discovery in Suffolk, which is the possible grave of Rædwald, a past king of East Anglia.
There were three places Viking souls could end up. Warriors who had been slain in battle were split into two groups: one half were carried off by Valkyries to Odin’s hall Valhalla for endless feasting and fighting, while the other half and women who had died nobly were destined for Freyja’s field in Fólkvangr. Everyone else went to Hel – not a fiery pit of suffering but a dark, cold place ruled by Loki’s daughter.
A prominent and favourite scene of mine in The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm is when Grimulf and Rosa must hide in a barrow to escape their enemies. These barrows came from the Neolithic Age and were burial places for honoured dead, often containing the remains of entire communities, and were useful land markers when travelling.
Norfolk’s barrows have been almost lost to history due to later generations disturbing the land and ploughing what was once there. In the Hemsby area there are possible round barrows in the surrounding fields, which can be found at the Norfolk Heritage Explorer: TNF161 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer
This next section is going to focus on folktales, one specific to Norfolk and another I wove in with my story.
Black Shuck
He is Norfolk’s most known – and most sighted – folk legend. His appearance and demeanour vary but the main characteristic is that he is a monstrous black dog. Some call him a protective spirit who guides lone women home while most know him as a fearsome beast who can kill people with a glance. East Anglia’s coast is his favoured haunt. His claw marks are even said to be on the doors of Blythburgh church.
There were three places Viking souls could end up. Warriors who had been slain in battle were split into two groups: one half were carried off by Valkyries to Odin’s hall Valhalla for endless feasting and fighting, while the other half and women who had died nobly were destined for Freyja’s field in Fólkvangr. Everyone else went to Hel – not a fiery pit of suffering but a dark, cold place ruled by Loki’s daughter.
A prominent and favourite scene of mine in The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm is when Grimulf and Rosa must hide in a barrow to escape their enemies. These barrows came from the Neolithic Age and were burial places for honoured dead, often containing the remains of entire communities, and were useful land markers when travelling.
Norfolk’s barrows have been almost lost to history due to later generations disturbing the land and ploughing what was once there. In the Hemsby area there are possible round barrows in the surrounding fields, which can be found at the Norfolk Heritage Explorer: TNF161 - Norfolk Heritage Explorer
This next section is going to focus on folktales, one specific to Norfolk and another I wove in with my story.
Black Shuck
He is Norfolk’s most known – and most sighted – folk legend. His appearance and demeanour vary but the main characteristic is that he is a monstrous black dog. Some call him a protective spirit who guides lone women home while most know him as a fearsome beast who can kill people with a glance. East Anglia’s coast is his favoured haunt. His claw marks are even said to be on the doors of Blythburgh church.
The visual of a black dog's ghost roaming inspired Bram Stoker's Dracula and Arthur Conan Doyle's The Hound of the Baskerville.
There are several theories as to where this myth originated from. The one I was most familiar with when growing up was Black Shuck being the pet of a ship's captain who drowned, and so this faithful hound stalks the beaches in search of his master's ghost.
Many have claimed Shuck arrived with the Vikings, but there is no mention of any particularly important dogs, only wolves such as Fenrir acting as companions or antagonists to the Norse Gods. The name possibly comes from the Anglo Saxons instead, with scucca meaning demon.
There's a fascinating collection of eyewitness accounts which can be found here: SHUCKLAND (hiddenea.com)
Melusine
This folk legend comes from France, but I included this tale as one Grimulf might have picked up during his travels. He tells it to Rosa while he slowly woos her and unravels her mysteries, using it as a parallel to the couple’s early relationship.
Melusine was a beautiful woman who was discovered in the forest. The man who finds her begs her to marry him. It is a happy marriage, yet curiosity plagues Melusine’s husband. All the time they have lived together, she has forbidden him from seeing her bathe.
One day, he creeps up and spies upon her, only to be horrified at discovering her lower half has transformed into a serpent’s tail. Furious at having her trust betrayed, Melusine changes into a dragon and flies away, never to be seen again.
Rosa yawned. “I think the moral of this story is for husbands not to delve too deep into their wives’ secrets.”
“Or perhaps Melusine should have trusted her husband would not care what she hid in the water’s reflection.”
Grimulf nestled his face against her neck. She squirmed and laughed gently at the tickle of his beard. His fingers gripped either side of her hips and she tensed, thinking it might finally begin.
But, just as it had been these past few nights, he settled for a kiss to her shoulder. He arose and quickly dressed, sliding the knife under their pillow into his boot.
I’ve only touched upon a few things and haven't even mentioned the sacred tree Yggdrasil or the Norns etc. There is a vast tapestry of tales in the Viking sagas. Hopefully I’ll be able to go into more detail in the future, but for now I hope this taster will spur readers into discovering more for themselves.
Next time I’ll be discussing how Vikings lived, bathed, what they ate and how they kept themselves entertained. Viking Homes - The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm | Kitty-Lydia Dye (kittylydiadye.blogspot.com)
Melusine was a beautiful woman who was discovered in the forest. The man who finds her begs her to marry him. It is a happy marriage, yet curiosity plagues Melusine’s husband. All the time they have lived together, she has forbidden him from seeing her bathe.
One day, he creeps up and spies upon her, only to be horrified at discovering her lower half has transformed into a serpent’s tail. Furious at having her trust betrayed, Melusine changes into a dragon and flies away, never to be seen again.
Rosa yawned. “I think the moral of this story is for husbands not to delve too deep into their wives’ secrets.”
“Or perhaps Melusine should have trusted her husband would not care what she hid in the water’s reflection.”
Grimulf nestled his face against her neck. She squirmed and laughed gently at the tickle of his beard. His fingers gripped either side of her hips and she tensed, thinking it might finally begin.
But, just as it had been these past few nights, he settled for a kiss to her shoulder. He arose and quickly dressed, sliding the knife under their pillow into his boot.
I’ve only touched upon a few things and haven't even mentioned the sacred tree Yggdrasil or the Norns etc. There is a vast tapestry of tales in the Viking sagas. Hopefully I’ll be able to go into more detail in the future, but for now I hope this taster will spur readers into discovering more for themselves.
Next time I’ll be discussing how Vikings lived, bathed, what they ate and how they kept themselves entertained. Viking Homes - The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm | Kitty-Lydia Dye (kittylydiadye.blogspot.com)
While you’re waiting, why not have a read of The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm for adventure and romance.
Happy new year!
No comments:
Post a Comment