Viking Hygiene - The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm

As an accompaniment to my historical romance, The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm (published by Satin Romance), this blog series has been examining different aspects of Viking culture. Last time, it was clothes and jewellery.

 Other posts include:

Viking homes

The Vikings in Norfolk

Gods and Folklore

For this one, I’m focusing on Viking hygiene. This subject features heavily in Bride as a means for Rosa and Grimulf to get comfortable with one another 😉

Viking Clothes and Jewellery

In my last few blog posts, I’ve written about why the Vikings came to Norfolk, their mythology and housing, but what would Vikings have worn? Is there any truth to the illustrations that have depicted them in the past?

Most Viking clothes were made of wool, leather, animal skins or linen. Silk was an expensive import and used sparingly in embroidery as a sign of social status.

What colours would they have worn, though? Archaeological evidence at an abandoned trading post in Busdorf, Germany revealed walnut shells leftover from brown dye production.

Other natural dyes would have come from lichen, leaves and stinging nettles to create purples, yellows and greens. For a vibrant red, the Vikings would have travelled overseas on trading expeditions for the madder plant and its roots.

Viking Homes - The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm

Rosa did not look around. A confrontation would do her no good. She focused on the sleepily clucking hens, the whispery rush of their ruffled feathers.

When she did look back, the women were gone. Men sat sharpening tools or hunched over vegetable patches eyed her warily. During the accident they had seen how easily she took control and did not like it.

Rosa had expected to at least see Björn again. His wound would need seeing to and a new poultice applied. Not once did he appear at her door, not even to visit his grandmother.

Instead, she found on the doorstep curious gifts: a flagon of ale, gulls’ eggs, even a basket of honey, the comb sticky and gleaming, broken into clumps. When she did manage to catch a glimpse of the boy, he bowed his head to her. It was a quick, nervous jerk, as if afraid.

This week’s blog post to go alongside The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm will describe what a Viking settlement would have looked like. Earlier blog posts were about the Vikings in Norfolk and Viking beliefs.

Viking Gods, Traditions and Norfolk Folklore

The winds whipped about, splattering them with rain. The tree they stood before, old and with gnarled, rotted roots, had once been struck with lightning. It had split the tree in twain and the people had named it Thor’s tree.

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.

Last week, I discussed some of the reasons why Vikings came to Norfolk and what remained of their influence. Kitty-Lydia Dye: The Vikings and Norfolk (kittylydiadye.blogspot.com) This time, I wanted to write about something which is one of my favourite topics – folklore!

The Vikings and Norfolk

The guest of honour had yet to be sighted. They blamed the storm. Not because it might have delayed Grimulf, but because he would have turned back to ride through it just for the thrill. His father, had he still lived, would have boomed with laughter along with the thunder if someone was foolish enough to warn him to rein in his son.

“It’d be the same as trying to tame the winds. It’s not my job to stifle his lust for adventure. That’s for his wife to do, if she wants him home long enough to net a few sons!”

This year, I’m excited to announce Satin Romance have published my Viking romance The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm. To celebrate its release, my next few blog posts will focus on Viking culture, beliefs, food, and their impact on Norfolk.

The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm - Viking Romance adventure set on the Norfolk Coast

I'm excited to announce Satin Romance have published my Viking romance novel set on the Norfolk coast. The Bride Who Rode in With the Storm is available in ebook and print format on Amazon, but will be available via other outlets by next month.

912, Heimer’s Settlement, East Anglia

A rugged Viking surrounded by treacherous assassins and a virtuous nun hounded by more than the storm. Two cultures collide when Anglo-Saxon Rosamund bursts into the mead hall of jaded Varangian Guard Grimulf and demands he marries her.

Since her nunnery was sacked, Rosa has been on the run. She has relied on her wits to keep her safe, but now she needs someone willing to wield shield and sword for her.

Grimulf is Rosa’s wild warrior, who conceals his past traumas from his years as a soldier in the East. Rosa is the innocent novice forced to bind herself to him for protection.

As their story unfolds, she discovers this broad, scarred hero has a tender, protective side. A complex man who does not force her to slake his lust but slowly seduces her until she is close to begging for his touch.

However, will the lies she has whispered in his ear be their undoing?

Later on I'll be posting blog posts about Viking culture, settlement life and their impact on Norfolk, so please follow to find out more :)