{"id":320,"date":"2021-12-02T13:43:33","date_gmt":"2021-12-02T12:43:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/osebergvikingarv.no\/eng\/?p=320"},"modified":"2021-12-07T15:10:55","modified_gmt":"2021-12-07T14:10:55","slug":"christmas-with-vikings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osebergvikingarv.no\/eng\/2021\/12\/02\/christmas-with-vikings\/","title":{"rendered":"Christmas with Vikings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Things could get a bit out of hand when the Vikings celebrated their\u00a0j\u00f3l.\u00a0<\/em>Actually quite a bit rougher than todays \u201cChristmas table\u201d celebrations.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"VIKING
VIKING SACRIFICE: The Christian king H\u00e5kon the Good is forced by his men to sacrifice to the pagan gods. (Painting by Peter Nicolai Arbo).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

People in Norway have celebrated their\u00a0j\u00f3l<\/em>\u00a0even long before the Vikings. The festivities have clear links to a fertility cult and with the turning of the sun. It was also a kind of communion between gods and humans. Animals (oxen, sheep, cattle) were sacrificed to the gods, while their meat was boiling on large cauldrons over open fires in the longhouses and eaten. There were always large quantities of beer, and normally the festivities would continue for several days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were toasts given to gods like Oden, Thor and Frey \u2013 and for the king or chieftain who had invited to the celebrations. To swear a \u201cBrage oath\u201d was not uncommon (it means to promise to do a great feat) \u2013 not quite unlike todays \u201cChristmas table\u201d celebrations, actually, and frequently regretted the following day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The great parties would have taken place in the chieftain\u00b4s longhouse \u2013 or great hall. His followers could travel over long distances to participate, as this was not just a party, but also an occasion to see and be seen. There would have been entertainment; poets reading their poems or from the sagas, there would be music and singing of caustic songs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"WINTER
WINTER BEAUTY: The ships are on land for the winter, awaiting the turning of the sun and a new spring. On Saturday December 4 this is where we hold our Christmas market. (Photo: Trond H\u00e5vard Malv\u00e5g).<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Present day Vikings are somewhat more modest. But you are welcome to visit our\u00a0j\u00f3le market<\/em>\u00a0in Tonsberg between 12 and 16 this Saturday. And on December 10 there will be a real Viking party at the Midgard Guild Hall. Welcome!<\/p>\n\n\n\"en_GB\"\/<\/a>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Things could get a bit out of hand when the Vikings celebrated their\u00a0j\u00f3l.\u00a0Actually quite a bit rougher than todays \u201cChristmas table\u201d celebrations. People in Norway have celebrated their\u00a0j\u00f3l\u00a0even long before… <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":321,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-320","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t