vegvisir

I recently visited Borrehaugene again to feel the energies and take a few pictures of the scenery. To my pleasant surprise, I found a viking longhouse (under constructuon) that is soon to be finished. During the Viking Festival at Borre (6~7th of July) they will open it for the audience to see. That's what it is all about - Bringing the ancient into modern.

~Sól Spydsdóttir

Photos from my instagram account: @thevikingqueen

~Sól Spydsdóttir

This summer like the last one, and the one before that, Norway has a lot of Viking- and medieval markets. 
I have made a list of those that I know about (with links) If any of you know of more than I have listed here, please fill me in!

 
A toast to the gods! (With my dearest Tathariel at Bjørgvin last summer)

JUNE

31st of May~2nd of June: Tønsberg Medieval Festival (in Tønsberg, Norway) 

31st of May~2nd of June: Bjørgvin Viking Market  (At Hordamuseet in Bergen, Norway)

6th~9 th of June: Karmøy viking festival (at Karmøy in Rogaland, Norway)

7th~9th of June : The Medieval festival of Hamar (in Hamar, Norway)

7th~9th og June : Yddir Viking Market (at Hemnes, Aurskog-Høland, Norway)

15th~16th of June : Oslo Medieval festival (in Oslo, Norway)

14th~16th of June:  Hafrsfjord Viking Market  (at Møllebukta, in Rogaland, Norway)

20th~23rd of June: Trondheim viking market (at Djupvika in Trondheim, Norway)

JULY

6th ~7th of July: Viking Festival at Borre (Viking Battle show in Horten, Norway)

12th ~ 14th of July: The Viking Festival at Egge (at Egge Museum in Steinkjer, Norway) 

12th-14th of July: The Viking marked at "Bronseplassen" (at Bronseplassen in Lillesand, Norway)

19th-21st of July: Gudvangr Viking Market (at Gudvangen in Sogn og Fjordane, Norway)

19th- 21st of July: Kaupang at Janaheim (at Janaheim in Nord-Trøndelag, Norway)

19th ~21st of July: International Viking Festival in Sarpsborg, Norway 

24th-29th og July: Stiklastadir Market (at Stiklestad in Verdal, Norway)

26th - 28th of July: Harudes Viking camp

AUGUST

7th-13th of August: Lofotr Viking Festival (at Lofotr Viking Museum in Lofoten, Norway)

23rd-25th of August: Fenring Market (at Askøy in Hordaland, Norway)

29th of august-1st of September Askøy Viking Market


SEPTEMBER

6th~8th of September: Gjallarstadir Viking Market (at Nebbursvollen in Lillestrøm, Norway)

 

Where might I meet YOU this summer?  

 ~Sól Spydsdóttir

I found that there are many viking age related items for sale at Medieval Faires.

Will you just look at this epic drinking horn.













My look, day one. I designed and made this dress many years ago.

(The two photos of me above were taken by Ida Sofie Vesterelv) 



I met Erik and Johan Holst from Gycklargruppen Trix





Friends came from far and wide...;

Frøydis

Sara


Ida Sofie and Camilla Rose

Tathariel, my sister in spirit.

My look, day two. The dress I am wearing is modified by me. It used to look completely different.

Just chilling. I found it amusing.

Medieval Faires are great fun to attend. I met a lot of blog readers and friends.
This summer, I am going to attend many Viking Faires and Medieval Faires. 

I am wondering who I might meet this time-
Whom of my readers are going to Faires in Norway this summer? 
Which Faires are you going to attend?

~Sól Spydsdóttir

My dearest sister in spirit Tathariel and I participated in a "viking fight" video this Autumn with some admirable warriors.
Here?s the result of the hair whipping, steel clanking, muscle flexing and muddy adventure

~Sól Spydsdóttir 

Samdalen, 29th May "2012"



Silje <3 She brought water to make sure that we didn't burn down the forest.

I was in charge of the part that involved knifes

Lars Christian lit the fire.



Ash.



















Norway is magical, mystical and dark. I would not have it any other way.

3.
Eld han tarv
som inn er komen
og um kne kulsar.
Til mat og klæde
den mann hev trong
som hev i fjell fari.

3.
Elds er þörf,
þeims inn er kominn
ok á kné kalinn;
matar ok váða
er manni þörf,
þeim er hefr um fjall farit.

- Hávamál

 My friends and I went straight to the forest of Samdalen, Norway before the Bjørgvin Viking Faire this summer, and I wanted to share these pictures.
Ps: I shall unleash epicness upon Ye all.

~Sól Spydsdóttir / Vegvisir

Viking tents. I visited a few at this faire and made some new friends. I even gave a very angry man some advice that succeeded to calm him down.

Dried moose meat














This guy really had the whole throat-singing under control.

The female part of the band "Skalthr". Highly entertaining!









A bracelet of moose teeth


Was this a special Viking Faire? Yes, it was, for I met old souls wandering around the graves at Borre.
Both living and dead came to honor their ancestors with their prescence at this faire.
Fighting, music, shopping, mead and good company made a good bonuses, and I had my share of all that.
One late evening I even had my own blot to the norse goddess Frøya. Success.

~Sól Spydsdótttir / Vegvisir

My dearest sister in spirit and I are currently refreshing our knowledge about how to fight good in viking battle. 

At Borre Viking Faire we met the man who would become our trusted teacher;

His name is Jørn.





My sister in spirit is good! I proudly watched her fight. By the end of the day we were all bruised, but higly satisfied with the training. Pain is passing, glory is forever og all that. .
Valhall, here we come!

*Trollface* A good laugh makes one younger. I should know, ancient as I am. 

We decided to make a hybrid braid of his beard and our hair. 

Now, here is a movie of the amesome men that kindly accepted our request to join their tribe;

And here is an educational movie about viking fighting;

So tell me human; Hast Thou been swinging Thy sword lately? 

~Sól Spydsdóttir / Vegvisir

Arve Moen Bergset ~ Kråkevisa


Yet another dead crow

I twisted its neck to get the head

It took over an hour to remove all the meat and feathers



They say that the eyes are the mirror to the soul

...Bone cleaning; a long process for truely dedicated souls. It takes time, it smells and it requires patience and a steady hand. NB: The animals I use for my taxidermy/ bone cleaning have not suffered death by my hand. In other words; they are already dead when I find them. I give my thanks to the dead animals as I collect my treasures.

Equipment that i use for bone cleaning:
~ Kitchen gloves
~ Disposable gloves
~ A very sharp knife
 ~ Scalpel
~ Stålull
~ Cotton swabs
~ Hyppig skiftet vann gjennom 2 uker i ei bøtte
~ Hydrogen peroxide
~ Butter casserole

There are many different techniques when it comes to bone cleaning. I will show you the process that i prefer. Some might find my hobby grotesque, I see it as a way of using natures resources.  Completely natural and nothing to make a fuzz about.

~Sól / Vegvisir

Translation: This is the new addition to my hobby taxidermy collection; A dead crow that I found along a country road. I discovered a hole in its back when I examined the crow (It was clear that someone had shot it with a rifle.) I felt very lucky, for it was evident that it had died recently. If one wants to preserve parts of dead animals, it is necessary that the animal has been dead a very short time. Or else, flies and other insects will leave traces that are impossible to remove. This time I try to preserve the legs in addition to preparing the skull. I cut out the eyes with a perfect cut, and was a little sad when I discovered that I have no formalin to put them in. I need something that I can use as an excuse if I get tired of any guests I may have. Then, I can say something like; "I think you have to go home for the crow eyes are giving you an evil stare right now"

~Vegvisir