Our Days of the Week are named for Norse Gods For centuries, the days of the week have been named after gods and goddesses from different cultures. From the Babylonians to the Romans, various cultures have had their own naming conventions for days of the week.  But it was the Norse who gave us the names for the days that we use today. Tracking Time Ancient humans would track the rising and setting of the sun, the waxing and waning of the moon, and they could tell when winter was approaching by when the days would grow longer or shorter. They would know when to plant crops; when to look fo ..read more

Norse Pagan Spring Traditions The ancient Norse and Northern Germanic people celebrated events differently than we do today.  There is little written history, with large missing gaps that we have available to look for our information. There is some information written about celebrations in the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda, as well as in the Icelandic Sagas.  Other information can be found in writings from other people and cultures, like in Tacitus’s “Germania” dated to about 98 CE. Additionally, after the Christianization period, there were some writings by monks that describe the Nor ..read more

Origins of the Honeymoon Ever wonder where the idea and name for the honeymoon comes from? In Viking lore, the family and friends of the groom and bride would give the newly wed couple enough mead to last for a month. And well, the Vikings drank mead! Mead is made with honey, along with the understanding that a month is a measure of time closely corresponding with the length of time required by the moon to revolve once around the Earth. Put the two together and you get honey mead for a moon cycle or "honeymoon". There are actually several different theories where the tradition of the honeymo ..read more

Kittens for Brides! In Viking tradition, when a warrior and a maiden decided to become one as man and wife, it was common practice for members of the community to give the new bride a kitten or kittens. As said by The Viking Answer Lady “Kittens were sometimes given to new brides as an essential part of setting up a new household. It is especially appropriate that brides should receive cats, since cats were associated with Freyja, the goddess of love. The Vikings believed that Freyja rode a cart drawn by a team of cats.”  The fabulous Norwegian Forest Cat, or "skogkatt" was m ..read more

Odin is a prominent figure in Norse mythology and a revered god in Nordic lore. He is referred to as the All Father, or the Alfather, and is the leader of Asgard. Odin is known for his many sacrifices, including sacrificing one of his eyes for wisdom as he drank from the well of Mimir to gain knowledge and power.  He also made the sacrifice to leave his son Baldur in the underworld. Odin carries the spear, Gungnir which was made by the dwarves, Sons of Ivaldi from Svartalfheim. Although it looks like an ordinary spear, this weapon would sway and move, but always hit its target.&nbs ..read more

Friday the 13th has been a superstitious day for many in the western world, but where did the fear of the number 13, and especially Friday the 13th come from? But where does all the hubbub about the superstition and unluckiness that surrounds Friday the 13th come from? Scouring through information to find the source, it seems that this was made an unlucky day for the most part by the Christians beginning in the early 18th century. The Christians tie the unluckiness and bad fortune to the last supper and the 13th person being nailed to a cross. Other sources claim it originates from the s ..read more

The Saga of Biorn is an animated short story about an old Viking named Biorn.  All he wants to do is die in battle so he can go to Valhalla and join his warrior companions.  Death is not so easy when you are a great warrior! Graduation film from The Animation Workshop, Denmark. Initial release: February 18, 2011 Director: Benjamin Kousholt Production company: The Animation Workshop Music composed by: Mathias Winum Narrator: Phillip Sacramento Cast: Phillip Sacramento, Alberte Thorning Agerskov, Jack E. Sovtar     Support Norhalla on Patreon Patreon is a way to join Nor ..read more