The Vikings

What comes to your mind when you hear the name "VIKING"? For most, images of savage killers who roamed the lands of Europe a thousand years ago pop up. Who really were these people who after centuries of peaceful living in the lands now known as Denmark, Sweden and Norway suddenly sailed into Europe, bringing death, pillaging and destruction? Well, actually, the Vikings were much more than warriors. Their explorations of new lands bringing settlements, religion, farming, and a solid culture along with their ability to survive harsh environments give us good reason to study and learn about who the Vikings were and the many remarkable things they left us.

Our storyteller, Deks, is of Swedish ancestry and has many relatives who still live near Birka, Sweden today. In ancient times the Swedes were more trading types than anything else. They sailed down the Dneiper river (separating Europe from Russia) buying, selling and trading of furs and amber for metals and minted coin. Did you know that the people of Russia were so impressed with these Swedish Vikings that they asked them to become their rulers and show them how to survive? They called these Vikings, 'the RUS' and took on the name for their own people, the 'RUS'sians.

Dressed as a Swedish Viking trader, complete with helmet, colorful wool clothes, chain mail shirt and sword, shield and spear, Deks weaves the story of how these remarkable people literally changed the face of Europe in the 10th and 11th centuries. And not just Sweden. Denmark and Norway too, were Viking countries which profoundly influenced who we are today.

For instance, who was it that found and created the first settlement in North America? No, it was not Christopher Columbus. It was Norwegian Vikings! Who was it that created the countries of Greenland and Iceland? It was the Norwegian Vikings! By the way, Iceland is very green and lush today but back then was a big icecube, while Greenland today is very cold and icy while back then was a garden spot for crops and grazing animals. Talk about your global warming, huh? Let's not leave out Denmark.  Both the Danes and Norwegians settled and conquered much of Ireland and England but it was the Danes which finally won out. They settled a place in northern France called Normandy (WWII fame - remember?). In 1066 AD they attacked and became the rulers of that little island - England.

These findings and much more are giving us a totally different view of the Vikings. We now see more than just as raiders and pillagers but as entrepreneurs, traders - people opening up new avenues of commerce, bringing new materials into Scandinavia and spreading Scandinavian ideas into Europe. OK, much of the time they were doing it at the tip of the sword, but...oh well.

What then can we learn from these people and their story? While Deks weaves stories of Viking bravery, and audacity, he also paints a picture of a people who were tough, very religious and family oriented. You will love to see it as Deks dresses students in authentic Viking costumes and we all become raiders. We will eat Viking foods, and demonstrate the amazing art and crafts which were commonly used.

Did you know that we get our word 'beserk' from the Vikings? These were people who literally went crazy in battle, either from drugs or training. They often would wear no armor and would charge straight into the heaviest of armored lines in furious charges. In fact, it is known that some 'beserkers' drowned as they jumped off ships in their hurry to get at the enemy without knowing how to swim.

And don't think that these are just quaint people of long ago who have no real impact on us. When you go through your week, you are speaking in Viking. Did you know that we get our words for the days of the week from the Vikings? Here are a few: Thursday for the Vikings was "Thor's Day" in honor of the Thunder god. Friday was for Freya - the goddess of fertility. The Vikings were very superstitious and honored their many gods.

Also, if you get pulled over by a policeman and have to go to court, thank the Vikings, for they developed much of our modern system of justice. The Viking who wanted his case heard would have courtroom drama at a place called the 'thyng' where the two sides could both get a hearing. However, you didn't want to be on the losing side.  Losers were often outcast from the society with a decree that anyone who found the guilty man could kill him with out punishment . A more quick form of punishment was to take a hand if you caused a hand to be lost, a leg if you cost a leg and an eye if you caused the loss of an eye. Hmmm...a lot quicker system of dealing with the guilty, but certainly with less appeals.

Your group or class will love this program. The Vikings are the epitome of a brave, warrior caste people who didn't worry about death.  Therefore, they could really live!! See the picture above.  Looks like Deks is sure having fun. Participants will too!