The tables are aligned in fashion representing the colors of yuletide festivities.
Unfortunately, modern day Vikings do not know that the Star of David plant (poinsettias) is poisonous to humans. Figures, everywhere I go I have to compete with a poisonous plant this time of year! Dumb modern Vikings, and they all wonder why their noses are snuffy!
Anyway back to my story...
Flames meet you at the tavern. Bonfires ablaze in the middle of the cold winter night. Fire, the most common thread throughout the years of the Vikings. When walking through the main double doors, which serve as the entrance, one can find the origins of mistletoe. Originally, used to welcome strangers and travelers, a sign of warmth. A friendly hello and a kiss at the welcome, which lead to further use of kissing under the mistletoe. One is then greeted by the head of the Viking community (generally the king, along with his wives) and served alcohol of choice as a guest of honor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weAQWk6ji0g
(Traditional Norsk Music)
Upstairs in the loft of chambers, the tables are decorated, along with banners and streamers hanging all over. Little Nisse Men (gnomes) are along the walls and sitting in every corner. Their little wives holding on to sprigs of tree. Straw goats stand in waiting to pull the chariot of Thor, the god of thunder. The creatures of the underworld all welcome.
Along the back wall of the chambers you find a set of tables piled high with all the foods known to this northern creation. Ribs, lamb, sour kraut, red kraut, potatoes (the ancient Viking did not eat potatoes, as they did not eat anything buried beneath the ground), brown gravy, sausages. Another table held a variety of sliced meats such as red wine reindeer, cognac soaked beef, to simple fares of different ham and turkeys. Another table was purely seafood ranging from raw whale meat and smoked salmon, just to name one of the salmon dishes. Onward to cold water shrimp, lobster, and crab with a variety of the main courses in differently prepared manners. They even had crayfish! Of course, one could not forget lutefisk. Pates and sauces matching every dish lie by the sides of the magnificently presented foods, with decorated cuts of vegetables and garnishes. The dessert tables consisted of three separate tables to themselves. Every known dessert to Viking and Scandinavian history was delicately portrayed and just as inviting as the last. All set to dim candelabra, giving the evening air a glow from previous holidays past.
The tradition is set in a farewell to the old and drinking in the new. A celebration for the turning sun. Each year is celebrated in story telling (as their history was passed along and for entertainment, considered a gift from the god Odin). Even modern Vikings have not lost this touch of culture. Drinking and eating, drinking and eating... three days, turned into a week in some cases. Dancing, laughing, storytelling, drinking, eating, and in general merry times all under fire light of the candles' and bonfires' glow.
Hence, the tradition of the Viking Table.
Unfortunately, modern day Vikings do not know that the Star of David plant (poinsettias) is poisonous to humans. Figures, everywhere I go I have to compete with a poisonous plant this time of year! Dumb modern Vikings, and they all wonder why their noses are snuffy!
Anyway back to my story...
Flames meet you at the tavern. Bonfires ablaze in the middle of the cold winter night. Fire, the most common thread throughout the years of the Vikings. When walking through the main double doors, which serve as the entrance, one can find the origins of mistletoe. Originally, used to welcome strangers and travelers, a sign of warmth. A friendly hello and a kiss at the welcome, which lead to further use of kissing under the mistletoe. One is then greeted by the head of the Viking community (generally the king, along with his wives) and served alcohol of choice as a guest of honor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=weAQWk6ji0g
(Traditional Norsk Music)
Upstairs in the loft of chambers, the tables are decorated, along with banners and streamers hanging all over. Little Nisse Men (gnomes) are along the walls and sitting in every corner. Their little wives holding on to sprigs of tree. Straw goats stand in waiting to pull the chariot of Thor, the god of thunder. The creatures of the underworld all welcome.
Along the back wall of the chambers you find a set of tables piled high with all the foods known to this northern creation. Ribs, lamb, sour kraut, red kraut, potatoes (the ancient Viking did not eat potatoes, as they did not eat anything buried beneath the ground), brown gravy, sausages. Another table held a variety of sliced meats such as red wine reindeer, cognac soaked beef, to simple fares of different ham and turkeys. Another table was purely seafood ranging from raw whale meat and smoked salmon, just to name one of the salmon dishes. Onward to cold water shrimp, lobster, and crab with a variety of the main courses in differently prepared manners. They even had crayfish! Of course, one could not forget lutefisk. Pates and sauces matching every dish lie by the sides of the magnificently presented foods, with decorated cuts of vegetables and garnishes. The dessert tables consisted of three separate tables to themselves. Every known dessert to Viking and Scandinavian history was delicately portrayed and just as inviting as the last. All set to dim candelabra, giving the evening air a glow from previous holidays past.
The tradition is set in a farewell to the old and drinking in the new. A celebration for the turning sun. Each year is celebrated in story telling (as their history was passed along and for entertainment, considered a gift from the god Odin). Even modern Vikings have not lost this touch of culture. Drinking and eating, drinking and eating... three days, turned into a week in some cases. Dancing, laughing, storytelling, drinking, eating, and in general merry times all under fire light of the candles' and bonfires' glow.
Hence, the tradition of the Viking Table.
1 comment:
Had no idea they have/had snuffy noses...:) I love the sun. The moon is a pretender although I love her too.
Interesting post.
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