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Vol. II , Issue I |
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The Viking Saga of Åland
The Hlödver Viking Market
In June 2000, peaceful Vikings returned to Saltvik. The story of Hlödver the Tall spurred Ålanders to explore their Viking Heritage. The first two-day Viking Market, now planned as an annual event, drew nearly 3000 people. Enthusiastic Ålanders erected a Viking long house, a wooden chain-saw statue of Hlödver, and a runestone in his memory. Unlike the dozen or so other older Viking Festivals in England and Scandinavia, Åland's is a homegrown affair. Rather than a crowd of traveling reenactors, natives created the Viking village and performed in the chronicle play [photo]. Despite the non-aggressive nature of Åland, townspeople became Vikings for a weekend.
Even Governor Peter LindbŠck [photo] showed up wearing his homespun robe and a woolen cap, a cow horn drinking cup tied to his belt . Unfortunately, he needed his modern glasses in order to read his proclamation.
Many of the people involved, like Gerry Allgode, who carves runestones [photo], are working hard to re-create authentic Viking activities. However, Bryan Betts says confusion reigns at most Viking reenactments. "Unfortunately, many of the resources that people turn to first, for example books from the library or films, are either very dated or simply rubbish. There is a lot of study going into Viking period clothing for instance, yet all too often you see people wearing stuff that is not right." Not that it is easy to dress like an every-day Viking. Much early research and early books, not to mention movies, only recognized the fancier stuff of the well off. Now more is known about the common folks and their lives and Viking reenactors are working to disseminate the information through web sites and demonstrations.
"Much of what people today think of as "the Viking heritage" is a myth that is less than 100-200 years old. Sadly, it seems there is a modern myth or fantasy of the Vikings, which is based much more on the works of Hollywood and certain illustrators than on archaeology and research," Betts says. He gives an example of attending another Viking festival where potato salad was served. "I thought everyone knew the potato only reached Europe in the16th century."
Today's Ålanders share the Vikings connection to the sea, and a Swedish Viking reenactor helped by bringing his Viking boat to Åland. The beautifully curving sides of the boat, the high stem and stern and the square red sail replicate actual Viking boats that have been recovered or are pictured in Viking age carvings. If you want to participate in the Hlödver Viking Market, make plans to visit the beautiful islands of Åland on July 27 and 28, 2001. About Author
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One of the most common
misconceptions involves those helmets with horns like the one seen on a
cherubic blond toddler at the Viking Market [photo]. In fact, no horned helmets
have ever been unearthed by archaeologists. Rare medevial pictures of figures in
horned helmets are probably gods, not warriors. 
The Ålanders worked to present
real Viking food. For example, a piece of smoked reindeer, a salmon pie and a
mug of beer were served up on a slice of birch wood. [photo] Women wearing
Viking aprons cooked pancakes on a flat iron pan over an outdoor fire. |
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