![]() However, most of the deceased were buried in ship-shaped burial plots marked by stones. If the deceased was a great warrior or member of the aristocracy, they were usually buried in their longship, a type of ship created by the Norsemen for trade and warfare, that was either buried or set on fire and sent out to sea. If the family saw a revenant (ghost) or draugr (undead creature), they believed more deaths in the family would occur. ![]() There was a fear associated with death as families worried the deceased would try to return, so they sometimes cut off the deceased’s head, put a stake through them, or took other precautions to prevent them from trying to return to their family. There were certain burial rituals the Norsemen followed to ensure the deceased would make it to the afterlife. Those in Asgard either went to Valhalla known as “the hall of the slain” ruled by the god Odin or Folkvangr known as “field of the host” ruled by goddess Freyja. Asgard is similar to heaven as it’s where the honorable dead and those who were warriors went, while Helheim or Hel is where the dishonorable dead ended up. The Norsemen believed in the existence of nine worlds, Asgard and Helheim being the two associated with housing the dead. The Norsemen, meaning men of the north, had their own Norse pagan religion with specific burial customs and rituals when taking care of their dead. Other parts of the series are about Maori funeral traditions and Swedish funeral traditions, among others.ĭuring the Viking age in the 8th to 11th centuries, a group of people called Norsemen lived in Scandinavia, which consists of the countries Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and sometimes other countries are included such as Finland and Iceland. ![]() This article looks at Viking funeral traditions and is part of a series that highlights how different cultures care for their dead. Little did these risk-averse literary magazines know that in a few short years Colorado families would be acting out scenes from “The Long Ships” and Maine legislators would be considering jumping on board.Here in America and in most of Canada, we have funeral traditions that have stood the test of time for decades, even centuries.īut our traditions are vastly different from those in other countries and cultures. Several publications that rejected my family themed short story responded with mixed comments like, “Nicely done, but not terribly believable.” Obviously, my story was way ahead of its time. Yes, sometimes truth is stranger than fiction. ![]() “Hey, Molly, let’s skip the fireworks, I hear they’re lighting up Old Man Cummings on Mount Abram tonight!” One can imagine them rivaling Fourth of July celebrations and Christmas tree lightings across the state. Had the proposal passed, Maine would have been only the second state in the union behind Colorado to allow these Viking-style funerals. ![]() The group was seeking permission to have outdoor funeral pyres on a large, forested parcel it owned in Dresden. The news reports suggested this was a serious proposal, spurred by a nonprofit cemetery group called Good Ground, Great Beyond. The media hubbub also reminded me that Viking-style funerals have a strong hold on our imaginations, thanks to popular cultural juggernauts like “Game of Thrones” and Star Wars’ “The Phantom Menace.” In both films, characters are cremated in elaborate ceremonies. Related Letter to the editor: Viking funerals more respectful than embalming, burial ![]()
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