Hands Put to Work at the Viking Festival

We were in York with the grandchildren on Monday. Its annual Viking Festival has begun.

Norsemen from Scandinavia went looking for places to settle, often in England and Ireland from about CE 800 to CE 1000. Like the Romans before them, many settled in the fertile lands round York. We came to find out more. We looked at demonstrations of working with wool. We attended a Brassica Massacre, where no hapless human was harmed as a doughty ‘Viking’ explained the ways to win in hand-to-hand fighting, by killing a cabbage impaled on a spike. And we chatted to a ‘Viking’ potter, as he worked away in freezing conditions to throw a simple pot.

Later, we were chuffed to bits to discover that the same master who had enslaved a willing William for twenty minutes or so last year was back again. This time Zoë couldn’t wait to have a go, and The Boss thought that if she came from the same stock as her brother, he couldn’t turn her down. After she’d swept the floor (inadequately), he set her onto a spot of woodturning – with his help. Many hands make light work.

Then he set about making Zoë a wooden medallion to thank her – and enlisted her help again. He was a good-humoured and generous master.

We had an excellent time. But we were pleased to retreat afterwards in our cosy modern clothing to a cosy house, and the comforts of 21st century living.

The header photograph shows hand-to-hand fighting in York – last year.

For Leanne’s Monochrome Madness #28 Hands which is this week hosted by Stupidity Hole.

Unknown's avatar

Author: margaret21

I'm retired and live in North Yorkshire, where I walk , write, volunteer and travel as often as I can.

57 thoughts on “Hands Put to Work at the Viking Festival”

  1. absolutely fantabulous! LOVE the monochrome pics, the stories, the mood, but love best the potter‘s hands working the ‚dough‘ – I bet you had the most amazing day with the grandies. How very wonderful to do this, for both grandparents and kids. How rewarding; that‘s the stuff memories are made of.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  6. Ah, Vikings! I’ve just finished reading David Greig’s novel ‘Columba’s Bones’ about a Viking raid on Iona. Part of the Darkland Tales series. And yes, whenever I’m reading about Vikings or visit places with a Viking history, I’m very glad to have all the cosy comforts of 21st century living!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. You appear to have gone all monochrome on us lately. Monochrome madness has definitely set in! Great photos of the hands and love the concentration on Zoe’s face as she helped. York has very much capitalised on the Viking market.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. York has. It does these things quite well, and finds ways of pointing visitors to other things worth seeing to reduce the scrum in town. As to te monochrome. You’re right, I am enjoying b/w. But as for Monochrome Madness … well, that’s the challenge, innit?

      Like

      Reply

  21. I love the Viking history of York (Jorvik). My hubby hails from York and his nick name as a motorcycle rider was Viking and his boat’s name was Jorvik. What a great thing to do with the grandkids.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  25. Pingback: Three – No Four – Vikings I Met Last Month – From Pyrenees to Pennines

Leave a comment