Literally Tying The Knot

Tia had just started her new job and was taking a tour of the store with the other fresh fish, when Adam noticed her shining out of the pack. After a couple weeks of catching each other's eye, he timidly asked her out for a cup of coffee. Soon their attraction would bloom into the nerdy, yet sickeningly sweet love we all know today. Adam accepted Tia's boys, Gavin and Asher, with open arms and is now using those arms to cradle their son Tadhg. Adam introduced Tia and her boys to the SCA and they have been playing as a family for two and half years. The SCA focuses on historically accurate reenactment, which is why we have chosen to present a historically accurate viking wedding ceremony!

Adam decided to propose a few months before and remembered how much Tia loved the scenery at an SCA event in Provo. The little stone bridge immediately popped in his head and he knew that would be the perfect spot. After a walk around the castle and down to the grounds on the other side, they came upon the little stone bridge. Adam got down on one knee and proposed in the presence of her boys and their new baby. The boys were thrilled and the couple didn't stop blushing for the rest of the day.

Viking wedding traditions were as much about the couple as they were about the families and clan politics. Weddings were held in the summer as winter weather made travel impossible Weddings were typically held on Friday as that day belonged to the Goddess Frygg, who ruled over marriage. When a couple became engaged the process of negotiating the terms of the marriage began. Due to these negotiations and the weather conditions, weddings were often years in the planning. This long planning period also allowed for the families to prepare and store the food and drink needed to house the large number guests that would be attending the wedding. Before the wedding ceremony could take place, the bride and groom each underwent separate rituals to cleanse themselves and symbolically wash away their unwed status. The bride entered a bathhouse and used hot stones to create steam to clean herself. A circlet, often made of gold, called a kransen was worn by unwed women of some Viking cultures. During this cleansing ritual the kransen was removed and stored to be passed down to the bride’s future daughter. The groom would be tasked with breaking into the tomb of a revered ancestor to retrieve a sword. This signified his death as a boy and when he emerged, his rebirth as a man. The groom would then also undergo a ritual bath to wash away his unwed status. Unlike modern times, the Viking bride did not put special emphasis on the dress or outfit. The Vikings put special stock in the styling of the hair and bridal crown. Long healthy hair was sign of wealth and status, so even though many braids were worn, the hair was worn long and flowing. A bridal crown was a family heirloom and was typically made from silver. These crowns could be very elaborate and be decorated with rock crystal, garlands, and engraved with nature or geometric designs. The bridal crown replaced the kransen as part of the wedding ceremony in which the bride is crowned a woman free to make her own destiny.

Viking grooms were not required to wear any particular garments. They carried their ancestral sword that they brought out of the grave and sometimes a hammer or ax to symbolize devotion to Thor or a spear for Odin. The ceremony began after the premarital rituals had concluded. Witnesses were assembled to participate in the exchange of the dowry and of the mundi, or bride price. Following this a religious ceremony was held. Tis entailed summoning the attentions of the Gods, which often included an incantation and a sacrifice. The animal sacrificed was often associated with fertility and was different depending on which God or Goddess was being venerated. Rings were then exchanged between the Bride and Groom, but these were more commonly arm rings that were worn around the wrist or bicep. In addition to these rings, swords were exchanged. The groom gave his ancestor’s sword to the bride and she in turn gave him an ancestral sword. After the ceremony the newly joined families made their way to the feast hall. The two families would then race to the feast hall as fast as they could. The family that arrived last would then be required to serve beer and ale to the other family for the duration of the feast. When the families made it to the hall, the Groom would block passage to the hall from the Bride. She was not allowed to enter without his assistance, If the Groom made it across the threshold without tripping it promised prosperity for the marriage. During the wedding it was legally required that the Bride and Groom drink a specially brewed bridal-ale. The union was only binding after the ale had been drunk and the first drink was presented to the groom by his new wife in a vessel called a loving-cup. He often would recite verses of poetry or prayers to the Gods before taking a sip and passing the vessel to his new wife, who would do the same.