CoScan

Confederation of Scandinavian Societies of Great Britain and Ireland

Patrons: Their Excellencies, The Ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

Contents:

Societies and guest writer 2 Message from the President: Mark Elliott 3 Chairman’s message & ‘goes to’: Eva Robards 4 Guest writer: Eivor Martinus 7 Hertfordshire Anglo-Scandinavian Society 9 Answers – Quiz on Iceland (2012/1) 10 Oddveig Røsegg: Anne Bruce 12 Reflections by the Vice President: Peter Wright Language, books and kitchen Dear readers, 13 Thoughts on translating poetry: Brita Green 16 York’s Anglo-Scandinavian Christmas We would like to thank all Songbook: Iain Robertson our distinguished 18 Bonus of bilingualism: Eva Robards contributors! It is truly 20 Who on earth are the Tomtes?: Ruth Corry inspiring to receive such a 21 From the book shelf variety of articles, so 23 Anna Sophie’s Kitchen please keep them coming Vikings and Olympians – and do not hesitate to 24 The Saga Oseberg story: Einar Chr. Erlingsen submit ideas for future 28 Hoards and the Viking hordes: Peter Addyman releases. We hope you 31 Viking festivals: Mark Elliott will enjoy this edition of 33 Viking food: Anna Sophie Strandli the Magazine. 36 Scandinavians at the Olympics: Mark Elliott In the time honoured Travel award reports tradition of Editors, may I 37 Meeting in Axvall: Martin Leng wish you all a blessed 38 Returning to Sweden: Oliver-James Dyar Christmas and a happy 39 To Svalbard with BSES: Emma Jones and healthy New Year. CoScan 42 Member Societies 2012 Anna Sophie Strandli 43 Executive Committee & Trust Fund Editor 44 CoScan Patrons

Deadline for contributions to the next Magazine: 1 April 2013

Message from the President

Mark Elliott

Six months ago I wrote of the tennis, motor-racing, all gave us challenges, economic and other, something to cheer. The worries which face us all, and of my hope receded a bit from the popular that the summer would bring us at consciousness. least some respite. The challenges I feel something of the same remain. Many European countries optimism now about CoScan. still endure financial crisis. Conflict After a slow start, more have been in the Middle East is nowhere near signing up for the Tallinn conference resolution, and there are continuing next April, and the British threats of even worse to come. Ambassador in Tallinn sounds quite Evidence of accelerating climatic excited about the prospect of change seems to be building up, with greeting us all. Of course there have little sign of any political will to been reverses, illness, strains of combat it. Despite all that, and various kinds. But there is also a despite an awful lot of rain in recent strong appetite for progress in months, many in Britain would CoScan, and plenty of genuine probably say that it has been rather a commitment and hard work. good summer. Too much of the burden, though, Much of the national euphoria is still borne by too few people. The started with the Olympics. At least Chairman of course, those in SKOL we can get something right, people working on the Tallinn conference, said. London didn’t grind to a halt, the Editor. I won’t go on with the there were no disasters, Team GB list. But there is plenty more to be won a lot of medals, and everybody done, by anybody with an interest in seemed unusually happy with life. what CoScan does, ideas about how Even the weather wasn’t too bad, to do it, and a little time to spare. All when it mattered. And it went on the committee’s email addresses are afterwards – the Paralympics in this magazine (page 43) – just produced some amazing spectacles drop someone a line. And to of achievement and determination; everyone – all the very best, for the international competition in golf, winter and the New Year ahead. Chairman’s message & ordinary meeting a few days later. Her report reads: ‘The responses ‘goes to’ from members were in favour of CoScan continuing and of our Eva Robards continued membership. They like the magazine and the email version and were pleased to hear that we would ‘It is the ever- feature in the next one. They like the increasing newsletter too. They want CoScan to exchange of keep them in touch with what other ideas that societies are doing and appreciate causes the what you are doing to try to make ever-increasing CoScan more relevant. No-one came rate of up with any brilliant ideas as to what innovation’, states Matt Ridley in his you could do that you aren't already book The Rational Optimist (2010). doing, bearing in mind that you don't He also declares the collective brain have a huge amount of money to to be the productive one. Translating play with.’ this into the CoScan world (as of Thank you in Herts for your course I would), each of our generous support. But much remains societies can be inspired by the to be done when it comes to making sharing of the experience of others. CoScan a more visible player in the This Magazine is/should be one of Scandinavian/Nordic community, the major vehicles for that. including more actively to assist the Most societies used regularly to exchange of ideas. submit a short report on their activities, something that for various reasons doesn’t happen these days. But I have undertaken to touch down on you, dear societies, by the initiative to visit. This time I’ve focused on Hertfordshire Anglo- Scandinavian Society. The meeting place with their Chairman Rae Walter was the Scandinavia Show in London (an exhibition with stalls promoting design, travel, fashion, culture and food from the Nordic countries, now in its third year). Rae kindly offered Rae Walter at the Scandinavian Show, London Photo: Eva Robards to find out her fellow members’ views on CoScan at their next

August Strindberg Photo: Herman Anderson; National Library of Sweden

1 Strindberg and women by Eivor Martinus especially in his dramas. Guest Writer Siri von Essen, who was an only child, brought up in a manor house Strindberg, ‘The Misogynist’, loved in Finland and educated by a many women in his life. At least four governess and her parents, is of them inspired him to write some undoubtedly one of the most of his most passionate plays. I refer important role models for Fröken to his wives: Siri von Essen, Frida Julie, which I insist on calling Lady Uhl and Harriet Bosse and his young Julie. A daughter of a count – or an fiancée, Fanny Falkner. It is earl – is not referred to as a Miss in fascinating to follow the strands of England. The plays, which in some his imagination as they unfold in the way or other, use experiences fictional accounts of these women, connected with Siri, are plentiful: Playing with Fire, Creditors, The his imagination in the first place. Stronger, Sir Bengt’s Wife, The Soon after their first meeting Frida Father, Comrades, Thunder in the lowered her veil and kissed Air, The first warning and The Bond. Strindberg through the veil. He In his prose, the revealing account of found this incredibly chaste and their marriage in A Madman’s erotic at the same time, so he Defence stands out as the most reproduced this scene in his play. confessional memoir, and several of During the dress rehearsal in the short stories in Getting Married Stockholm, Harriet lifted her veil are largely on his and Siri’s before kissing her co-actor, but marriage. It is too simplistic, Strindberg jumped up onto the stage however, to suggest that all the and told her that the kiss should be above works are autobiographical, done with the veil down. He but he uses their relationship in his demonstrated how, in fact, Frida had recreation of powerful fictional done it. Life was repeated through characters. art, and wife number three played Similarly, he wrote several plays wife number two on stage. directly for his third wife, the actress Another such incident happened Harriet Bosse. Those plays reflect towards the end of his life when his her chameleon-nature and, young fiancée, Fanny Falkner, consequently, provide a marvellous offered him a self portrait. opportunity for Strindberg to write Strindberg stipulated in very precise complex and fascinating women terms what he wanted her to wear. characters. He used to discuss his He asked her to pose wearing a blue play Kristina with Harriet while it hat with a blue veil because, he said, was still work in progress. I think he had once met a woman on this artistic feedback is often Drottninggatan dressed like that. overlooked when it comes to his This woman, he told her, ‘was like a relationship with women. He trusted princess, tall, slim and fair.’ So there his actress wives, Siri and Harriet, was his last platonic love rekindling with his own creative process. his first great love, now elevated to a Surely, that says a lot about the way work of art and thus safely preserved he valued their opinions. for posterity. There are several instances which Strindberg may not have been an highlight the blending of art and life, easy person to live with. His love and one of my favourites is the way was, like everything about him, Strindberg uses a real-life event with larger than life, and it was almost Frida Uhl and transforms it into an impossible to live up to his ideal of effective scene in To Damascus. Not womanhood. He wanted so much only is Frida immortalized in this and he expected so much of his way but his third wife, who is women. They had to be clever, playing the Lady in To Damascus, artistic, beautiful, vivacious and has to relive the scene that triggered adventurous. Siri probably came closest to that ideal, but shortage of money, professional disappointments, illness and alcohol abuse finally killed the flame that had been responsible for so much creative output. I sincerely believe that his marriage to Siri would have survived if they hadn’t lived in such utter penury and if the censor had not stopped them from putting on Fröken Julie at the Dagmar Theatre in Copenhagen in 1889. Siri was going to play the lead and make a comeback as an actress after years of voluntary exile, and Strindberg had appointed her ‘directrice’ of the Eivor Martinus company. It could have turned out Photo: Cecilia Borddén such a thunderous success but for the coyness and hypocrisy of the censor. In so many ways Siri and Strindberg were on the same level. Harriet entered his life when he Eivor Martinus is a novelist, was more successful but, she was playwright and theatre director. She almost thirty years his junior and the was born in Sweden but moved to age difference soon made itself England in1963. She has translated keenly felt. He kept a life-size and adapted English plays for photograph of her behind a curtain, Swedish theatres, and since the mid- though, and now and again he eighties she has translated fifteen of opened the curtain and worshipped Strindberg´s plays into English for his talented, exotic looking third the stage, and adapted several wife. Swedish classics for BBC Radio. Eivor took her degree in English and Swedish Literature. Four of her own plays have been produced in England and the U.S. She is the writer of Strindberg and Love (2001), and you can also read more about Strindberg on her blog emartinus.blogspot.com.

Swedish playwright, novelist and August Strindberg's funeral procession at poet August Strindberg died 100 Norrtullsgatan in Stockholm. years ago, on 14th May 1912. National Library of Sweden r 2 Hertfordshire Anglo-Scandinavian Society compiled by Elaine Fairey, Aage (Andy) Mikkelsen and Rae Walter

The Society provides a focus for Christiansminde Kolonihaver Scandinavians living in (Danish-style allotments) on the Hertfordshire and local people with outskirts of Odense. an interest in Scandinavia and acts as Meeting-place for Danes a contact point for St Albans City Like many Danes, Count Scheel was Council on the occasion of official exiled from his homeland during the visits from Odense. Second World War. He came to live in St Albans after being bombed out of his London flat and retiring from his post as a director of the London branch of Thomas B Thrige. On 9th

April 1940, the day the Nazis invaded Denmark, he and his Background to the town-twinning Swedish wife Anna opened the Little with Odense Mermaid Restaurant on the first According to one story, 11th century floor of the building which stands at Danish monks studying at St Albans the junction of High Street and Abbey, then a Benedictine Chequer Street, thus creating an Monastery, took the bones of St informal meeting-place for Danes Alban with them when they returned separated from their homeland. to Odense and placed them in the crypt of their new church of Saint Alban (Sct Albani Kirke). A rival legend suggests that the complete skeleton of St Alban was taken to Cologne in the 10th century. A shoulder blade from this skeleton was returned to St Albans Abbey in 2002. However, it now seems likely that the bones were first taken to Ely for safe-keeping and were indeed later moved to Odense. Although we have never been an official town-twinning organisation, we have not lost sight of the link with Odense. In 2002, three officials of the Society visited Odense, where we enjoyed a guided tour of the city and visits to the city archives and the Location of the Little Mermaid Restaurant in Chequer Street r 3 Setting up the new society Nordic countries and other towns in The idea of formally setting up an Hertfordshire participated in the Anglo-Danish Society and a town- meetings. Pastor Poul Erik Fabricius, twinning link with Odense was who was for many years the priest of floated at an official dinner at the Danish Church in London, Batchwood Hall, when St Albans succeeded Count Scheel as Vice- hosted a delegation from Denmark in President of the society, an office he June 1963. In her book The Story of continued to hold until his death in St Albans, Dr Elsie Toms recalls that April 2010. a party from St Albans City Council New meeting-places had already visited Odense in 1961. Early meetings continued to be held The inaugural meeting of the at the Little Mermaid, but later the Anglo-Danish Society was held on Society moved to the Abbey Institute 29th February 1964 at the Little in Romeland. In 1970, the Society Mermaid. The Mayors of Odense meetings moved to the boardroom of and St Albans were invited to be the the newly built Diocesan Offices on Joint Presidents and Count Scheel Holywell Hill, where they remained became Vice-President, a post he until the 1990s, when they held until his death in Odense on transferred to the present venue of St 22nd May 1986. Mary’s Church Hall, Marshalswick. Present activities Society meetings are now usually held on the second Wednesday of each month from September to May, with speakers, films and quizzes, usually on Scandinavian or local topics, followed by a cosy chat over coffee and cakes or savouries. A summer outing complete with afternoon tea has become another of the Society’s traditions. In the old days, people met socially in between official meetings, a tradition we are currently trying to revive. The tradition of the Julefest is now firmly established, with the Pastors Count Ove Scheel of the Scandinavian Churches in Change of name London being invited in turn to Later it was decided to change the conduct the short service together name of the society to the with the Vicar of St Mary’s. After the Hertfordshire Anglo-Scandinavian service, we enjoy a warming glass of Society, as people from the other glögg, followed by a cold meal. As the meal ends, a traditional Swedish Santa Lucia procession makes its way around the tables, after which the children taking part are presented with a small gift by the Mayor. Then we are entertained with Scandinavian songs and carols sung by Beryl Foster and a small choir. Originally members provided the food, but now outside caterers are employed. Julefest in the 1970s

Answers Quiz on Iceland in the CoScan Magazine 2012/1

1. The first permanent settler in Iceland: Ingólfur Arnarson 2. The Republic of Iceland was established: 1944 3. Name of the present President of Iceland: Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson 4. The first Icelandic Constitution: 1874 5. Volcano that erupted on 21 March 2010: Eyjafjallajökull 6. The number of times an Icelandic horse, having left Iceland, is allowed to return: none 7. The second largest municipality in Iceland: Kópavogur 8. Halldór Laxness: won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1955 9. Reykjavík means Smoke-Bay 10. The Icelandic currency: krona 11. Njáll in Njáls saga: a lawyer and a sage 12. Sigur Rós: a music band 13. Þorramatur: a selection of traditional cuisine 14. The number of Santa Clauses that the Icelanders have: thirteen 15. Iceland has the world’s oldest parliament; it is called Althingi

There was only one winner: Solveig McCulloch. She has been awarded two books, kindly provided by the Icelandic Embassy. Congratulations, Solveig! Scottish Norwegian Society (Glasgow)

Oddveig Røsegg by Anne Bruce

When I first met Oddveig Røsegg, in we were learning. More unusually, 1970, she was Senior Lecturer in she changed the time of the Norwegian at Glasgow University Norwegian classes to two lengthy and a rather formidable lady, a evening sessions per week to allow spinster of indeterminate years, lofty two adult returners to attend and me height and obvious erudition. I to have fellow students in my group. enrolled as a student in her If that impacted on my student social department, gradually warming to life it must have done so many times her genuine enthusiasm for over for her, but she left no avenue Norwegian language, literature, unexplored to maximise history and culture – so much so that opportunities. So I wasn’t at all I eventually became her Honours surprised to find her lecturing on student and a lifelong aficionado of Ibsen’s plays in Drama, or Old Norse all things Scandinavian. Now as I sagas in English Language – no undertake work as a translator of stone left unturned! Norwegian novels, I like to think she When I was studying in would have been proud! Lillehammer, she came on a visit What stands out most as I look from her home in Oslo, taking me on back across the years at Oddveig as a pilgrimage to Sigrid Undset’s teacher, tutor, mentor and friend, is grave – an ardent fan of Undset’s her strong desire to share her writing, especially Kristin knowledge and her willingness to Lavransdatter, she brought both ‘go the extra mile’ to make sure her novel and author to life with her students enjoyed a wide range of many memorable anecdotes. Later I experiences to enhance their work in visited her at home in Oslo, where seminars and lectures. She her hospitality and relaxed encouraged travel to Norway, helped demeanour demonstrated facets to find summer jobs, facilitated other than her academic persona. study at both Nansen School and the Her pride in students’ work came to Summer School at Oslo University, the fore when, particularly pleased invited us to the Scottish Norwegian with an essay I had written about Society, the Norwegian Book Club Trygve Andersen’s I Cancellirådens and later the ‘Dameklubb’, insisting Dage, she insisted I read it at the on the importance of meeting next session of the Norwegian Book Norwegians and making the most of Club, to general acclaim. After opportunities to speak the language graduation, she recommended me as tutor at the University’s Continuing aspects of study and appreciated the Education Department Norwegian boost to learning provided by travel, class, where I learned just as much so it was no surprise to discover she as my adult students in my two years had left a CoScan legacy offering teaching the group. financial assistance to students As years went by, she continued to undertaking various aspects of keep in touch, enjoying getting to Scandinavian studies. For my study know my husband and children and visit to Nansen School in 1973, she our visits to the Norwegian tracked down a fund at Glasgow Juletrefest, visiting us when we University to assist me with my moved to the Isle of Arran, and when travel costs, so she understood the she became too infirm to travel, difference even a small financial phoning for a chat and taking grant could make. On reading the list pleasure in our accounts of holidays of students who have benefitted from in Norway, as well as sending me her generosity over the years, I am some of my favourite books when sure she would have been delighted she disposed of her enormous library to know that she was able to of Scandinavian titles. What I liked facilitate such a breadth of best were the little snippets of enterprising activities, from newspaper articles, notes, reviews language and music to fishing and and photos squirrelled away inside, geography, and that her name and evidence of her lively mind and memory lives on in such a vibrant continual quest for added value. and productive way. Yes, she was From this I am sure it will be seen quite a formidable lady after all! that Oddveig prized extracurricular

Oddveig Røsegg (1919 – 2000) donated money to the Travel Fund of CoScan and to the Scottish Norwegian Society in her will. The final Oddveig Røsegg travel grant was paid this year. The Scottish Norwegian Society has had eleven Oddveig Røsegg Memorial Lectures paid from her legacy. Anne Bruce (left) and Oddveig Røsegg (right) Photo: John Bruce

Figur 4 Some reflections by the Vice President

Peter Wright

overseas between Newcastle and Gothenburg. This began the great sequence of CoScan Conferences in the capital cities of Scandinavia and the concept of ‘CoScan goes to’. I had the pleasure of being Chairman of CoScan for seven years during this period. Seven years’ hard labour with no time off for good behavior! Finance was a continual problem and the Conferences, occasional auctions and grants from the Photo: Anna Sophie Strandli Embassies in the early days ensured the survival of CoScan. Vikings! How that word resonates Our excellent Magazine, our through the ages – and what website and appearance on influence I believe that it still has Facebook, the Travel Award, the today. When the long ships went on creation of the CoScan International their voyages of discovery, their Award and continuity of leadership wives were left behind in those mists in key-posts e.g. our President, the of unrecorded time and found they former British Ambassador to could develop new skills in Norway, have all played a key role administration, collaboration and in the strength of CoScan and its organisation. Just look at the continuing development. political activity in Scandinavia I thank all who have played a part today and the contribution made by in this and look forward to a bright women and you can speculate that future. this had its roots in Viking times! For my part when my wife Kari founded SKOL some 36 years ago I was a willing recruit, an active participant in its many activities. Soon we discovered CoScan and its value to Scandinavians in the UK and to the Embassies. Conferences started to be held in locations such as Lincoln, Glasgow, and the Isle of Man and then CoScan Afloat took us

Thoughts on translating poetry by Brita Green

When we translate factual prose, the roughly the same time of year, albeit important thing is to get the exact with a different colour? meaning across. Things are different Overtones and associations are when we tackle poetic language – not the only problems for the poetry whether in an actual poem or in translator. In addition to transmitting poetic prose: the exact meaning of a a message, the language is of word or phrase may be less interest in itself and is often as much important than its associations or a part of the reader’s enjoyment as sounds. the ideas expressed. The language To take an example, the spring- can draw attention to itself in flowering ‘bluebell’ is in Swedish various ways: metre, rhyme, engelsk klockhyacint (not of course assonances, intentional repetitions, – unless it is a Scottish text – to be unusual word usage, novel confused with blåklocka: ‘harebell’). formations. The challenge for the translator is to, somehow, reproduce this merger of meaning, associations and form in the new language. Rhymed poems pose a special challenge. Words that rhyme in one language are not likely to have rhyming equivalents in another In a factual text it may be sensible language. Here are the first and last also to include the Latin name for stanzas of a Swedish poem by Stig certain identification, because Dagerman (1923-54) with a literal bluebells do not grow wild in and a published translation. Swedish woods and they are not generally known, except perhaps as En dag om året a garden plant. So, when a ‘bluebell En dag om året borde alla låtsas, wood’ is the main theme of a poem, att döden vilar i ett vitt schatull. what is a Swedish translator to do to Inga stora illusioner krossas, convey the feel of it? Replace the och ingen skjuts för fyra dollars bluebells by blåsippor, a blue spring skull. flower much loved in Sweden but --- rare in Britain? The snag is, it does Inga män blir plötsligt sönderbrända not often grow in such masses. och ingen dör på gatorna just då. Might it be justified to render the Visst är det lögn, det kan väl hända. bluebell wood as vitsippsskog Jag bara säger: vi kan låtsas så. (windflower wood), which offers a similar aesthetic experience at Literal translation: The effects may be more subtle and more subject to each individual One day a year reader’s (and therefore translator’s) One day a year everyone ought to interpretation. It may not be possible pretend to reproduce this kind of poetic that death is resting in a white language any more directly than the casket. rhymes. The trouble is that what No great illusions are being crushed, sounds intriguing and felicitous in and nobody gets shot for the sake of one language, may simply sound four dollars. laboured and irritating in another. ---- Here is a short lyrical poem by No men are suddenly burnt to bits another Swede, Harry Martinson and no-one dies in the streets just (1904-78): then. All right, of course it’s a lie. Att minnas medan tiden svinner som I’m only saying: we can pretend. små streck alla ögonblicken tätt intill. Published translation: i Nuens närhållsliv. Solstrålens morgonsting i tuvan, One day a year harkrankens spinkbensafton. One day a year let’s all pretend that death is tucked up, fast asleep. Literal translation: That no lives meet a tragic end, no dreams are shattered on the To remember while time disappears cheap. like little dashes --- all the moments close to. Nobody’s stabbed, nobody’s shot, The nows’ close-quarters-life. no car runs over someone’s friend. The sunbeam’s morning sting in the This can’t be true! – Well, maybe tuft of grass, not. the daddy longlegs’ spindly-leg- All I’m saying is: let’s pretend. evening.

In his translation, Laurie Thompson has decided to stick faithfully to the original rhythm and rhymes but, whilst conveying the main message, he has treated the details of the content with much more freedom. The end result is, I feel, a successful Dagerman poem in English. When it comes to freer-style verse, it is perhaps less obvious what the translator should be aiming for. Here the poet takes all sorts of The question is, who is the best linguistic liberties; he turns the judge? Only people who know the adverb nu (now) into a noun and poet can judge whether the puts it into the genitive plural translation hits the right notes, and definite form: the nows’. He forms only someone familiar with the several new compounds: närhållsliv, original poem will know how close morgonsting and spinkbensafton. or free a translation is as regards That last word is particularly word meanings, rhythmic patterns troublesome. Strictly speaking, the and rhymes. But translations are, spindly legs have more to do with after all, not really meant for people harkranken, the insect that precedes in that position (though reviewers them, than with the ‘evening’ which tend to belong to this category). The they are actually combined with. most important thing to aim for must After many revisions, this is what be to give someone who is ii my co-translator and I decided on : unfamiliar with the original language a reading experience that is As the rushing lines of time recede, as similar as possible to the recall the closest moments. experience readers of the original Glimpses of the near and now. poem have. The sunbeam’s morning tingle in the grass, i Translated by Laurie Thompson, Swedish Book the daddy longlegs’ spindly dusk. Review 2012:1, reproduced by kind permission. For the complete poem, and two more Dagerman We have changed the structure poems, go to http://www.swedishbookreview.com/arrticle-2012- of the first sentence but kept the 1-dagerman.php meaning. We have maintained a gentle rhythm with three or four ii Translated by John Charlesworth and Brita Green, published in Swedish Book Review 2004:1. stresses in each line. The linguistic innovations have been lost, but we Swedish originals reproduced by kind permission of the poets’ daughters, Lo Dagerman and Harriet were quite pleased with the phrase Martinson. ‘near and now’, with its punning on a cliché – something we feel is in the spirit of Martinson. As regards the last line, we were really saved by the English language itself: as the name of the insect already contains the word ‘legs’, we felt justified in cutting it out of that final awkward phrase. Whether we have produced a successful translation is for other people to judge.

York’s Anglo-Scandinavian Christmas Songbook by Iain Robertson the gist of what a song was about. Each year York But then we thought how nice it Anglo- would be if we could have verse Scandinavian translations, so that the songs could Society be sung either in the original celebrates language or English. There was just Lucia in the one minor snag – there were no wonderful verse translations for many of the surroundings of the medieval Bedern songs. We must translate them Hall in the shadow of the Minster. ourselves, but for most of us this For some years we made do with meant acquiring a new skill. That the song-books containing material editorial committee managed to stick copied from many different sources. together and even to remain friends When, in 2009, I acquired a new toy through this process was little short – a music publishing program – I of a miracle – what seemed to one a thought how nice it would be if we perfectly adequate translation could have a song-book with all the seemed to another to miss the point material in the same format. It surely entirely, and feelings sometimes ran would not take long to bring this high. material together. Some songs seemed peculiarly How wrong I was! Our first task resistant to being translated into was to decide what ‘must’ be English verse. One particularly included and what might be omitted. troublesome item was the Swedish With Britain, Denmark, Finland, ‘Staffansvisan’. Iceland, Norway and Sweden to be Staffan var en stalledräng represented, it quickly became clear Han vattna’ sina fålar fem. that there would have to be Line one seemed pretty something in excess of 50 songs. straightforward: ‘Staffan was a Some of these were common to all stable-boy’. Line two literally is, Scandinavian countries, so which ‘He watered his horses five’, which text should we use? We decided to is pretty dubious English, has the use the earliest known among the wrong number of syllables and various Scandinavian texts. But not doesn’t rhyme with line one. ‘Then’ all who used the song-book would is a useful word when you need a be familiar with a Scandinavian filler-in, however, so how about ‘He language, and very few would be watered then his horses five’? Not familiar with all of them, so we very good, but at least the number of would have to provide translations. syllables is right. But ‘five’ doesn’t To begin with we felt that literal rhyme with ‘boy’, so do we have to translations would suffice, to give have ‘boy’? What about ‘lad’? – a suitable word for someone who about copyright? Further researches works around stables – but it doesn‘t and negotiations followed, not rhyme with ‘five’. Bad, cad, dad, always frustration-free. fad, had, mad, pad, sad, tad… Next came proof-reading. I had nothing very helpful there. But set up the text, and of course you someone said that Staffan worked cannot proof-read your own work – for King Herod, so a solution you see not what is there but only presented itself: what you think is there. Moreover Staffan worked at Herod’s stall the text had been in six languages of He watered his five horses all. which I was familiar only with two. Not brilliant, maybe, but I challenge It’s hard enough to prepare texts in you to do better! your own language without having Nor was getting things to rhyme to do it in unfamiliar ones. There the only problem with producing were many more errors even than I verse translations. These were expected, and I began to acquire a supposed to be singable as well. One lively belief in gremlins sabotaging line translated from Norwegian read all our efforts. Others spotted the ‘The children beat the carpets while gremlins’ handiwork and pointed it their arms whirl round like sails’. out to me. It was not always a This rhymed as it should and was delight to receive an e-mail telling not too distant from the meaning of me of some blemish in a Swedish, the original. It was only later, when Finnish or Icelandic text, or rehearsing this with a group of informing me that a hyphen had singers, that we found it was too been omitted. much of a tongue-twister to expect In the end it all worked out. By people to be able to sing (try reading summer 2011 – a year into the it out loud!). The poetic ‘whirl project – we were able to do a mock- round’ had to be replaced by the up of the book. By November 2011 prosaic ‘revolve’. we thought we had reduced the Then there was the question of errors to a minimum and were able illustrations. One of our members is to deliver the book to the printers. an artist, so we ‘commissioned’ her The first print-run of 150 copies to do some drawings. Things were soon sold out, and although gremlins now beginning to look quite got at the second printing (page- exciting. The book might not just be numbering a resource for our Lucia celebrations went awry in – it might actually turn out to be a two separate quality product to sell. But then we ways) we were had better get consistency of format able in the end for all pages. Should we place the to satisfy a names of composers or text-writers large number first? Should we use italics for some of happy items, and if so, which? And what readers. Line drawings by Brenda Tyler

Bonus of bilingualism compiled by Eva Robards

Researchers from Northwestern At all age groups, those fluent in two University in the US have recently languages responded faster. monitored brain responses to In the UK, the Department of different sounds in 48 healthy Theoretical and Applied Linguistics student volunteers, of whom 23 were at Cambridge have shown that bilingual. Under quiet conditions bilingualism is good for learning and both groups responded similarly, but not a hindrance. ‘Children who against a noisy backdrop the speak more than one language are bilingual group were far better at multiply advantaged over their tuning in to the important monolingual playmates – in information (i.e. the speaker's voice) communication, cognition and social and blocking out distracting noises. interaction. One aspect of such These differences were visible in the research shows that bilingual brain: the responses of the children “notice” better how bilingualists' brainstem were language works and outperform heightened (light grey in the image). monolingual children in tasks linked to language awareness, such as distinguishing whether a sentence is grammatically well-formed from whether it is truthful’ (Cambridge University Research News, published online 4 October 2011). But speaking two different languages at home is not enough. Continued input, and the commitment of both parents and teachers, are vital. Soile Pietikäinen, a PhD student at Goldsmith’s College, London, has investigated Reproduced from BBC News 1 May 2012 why some children in bilingual families learn to speak two In 2004 in Canada (York languages fluently and some don’t. University) tests were carried out on In Horisontti (the journal of the 104 volunteers between the ages of CoScan society Finn-Guild) she 30 and 88, half (from Canada) wrote in autumn 2011 ‘it is easier to speaking only English, and the learn more than less. We all usually others (from India) fluent in both choose the language that is easiest to English and Tamil. All were middle- use in communication. Using the class and educated to degree level. “lesser” language is incredibly hard.’ She explains that everyday talk Further online resources doesn’t improve language that much. Cambridge Bilingualism Network: ‘The language in children’s books is www.sites.google.com/site/cambiling, already richer than our everyday Bilingualism Matters (Edinburgh): speech. When a child grows, the www.bilingualism-matters.org.uk, books should become more demanding.’ Professional advice by speech and Another benefit that is pointed out language therapists: in the Horisontti article is that www.bilingualism.co.uk.

‘understanding two cultures gives a There is also the international peer- person an advantage that goes reviewed journal Bilingualism which beyond just the language. Every publishes articles and research notes four language and heritage has its own times a year. way of looking at the world, their own history and traditions. If you PS: Don’t worry, there are useful look at issues from the point of view alternatives if you haven’t got a of just one culture, you see only a second language, among them limited number of solutions because crosswords, bridge, or playing a of the un-said limits set by that musical instrument. culture.’

Who on earth are the Tomtes? – background to the Tomte tradition by Ruth Corry

The Tomte phenomenon is a playful myth, that Scandinavian children grow up with and much enjoy. The Tomtes are a kind of half domesticated small woodland and nature spirits, mostly benevolent, but when taken for granted they can become mischievous or even revengeful, just as nature itself is basically generous, but can hit back when taken for granted. It is quite possible that Tomtes are trying to teach us something? The English kindred spirit of fairy folklore might be Puck, as we know him from Shakespeare’s Midsummer Maybe they think we ought to walk Nights Dream. Sometimes known for or cycle much more? mischievous pranks and practical Sometimes people get fed up with jokes, such fairylike characters may their teasing and move house to get become domestic helpers who away from them, but the Tomtes sometimes bring luck and do little move too. These days they may even services at night for the families over be hiding around the computer and which they preside, or if not treated occasionally amuse themselves by with respect might tease the humans, interfering with the programmes, even frighten the maids, sour the who knows? Could it be that we milk and laugh at their frustrations spend too much time on computers and mishaps. and they think we should go for a In Scandinavia the Tomtes, or walk in the woods? Nisser as they are called in But basically Tomtes are friendly Denmark, have become especially useful little beings, as seen in Brenda associated with Christmastime, Tyler’s delightful books. One can be because that is when they expect sure Brenda’s scissors or paint appreciation for services rendered. brushes will not be disappearing any As every child knows, humans who time soon. The Tomtes may even be want to keep on the right side of the doing some of her housework while Tomtes, have an obligation on she ponders the third book. We will Christmas Eve to put out a bowl of all do well to keep in with them, rice pudding for them. The fact that especially at Christmas. the bowl is licked clean the next morning, proves beyond doubt that the Tomtes exist and are alive and well. This custom may be a last remaining activity from the time when the nature spirits had to be placated with food and gifts to keep them in good humour and favourably disposed to humans. Although based in the woods or squatting in the hayloft, keeping an eye on the farm animals, the Tomtes also hang around our houses unseen and help or play mischief with busy people. Who hasn’t put their scissors down and next time they need them, they are nowhere to be seen. A modern Tomte favourite trick consists of making the car keys Line drawings by Brenda Tyler mysteriously disappear! From the book shelf

The Tomtes of Hilltop Farm by Brenda Tyler review by Harriet Podmore (age 12)

Main Characters: Emily, Jamie and Lichen. Storyline: When Hilltop Farm starts running out of money, Farmer Robinson decides that he should put Icelandic illustrator and author the farm up for sale. But when nasty Birgitta Sif launches her first men start to view the farm Emily and children's book Oliver. Jamie decide something has to be ‘Oliver is different. He enjoys his done. They run to the forest to get solitude. He likes playing with his help from their tiny friends the friends, who are puppets, stuffed Tomtes. Will the tomtes be able to animals, and other toys. With his save the farm or will Farmer rich imagination, Oliver’s day is Robinson be forced to sell the farm never dull. There are bridges to forever? cross, sharks to fight, and treasures The Tomtes of Hilltop Farm is the to find! But maybe toys don’t always second book in the Tomtes series. give a boy everything he needs. (The first book was the Tomtes of Maybe he needs another kind of Hilltop wood). This book also had companion. Will Oliver discover a wonderful illustrations and an way to be, well, different? interesting story to tell. The age When his tennis ball rolls across the range for this book is 4-6 years. lawn into the yard of the girl next About Lichen: Lichen is one of the door, he just might be’. Tomtes in the Hilltop farm and Candlewick Press (2012), 40 pages Hilltop wood books. Tomtes are very ISBN9780763662479 (4-8 years) special creatures. They protect the oldest woods. They are really small and you have to look very hard to see them. Lichen is a boy and has a helpful and caring personality. He is always around to help anyone who needs helping. Look out for him in both stories. Floris Books (2012), 32 pages ISBN9780863159060 Astrid Lindgren: In The Land of Twilight

(I Skymningslandet)

Göran has an injured leg and he gets bored spending so much time in bed. But when his mother turns out the light at dusk, Mr Lilyvale knocks on the window and takes him to the Land of Twilight… The story of Mr Lilyvale was first published in the story collection Nils Karlsson Pyssling in 1949. Illustrated by Marit Törnqvist in 1994. Floris Books (2012), ISBN9780863158865 44 pages (5-8 years)

Karen Bek-Pedersen: The Norns in Old Norse Mythology

The nornir, or norns, were a group of female supernatural beings closely related to ideas about fate in the Old Norse tradition. The book is especially relevant to those interested in or studying Old Norse culture and tradition. However, comparative material from Celtic, Anglo-Saxon and Classical traditions is also employed and the book is therefore of interest also to those with a broader interest in European mythologies. Dunedin Academic Press (2011), ISBN1906716188, 9781906716189, 224 pages

Sabine Karg, Regula Steinhauser-Zimmerman, Irmgard Bauer: A Culinary Journey Through Time (En kulinarisk rejse gennem tiderne). A Cookery Book with Recipes from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages.

First published in 1995. A revised and expanded edition with rich illustrations – and in English. The Viking era lies directly in the middle of the time periods the book covers. ‘The first ever cookbook based on archaeological finds’. Communicating Culture, and Museum für Urgeschichte(n) Zug (2011) ISBN 9788799330140, 128 pages

Photo: Mette Randem The making: Preheat oven to 180 °. In a large pan, Lobster and Potatoes bring water to the boil along with 2 bay leaves, 20 peppercorns and sea It undeniably sounds pretty ordinary. salt. Put a thin wooden stick through And it is! But when served at Alain the lobster tail and boil with the Ducasse’s restaurant at Plaza claws for respectively 1 ½ (tail) and Athénée in Paris this simple dish 3 minutes (claws). Gently fry 2 tbsp may just be one of the best in the of chopped shallots in 2 tbsp of world. And even better, with a good butter in a small saucepan. Add the measure of accuracy it can be lobster head (quartered) and fry for a reconstructed at home. There are no further two minutes. Add one finely secret tricks involved. No molecular chopped small tomato, ½ dl of dry gastronomy. No foam. Nothing that white wine and 1tbsp cognac. Lower says 'pop' in your mouth. Only two the heat and simmer for 20 minutes. main ingredients. One exclusive and Add more wine if necessary. Strain one modest. Both equally important. the sauce and squeeze as much juice Ducasse’s lobsters, potatoes, as possible out of the head. butter and salt are from Noirmoutier. The island off the coast of Brittany most notable for one of its connecting roads being flooded twice a day and as the location of the first recorded Viking raid on France in AD 799. The only sad thing about lobster Cut medium thick slices of potato and potatoes is that it wasn’t into circles (or halves if using small invented by ‘us’. Scandinavia and potatoes) and fry in butter for 12-15 the UK have almost as good potatoes minutes together with one clove of (ours are normally not grown in garlic (given a blow with the flat seaweed); we have lobsters, salt and side of a knife). Undress the lobster butter and the weather is just as bad, claws and tail and lay the potatoes or worse. with the lobster meat on top in an oven proof pot with a lid. Pour over half of the sauce, cover and bake at the bottom of the oven for five minutes. No more, no less. Whisk more butter into the rest of the sauce, pour over and serve with a sprig of rosemary! Einar Chr. Erlingsen, Chairman of The New Oseberg Ship Foundation with the ‘tingel’ (part of the wood carving from Saga Oseberg), the Foundation’s gift to the Norwegian Monarchs. King Harald and Queen Sonja (seated), the Mayor of Tønsberg, Petter Berg (right). Photo: Cedric Acher.

A Viking ship returns home

The Saga Oseberg story by Einar Chr. Erlingsen

20 June 2012 was ‘launch day’ for Tønsberg’s new Viking ship Saga Oseberg. Among the audience were Norway’s King Harald and Queen Sonja and some 20,000 others crowning the port of Norway’s oldest town.

After hesitating for what seemed like and large donations, hundreds have endless minutes the ship suddenly volunteered to help our boat builders glided down the slipway and took to to reach our ambitious goal: the the water like the beautiful swan she return of a true Viking ship to is. Her full crew of some 35 Vikings Vestfold – ‘the heart of the Viking immediately took to the oars to loud world.’ And as I said in my launch cheers from the crowd. speech: this is not the end of This was a dream come true. something, it’s the beginning of Thousands have supported the something even greater! building of the replica with small Launch day! The royal Norwegian yacht Norge enters Tønsberg where Saga Oseberg is waiting, ready to be launched. Photo: Ole Kristian Hotvedt

Queen or witch? woman was around 50 when she In the spring of the year 834, strange died, the other about 80. The older things were going on in the Slagen woman was quite short, severely Valley, a few kilometres east and arthritic and probably very north of present-day Tønsberg. A hunchbacked. A hormonal beautifully decorated ship was being imbalance may also have given her pulled up the little river at the a lot of facial hair. bottom of the valley to its final Buried treasure destination in the middle of a field. During the centuries that followed, After the ship was placed in a ditch, the burial was forgotten. That is, unusual things happened in the until farmer Oskar Rom started to months that followed. At some point wonder at the huge mound in one of two dead women were placed in his fields. People used to say it was made up beds in a newly built burial haunted, while some believed chamber mid-ships. To accompany victims of the Black Plague were them in the grave were various buried there. Yet others whispered of household goods and other daily a hidden treasure. necessities as well as sleds, In the summer of 1903, Mr Rom beautifully woven tapestries and decided to investigate matters. He even a richly decorated wagon. had only been digging a short while Who were the two women who were when he discovered a piece of given such a magnificent funeral? beautifully carved wood. He realized We don't know this. However, new that this was a most unusual find and examinations (2007) of their decided to pay professor of skeletons have revealed that one archaeology Gabriel Gustafson at the University of Oslo's Department of reconstructed to be as truly identical Antiquities a visit. The excavations to the original as possible in every began on June 13, 1904 and were conceivable way. First a study was soon to show sensational results. In made of the restored ship in the the course of just three months, museum. Some inaccuracies had professor Gustafson and his team been made in the exhibited ship. It uncovered the ship, the grave goods had been crushed and broken, but and the other contents of the mound. pieces were remarkably well Thanks to the favourable conditions preserved, due to the sealing effect in the ground much of the grave’s of clay. A more correct design was contents were very well preserved. established in detail. Modern The carvings on the ship and the technology was used for those many artefacts were just as fresh as studies. when the mound was built over Much experience was available them, even though the ship and its from Roskilde, Denmark where fittings had been pressed together similar studies have been made on and distorted under tonnes of earth, ships found in various conditions. rocks, clay and turf. Detailed drawings and templates The Oseberg find is one of the were made of each part. A scale most significant archaeological finds model of the ship was built and of all time. When it comes to tested for seaworthiness in the understanding Scandinavian Viking Marintek test laboratory at times the Oseberg find may well be Trondheim. That provided optimistic compared to the significance Tut- expectations contradicting the earlier Ankh-Amon’s untouched grave had belief that the ship had been useful for Egyptologists a few decades for ceremonies only. later. Faithfully replicated The Queen of all Viking ships was built around AD 820. The ship has now been rebuilt as Saga Oseberg, meticulously

Saga Oseberg for the first time under sail, on 21 August this year outside Tønsberg. Photo: Jørgen Kirsebom

The original ship at Vikingskipshuset in Oslo Many good helpers of Nordic past times and our Ten paid craftsmen and dozens of heritage. volunteers have been working for Now in its right element, the two years to build the ‘Saga proud ship will henceforth tour the Oseberg’. Work went on fjords and – who knows which continuously, come sunshine come waters – for the years to come winter, often also during late sporting its striped sail, 81m2 hand evenings in artificial light. woven from wool and carefully Craftsmen and – women even prepared by ‘Viking craftswomen’. worked in Viking attire. Part of their In between voyages Saga Oseberg attitude was to readily explain in will have a prominent berth along detail to visitors and curious passers- the Tønsberg waterline during the by what was being done. This has summer months. A boat house for stimulated interest in the project so the ships is right now under much that the building site has planning, with building expected to become a major attraction. Groups start in 2013. Spurred on by their of tourists have been detouring from success, the New Oseberg Ship far away to admire the beautiful ship Foundation has started building and the impressive craft. The local replicas of other items from the rich people now share great pride in the Oseberg find – and more Viking project. And we are being reminded ships.

It took a year to weave the 81 m2 sail for the new Oseberg ship. Photo: Håvard Solerød 5

The building of a replica Viking ship has attracted thousands of school children. Some made their own Viking clothes prior to their visit to the building site. Photo: Einar Chr. Erlingsen Ship builder and Project Manager, Geir Røvik Photo: Tordis Ødbehr The Vale of York Hoard ©The British Museum

Hoards and the Viking hordes by Peter Addyman

If anyone ever doubted the extent of the times which resulted, evidently Viking influence on the North of very often, in their owners being th th England between the 9 and 11 unable to return to recover their centuries the spate of recent finds of wealth. For archaeologists and Viking treasure hoards must begin to historians they are especially useful dispel any uncertainty. The hoards, because the inclusion of coins often typically containing silver coinage, makes them closely datable. At this silver bullion and silver jewellery, time coin issues changed regularly, are interpretable as a form of wealth so the latest coin in the hoard is stored with the intention of recovery, likely to date from a time close to the equivalent of a modern bank the time of burial. account or share portfolio. They The new finds have come about reflect the outcome of raiding or, very largely as the result of metal perhaps more likely, the land owning detecting, now a very popular hobby and trading activities of often carried out by skilled Scandinavians in England between detectorists with sensitive and th th the 9 and 11 centuries AD, but sophisticated equipment. The Vale of they also reflect the uncertainty of York hoard, for example, was found on 6th January 2007 by David and sphere of influence, hacked into Andrew Whelan, father and son, bullion; and jewellery with a Russian detecting in a field between York and connection. This varied collection Harrogate. Some fragments of lead emphasises the vast geographical and a round metal object, at first range over which Viking raiding and thought to be an old cistern and ball trading took place. cock, turned out to be a silver gilt Darren Webster is a metal Frankish bowl containing 617 coins, detectorist who lives near Silverdale a gold arm ring, 5 silver arm rings, in North Lancashire where, in silver ingots and the chopped up September 2011, he dug down to fragments of brooches and rods. The find the source of a signal picked up lead had probably been a container by his machine, discovered a lump in which the rest had been buried. of lead, turned it over, and found it Eventually declared Treasure and full of small silver objects. These claimed by the Crown, the hoard was proved to be 27 coins, 10 complete acquired for £1,082,800 jointly by arm rings, 2 finger rings, 14 silver the British Museum and the York ingots, 6 bossed brooch fragments, a Museums Trust, and is now fine wire chain and 141 fragments of displayed by rotation in those two hacked up arm rings and ingots, museums and the Harrogate again bullion. The latest coins dated Museum. Such is the precision of from the years around AD900, and modern numismatics that the burial included one of a Scandinavian king date of the hoard can be narrowed AIRDECONUT (Harthacnut?) down to AD 927-9. Like other hitherto unknown to history. The hoards in the York area, therefore, it jewellery included both was buried during the troubled times Scandinavian types and types found when the English King Athelstan around the Irish sea, the hoard thus regained York from the Vikings. This displaying influences from the area one may even relate to the recorded at that time being settled and events of 927, when Guthfrith, developed for trade by brother of the recently supplanted Scandinavians. It dated about a Viking king of York Sihtric, and an quarter of a century before the Vale earl Thurferth, unsuccessfully of York Hoard. besieged York and then had to The Furness (Cumbria) Hoard withdraw, a circumstance in which turned up somewhat earlier in 2011, followers might have been unable to on Easter Sunday, also in metal recover their buried wealth. The detecting. This one, dated about a hoard itself contained coins quarter of a century after the Vale of including issues from England and York Hoard , included Anglo-Saxon the Viking kingdom of York, four coins as late as Eadwig (955-959), Frankish deniers and fifteen Islamic coins of kings of York Olaf dirhams; the Frankish cup; Guthfrithsson (939-941), fragments of brooches from the Irish Olaf Sihtricsson (948-52) and Eirik Haraldsson (Eric Bloodaxe) scholars to look again at the (952-54) and Islamic dirhams. It evidence they and earlier hoards, comes from a period when the such as the huge Cuerdale, Viking resurgence in the North had Lancashire, Hoard of around AD been suppressed and Eric Bloodaxe 905-10, found in 1840, can provide. expelled – but also from an area of An exciting new view of the the country where conditions around Vikings’ impact on Lancashire, 960 may still have been unsettled. Cheshire and Yorkshire is emerging The objects in the hoard reflect from this. Meanwhile information on contacts, once again, around the Irish the Vale of York Hoard may be Sea, the Isle of Man, and Western found in Gareth Williams and Barry Scotland. Agar The Vale of York Hoard, British A rather different type of Viking Museum Press 2010 £5; on The Hoard was found by Huxley Hoard in James Graham Mr S Reynoldson during a metal Campbell and Robert Philpot The detecting rally on the outskirts of Huxley Viking Hoard, National Huxley, south-east of Chester, in Museums Liverpool, 2009, £8.99; November 2004. It comprised and on the Silverdale and Furness twenty-two flattened band-shaped Hoards in Current Archaeology, silver arm rings, a rod and a silver Issue 264, March 2012, £4.25. ingot, and a number of fragments of decayed lead sheet which had probably been wrapped round them. Since the arm rings had been flattened and were thus unusable the Hoard is presumed to be a bullion hoard, possibly material from a workshop in an unfinished state, bent and flattened for ease of transport. The arm-rings themselves are of a common Hiberno- Scandinavian type which originated in Denmark, but most of them were probably made in Ireland between 850 and 930. The Hoard was declared Treasure and was purchased jointly by National Museums Liverpool, the Grosvenor Museum, Chester and Chester Museums Service. The new hoards – there are Details from The Vale of York Hoard several others – have stimulated ©The British Museum Guizer Jarl Stephen Mouat celebrates the burning of his galley, Up Helly Aa in Shetland Photo: Millgaet Media

Viking Festivals by Mark Elliott

There seem to be more and more Festival, this has been celebrated in interest these days in our Viking almost every peacetime year since heritage, both in Britain and in the 1880s, when the Viking theme Ireland. One manifestation of this was first introduced to what had interest is festivals, often involving earlier been an occasional event. people dressing up in Viking In Lerwick the day is always the costume and staging mock battles, last Tuesday in January, falling on but also extending over more 29 January in 2013. ‘A series of peaceful areas of Viking culture. marches and visitations culminating The following paragraphs illustrate in a torch-lit procession and the what has been on offer in 2012 and burning of a galley’, says the website give some indication of the a little primly; but this conceals an programme for 2013. immense amount of organisation Starting in the North, perhaps the over the whole year, much of it kept most spectacular regular event is Up secret among the initiates, but Helly Aa in Shetland. Described on erupting on the day with nearly a the website as Europe’s largest Fire thousand costumed ‘Guizers’, led by the Guizer Jarl for the year, and a Viking Week in August at which ending in an inferno of flame. the Northumbria Vikings were Midwinter gales, sleet and snow responsible for the battles. There are have never stopped Up Helly Aa. other such events in the area, and Much further south, on the one of the Northumbria group is Ayrshire coast, is held the Largs quoted as saying ‘being a part-time Viking Festival. In 2013 – the dates Viking can have a large impact on are 31 August to 7 September – it someone’s life’. It is not yet clear will be the 750th anniversary of the what the Lindisfarne programme for event they commemorate, the Battle 2013 will be. of Largs in 1263. They say that this Firmly in the diary for 2013, was the last Viking invasion of the though, is the Jorvik Viking Festival British Isles, and led to the Treaty of to be held in York from 16-24 Perth in 1266 whereby Norway February. ceded all claims to Scotland’s Western Isles. In Largs too there is traditionally the burning of a long- ship, as well as a battle re- enactment. But there is also a Viking village, with a group called the Swords of Dalriada portraying daily life of the period; and also, in 2012 at least, performances from the Celtic Nyckelharpa project – the nyckelharpa is described as an exotic 16-stringed Swedish keyed fiddle originating in the 1400s. Almost at the same latitude as Largs is Lindisfarne or Holy Island, Photo: Eva Robards off the coast of Northumberland, and site of the Viking invasion of 793. Now an established event at the At the end of July in 2012 the school half-term, it attracts visitors Lindisfarne Centre staged a three- from across the world. The detailed day Viking Extravaganza. programme is yet to be announced, According to the publicity material, but on the model of previous years it this included a range of activities is likely to include ‘battles, from blood-curdling re-enactment encampments, lectures, workshops, and daring one-on-one combat walks, quizzes, drama ..’ and no action to spoon-making and doubt more. But one more British demonstration of historical musical event held regularly since 1997 is instruments. Confusingly, there are definitely not on the 2013 calendar; also other Viking events at across the country from York, on the Lindisfarne, and they apparently had northernmost tip of Anglesey, the Amlwych Viking Festival and of re-enactments, long-boat races Copperfest was held from 27-29 July and other elements of ‘living 2012, with ‘more than 200 history’. The afternoon was to authentically equipped warriors conclude, we are told sinisterly, with recreating the early 10th century a funeral procession. Killyleagh has political rivalry on the island, a reciprocal arrangement with leading to internecine treachery and Annagassan across the border in the eventual Battle of Ros Meilion to County Louth, which has celebrated expel the Vikings’. The swords and with Viking battle re-enactment and shields, they tell us, are for real; and weapons displays since the they too had a boat-burning. Maybe discovery in 2010 of a Viking in 2014, as this event has tended to Longphort at Linn Duachaill, now come up in alternate years. acknowledged as of European Ireland of course has a significant importance. And the Dublin Viking Viking history. In 2012, and again Festival, held on 21-22 July in 2012, starting from the north, first comes is of growing importance and also the Magnus Barelegs Viking Festival includes battle re-enactments and in Killyleagh in County Down, near portrayal of Viking life. Downpatrick. On 2 June visitors and Are there more Vikings out there, participants from Scandinavia and battling regularly with realistically- the Republic of Ireland joined the sharpened weapons? It would be people of Killyleagh in a programme fascinating to hear.

What did Viking Age people eat? by Anna Sophie Strandli

Porridge to the people In the Viking Ages there was no escape from porridge. Considered unsuitable food for a king or a chieftain according to the literature, it has served as a basis of the Nordic diet since Neolithic times. It was eaten once or more times every day, while butter, milk and cheese were reserved for special occasions. The earliest forms of bread (flatbread) were a mixture of water and rye flour and baked on stone slabs. Line drawing by Helena Schmidt A saga about the Icelandic poet chaff, and a bowl of broth. The Sneglu-Halli describes how Halli second serves cooked veal; and in ends up in a dispute with the the third he is treated with thin slices Norwegian King Harald Hardraade of wheat bread, roasted pork and (1015-66) during a dinner reception. birds on silver plates, embroidered The king was enraged, and ordered linen cloth, pitchers filled with wine Halli to eat a whole tray of porridge. and fine drinking glasses. Halli exclaimed ‘You may kill me, Hunters and farmers my lord, but not with porridge!’ Many would consider the Viking which suggests that both the king profession as a viable alternative to and the poet considered porridge as a the hard work on a farm. Back home, form of punishment. they could live like lords, and there Viking foods – archaeology and are endless tales about lavish feasts. poetry Still, the difference between slave The Viking Age is a fascinating (trell) and master, was enormous and chapter in our history, brought alive the slave’s porridge would often be through the exciting stories in the made of husks and bark. The Sagas, Poetic Edda and law texts. everyday ‘Viking’ ate stews and They all give us a glimpse of life in soups (sodd) – and porridge. But the Nordic region and even if there they enjoyed indulging in meat and are no cooking books from the time lamb, beef, goat, mutton, pork and there are sources that can show what horse were consumed throughout the raw material was available. homelands and settlements. Geese, Archaeological analysis of pottery, ducks and hens were kept to provide ashes from hearths, layers of earth in fresh meat and eggs throughout the houses and ‘leftovers’ in soapstone year. The men were skilled hunters and iron cauldrons give an idea of and wild animals would include what our ancestors were cooking. deer, elk, reindeer, bear, boar, hare, Some finds of human remains have wild poultry and smaller game such been so well preserved that it has as squirrel and rabbit. For the coastal been possible to determine what population fish was an essential part their last meal consisted of. of the diet and fish resources in the One of the ancient poems, Atlantic off the western coasts of Rigsthula, is interesting from a Scandinavia were extremely rich. gastronomic point of view for There was also plenty of fish in although it contains no recipes it has rivers and lakes. Other products such hints at menus. It is about Rig (the as seabirds, shellfish, eels, oysters god Heimdall) who was travelling to and seaweed would be a nutritious three different homes, one poor addition to everyday food. Whales, hovel, one sturdy peasant’s house porpoises and walruses were also and one mansion. In the first house important food resources and seals he is presented with a heavy loaf of were hunted for their valuable furs bread, thick and lumpy and full of and blubber. Hákarl, fermented shark, is known from the settlement yarrow, mugwort and scurvy grass. of Iceland in the 9th century and is The Gulathing’s law from 11th still eaten year round in Iceland. century mentions gardens for Drying was perhaps the most growing angelica and leeks – and common method for preserving later for kale, then apples, and meats and fish. Food could be finally including ‘all that can be preserved almost indefinitely and enclosed by fences and walls’. stockfish was an important part of Barley was the best grain for the diet at sea – and for trading. brewing ale and other beverages Other methods included smoking, would be mead (made from salting, fermentation and freezing. fermented honey), bjórr (a sweet There was an abundant supply of alcohol), skim milk and buttermilk. wild berries, blackthorn, plums and There is nothing to indicate that hazelnuts. A beautifully decorated the food in the Norse era was of poor bucket filled with wild apples was quality. In general a varied and found in the Oseberg burial. Another nourishing diet seems to have been product from the Viking time is skyr, available, but it is not clear how a cultured dairy product somewhat much of the populations were able to similar to strained yoghurt. The take advantage of it. whey left after making skyr was Filthy perfect creatures made to go sour (súrr) and used to In 921 the Arab chronicler Ibn preserve meat and for pickling. Fadlan was sent on a mission to Food was often spiced up with open diplomacy with the Bulgars by imported ingredients. Vinegar, salt, the Caliphate in Baghdad. En route honey, malt, walnuts, seeds and he fell in with a group of Viking exotic spices represented luxury and marauders (the Rūs) widely assumed wealth and were highly valued. to have been Scandinavians of eastern Swedish origin. In his account of the journey he describes this encounter: ‘I have seen the Rūs as they came on their merchant journeys and encamped by the Volga. When the ships come to the mooring place, everybody goes ashore with bread, meat, onions, People consumed a variety of wild milk and intoxicating drink. They are and cultivated vegetables and herbs the filthiest of God's creatures, but I – onions, cabbage, turnips, broad have never seen more perfect beans, beets, carrots, garlic, wild physical specimens, tall as celery, wild garlic, mushrooms, date palms, blonde and cress, juniper, cumin, black mustard, ruddy’. nettles, thyme, cress, meadowsweet, Suggestion for further reading: Ståle Botn, Vikingene levde ikke av sverd alene. hops and medicinal plants such as Torolvsteinen (2007), ISBN9788299739627 Scandinavians at the London Olympics – what happened this time by Mark Elliott

France, with a difference of a single In a nutshell, Scandinavians now goal. Equally frustrating results for well down the table – Denmark 29th Sweden in equestrian eventing, (2 gold, 4 silver, 3 bronze); Norway where Sara Algotsson Ostholt would 35th (2/1/1); Sweden 37th (1/4/3); have won gold had she not dislodged Finland 60th (0/1/2); no Icelandic a bar at the last fence, and the prize medals. Sweden had 16 golds in passed to European and world title- 1948. holder Michael Jung of Germany; But good on the water. Sailing – the women’s triathlon, where Lisa gold for the Swedes in Star class, Norden finished in the same time as surging ahead of the Brits in the final the Swiss Nicola Spirig, but failed in race; silver for the Great Dane Jonas an appeal to have both granted gold Høgh-Christensen in the Finn class, medals after the photo-finish review; edged out by GB’s Ben Ainslie for and men’s double-trap shooting, his fourth gold in successive Games; Håkan Dahlby coming second to silver for Finland in women’s Peter Wilson of GB in one of the windsurfing; one more bronze each first events of the Games. for Denmark, Finland and Sweden. Cycling gold for Lasse Norman of Rowing – three medals for Denmark: Denmark in the men’s omnium, a gold in the double sculls, narrowly punishing six-event marathon, and beating a British pair who had won bronze for Norway’s Alexander in Beijing last time; silver in Kristoff in the men’s road race. women’s single sculls; bronze in Fencing silver for Norway in the men’s lightweight four. Kayak – gold men’s individual épée, a shooting for Norway’s Eirik Verås Larsen, silver for Denmark in the skeet, and also winner in 2004. a silver and a bronze for Denmark in Handball something of a badminton where almost all the Scandinavian speciality – gold for medals seemed to go to China. In Norway’s women as in 2008, this athletics, where Scandinavians had time beating Montenegro in a hard- done so well in earlier Games, the fought final; and silver for the single success went to the Finn Antti Swedish men, beaten for the fourth Ruuskanen (bronze in the men’s time in an Olympic final this time by javelin). Most of the medals nowadays go to other continents. But the table looks different if based on medals- per-head-of-population, with most Europeans climbing – Denmark is up to 9th on one calculation. And a vocal minority of Britons point out that the most successful ‘country’ of Viking origins might be said to be the county of Yorkshire – four individual gold medallists, a silver and two bronzes, with three more golds, one silver and one bronze awarded to Yorkshire people as members of British teams.

Reports from recipients of CoScan travel awards (2011)

Meeting in Axvall by Martin Leng

During the summer of 2011, I spent three weeks at Axvall Folkhögskola in Västra Götaland in order to take part in a Swedish Institute summer course entitled Ett möte i Axvall. The course was designed to give students Photo: Martin Leng of Swedish – of all ages and nationalities – a chance to cities, and so the journey north from experience Swedish culture and Gothenburg marked an interesting improve their language skills. As trip into unknown territory. Axvall is someone who loves all things a small village surrounded by Swedish, I jumped at the chance picturesque woodland and when I heard about the opportunity countryside. It has a small lake with from my tutor, and thankfully my a wooden jetty, plenty of places to application was accepted. ride a bike and an ICA [supermarket] I had been to Sweden previously but shop – pretty much everything I had not ventured outside the big needed! The school itself consisted of a handful of old buildings back again. gathered around a pretty garden. I Your generosity allowed me to was given my own room in one of have this wonderful experience, and the buildings, which I shared with I would like to thank you for that. around six others. In another I encourage you to keep awarding building there were classrooms, and this grant in future years – what I another served as our ‘mess hall’, thought would be an interesting and where we ate our meals. These were useful three weeks turned out to be particularly good – delicious so much more, and I hope that others Swedish food three times a day for can enjoy the same in future. three weeks. The cooks deserved a medal! We had three Swedish classes Returning to Sweden each day, covering grammar, literature and culture. Our three by Oliver-James Dyar teachers socialised with us in the evenings and became more like friends than teachers. They made a great effort to make us all feel included, and as a result I feel like my Swedish social skills have improved just as much as my language ability! As well as classes, we went on excursions to Gothenburg and the nearby towns, where we got to enjoy art galleries, museums and – of course – ‘fika’! The three weeks I spent in Sweden were among the best in my life. The classes were great, and my Swedish improved greatly, but the real joy of the trip came with the experiences outside of the classroom – playing kubb during sunny evenings, swimming in the lake, making new friends from all over the world and Uppsala Photo: Brita Green being made to feel part of a real Swedish community. It was truly In September last year I returned to wonderful. Sweden for the first time after None of it would have been completing my master’s programme possible without the grant from in global health at Karolinska CoScan, which paid for my flights Institutet (KI), supported by a travel from Edinburgh to Gothenburg and grant from CoScan. I travelled with my partner to Uppsala where we from KI in June I’ve continued to spent two days walking around our help editing research papers written favourite city in Sweden. We first by the group, and this time I was came here in mid-January earlier this able to help review an application year, when the city was covered in for a large research grant from the snow, so it was nice to see the European Union. It’s been a great contrast that the summer weather way to keep in contact with the brings. There were many more research group, whilst also students out on the streets as the improving my research skills. semester had just started. Uppsala One evening we met with fellow reminded us a lot of our hometown, graduates of the master’s programme Oxford: it’s a university town, and enjoyed reminiscing about the located about the same distance from previous year over coffee. This was the capital, with a river flowing also a great chance to practise through its centre. Perhaps it’s for speaking Swedish, and I was a little this reason that we’re hoping to worried that my ability would have move here when we start our declined a lot since leaving Sweden. specialist training as doctors. We I was delighted by how much I walked to the hospital and were remembered – continuing to listen to impressed by its size and Sveriges Radio whilst back in architecture; it is quite different to Oxford must have helped! the hospitals we are accustomed to Overall the trip was very in England! enjoyable, and we both feel more We continued by train to certain than ever that we will move Stockholm. I went back to KI and to Sweden in the future. Thank you met with my thesis supervisor, where to all at CoScan for providing we made research plans for the financial support to enable this trip. coming months. Since graduating

To Svalbard with BSES by Emma Jones

Ever since reading Philip Pullman’s chance, I discovered that BSES trilogy His Dark Materials as a (British Schools Exploring Society) child, the name Svalbard has were running their 2011 conjured up images of mysterious environmental studies course to this icy lands, armoured bears, and area of the Scandinavian Arctic. I adventure. Never did I think I would was particularly attracted by the have the opportunity to visit this opportunity to carry out frozen archipelago until, quite by investigations on remote and untouched glaciers – something carrying out investigations into the which I may not have the chance to ecology of the area. This was do again – and to learn expedition another great learning experience – planning and fieldwork techniques by the end of the trip I could identify which might prove useful to me later many of the birds we encountered, as at university. To be one of the few well as a number of the plants. visitors to the more inaccessible During this time, I also took on the parts of Svalbard also felt like a huge challenge of independently planning, privilege which could not be passed conducting and writing up my own by. project investigating patterns in the I was certainly not disappointed distribution of flora around the coast. with my experience. During the In addition to these academic course of my time in the Arctic, I felt achievements, the sheer fact that I that I learnt and achieved so much, spent two weeks camping, often in both personally and academically. sub-zero temperatures, in such a Over the five days that we spent hostile environment, and actually camping at the foot of a glacier, not learnt to be quite comfortable by the only did I learn about the fieldwork end of it, was a huge personal skills needed to conduct research achievement. The satisfaction that I into the new location of the glacial felt when we finally climbed to the snout, but was also taught important top of both the glacier, and many of mountaineering safety skills which the coastal cliffs in the area, to be were put into use when we climbed greeted by a stunning, panoramic up and over the glacier. The use of view of the surrounding pure white ice axes, harnesses and ropes, ice caps, mountains, and icy blue previously unknown to me, quickly waters was an incredible feeling that became part of my daily equipment. I will never forget. I am extremely Travelling to and from the glacier on grateful for the generous skis, dragging our kit behind us on contribution of the CoScan Trust sledges, was also a new experience. Fund towards the cost of this The outward, uphill journey tested amazing trip and I would like to my endurance and fitness, while the thank you very much for helping me downhill return journey back to our to get to Svalbard for this experience coastal camp was more a test of of a lifetime! perseverance (and of conquering a fear of falling on my part!). Having never skied before, each of these journeys presented a new challenge, TRAVEL AWARDS and I was full of a sense of Deadline for applications: achievement on completing them 31 March 2013 safely. On our return from the Information: [email protected] glacier, we spent the remainder of the trip camping by the coast, Photo: Richard Bailey, who also went to Svalbard (and whose prize-winning photo can be seen on the back cover of the CoScan Magazine 2012/1)

Tomten

Viktor Rydberg (1829-95)

Midvinternattens köld är hård, Midwinter night. The snow is deep, stjärnorna gnistra och glimma. at midnight the cold is bitter. Alla sova i enslig gård All on the lonely farm are asleep. djupt under midnattstimma. The distant stars sparkle and glitter. Månen vandrar sin tysta ban, The moon on its silent path shines bright, snön lyser vit på fur och gran, snow on pine and spruce gleaming white, snön lyser vit på taken. snow on the roof-tops gleaming. Endast tomten är vaken. All but the Tomte are dreaming.

Member Societies 2012

Anglo-Danish Society – [email protected] www.anglo-danishsociety.org.uk Anglo-Finnish Society – [email protected] – www.anglofinnishsociety.org.uk Anglo-Norse Society – [email protected] / [email protected] www.anglo-norse.org.uk Anglo-Scandinavian Society of Newcastle [email protected] www.newcastleangloscan.org Anglo Swedish Society – [email protected] www.angloswedishsociety.org.uk Danish Church in London – [email protected] – www.danskekirke.org Danish Club – [email protected]– www.danishclub.co.uk Danish Cultural Institute – [email protected] – www.dancult.co.uk Danish YWCA, London – [email protected] – www.kfuk.co.uk Devon & Somerset Anglo Scandinavian Society – [email protected] www.angloscan.org.uk Finn-Guild – [email protected]/[email protected] – www.finn-guild.org Grieg Society UK – [email protected] – tel 0208 691 1910 until new website is set up Hampshire Anglo-Scandinavian Society – [email protected] – www.hass.org.uk Hertfordshire Anglo-Scandinavian Society – [email protected] www.hertsscandinavian.co.uk Irish Scandinavian Club – [email protected] Midlands Scandinavians – [email protected]/[email protected] Northants Anglo-Scandinavian Society – [email protected] Norwegian Scottish Association – [email protected] www.norwegian-scottish.org.uk Orkney Norway Friendship Association – [email protected] www.orkneycommunities.co.uk/onfa Scandinavian Klubb of Lincolnshire (SKOL) – [email protected] www.skol.org.uk Scandinavian Society at University of York – [email protected] www.yorknordicsoc.wordpress.com Scottish Norwegian Society (Glasgow) – [email protected] www.norwegiansocietyglasgow.co.uk Scottish-Swedish Society – [email protected] – www.scottishswedish.org Shetland Norwegian Friendship Society – [email protected] www.communitydirectory.shetland.gov.uk/shetland-norwegian-friendship-society-i380.html York Anglo-Scandinavian Society (YASS) – [email protected] www.yorkangloscan.org.uk

CoScan Executive Committee & CoScan Trust Fund

2012

Mark Elliott, CMG Anna Sophie Strandli President Editor Wheelwright Cottage CoScan Magazine and website High Lorton, Cockermouth Industrigaten 40, 0357 Oslo, Norway Cumbria CA13 9UQ [email protected] [email protected] Kari Moss Wright Peter Wright, OBE, JP, B.Sc., FRSA Embassy Liaison Officer Vice President 5 The Heights, Carline Road 5 The Heights, Carline Road Lincoln LN1 1JP Lincoln LN1 1JP [email protected] [email protected] Peter Rasmussen Dr Eva Robards 8 Boundary Road, West Bridgeford Chairman Nottingham NG2 7BY Shrubbery Cottage, Nun Monkton [email protected] York YO26 8EW [email protected] Manja Ronne 6 Baker Street, Gayton Norman Pike, FCA Northants. NN7 3EZ Hon. Treasurer [email protected] Barna House, Church Lane Bradley, Grimsby DN37 OAE Dr Brita Green [email protected] Trust Fund Chairman 103 Long Ridge Lane Lise Hodgson Nether Poppleton Secretary YORK, YO26 6LW 11A Herbert Grove [email protected] Southend-On-Sea Essex SS1 2AT Dagmar Cockitt [email protected] Trust Fund Treasurer 41 Chapel Lane, Great Barr Peter Campbell Birmingham B43 7BD Membership Secretary [email protected] 8 Sandyloch Drive Lerwick ZE1 0SR Alfhild Wellborne Shetland Trust Fund subcommittee [email protected] 7 Bath Terrace, Gosforth Newcastle upon Tyne NE3 1UH Helena M S Schmidt [email protected] Youth and International Officer Gustavsgate 1, 0351 Oslo, Norway [email protected]

CoScan Patrons: Their Excellencies, The Ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden

Scandinavian Embassies in the UK – Press, Culture and Information

Denmark Norway Royal Danish Embassy Royal Norwegian Embassy Lone Britt Christensen Eva M Vincent Cultural Attaché Head of Press, Information and 55, Sloane Street Cultural Affairs London SW1X 9SR 25, Belgrave Square, Tel: +44(0)20 7333 0200 London SW1X 8QD Fax: +44(0)20 7333 0270 Tel: +44(0)20 7591 5500 [email protected] [email protected] www.denmark.org.uk www.norway.org.uk

Finland Sweden Embassy of Finland Embassy of Sweden Pirjo Pellinen Carl Otto Werkelid Cultural Affairs Officer Counsellor Cultural Affairs 38, Chesham Place, 11, Montagu Place, London SW1X 8HW London W1H 2AL Tel: +44(0)20 7838 6200 Tel: +44(0)20 7917 6400 Fax: +44(0)20 7235 3680 Fax: +44(0)20 7917 6475 [email protected] [email protected] www.finemb.org.uk www.swedenabroad.com/london

Iceland Embassy of Iceland Honorary members of Petrina Bachmann CoScan: Attaché Nordmanns - Forbundet (2004–2012) 2A, Hans Street London SW1X 0JE www.norseman.no Finnish-British Society Tel: +44(0)20 7259 3999 (2003–2012) Fax: +44(0)2072459649 Finnish-www.finnbrit.fiBritish Society [email protected] www.iceland.is/uk