Many of us are familiar with the funeral image of a blazing Viking longship out at sea. Films and tv programmes about Vikings have given us this image of how Vikings held funerals. Because of this, it has become the funeral choice of many people, and when talking about funerals, someone will state they want this kind of funeral. Can you have a Viking funeral like this?
How Viking Funerals Really Took Place
Viking culture an an interest in Vikings has increased. Viking weddings (which I also create) are popular as are the desire to have a Viking funeral. Why are Viking funerals appealing to so many?
The word Viking means soldier. To ‘go Viking’ was to state the person who said it was going to fight as a soldier. Vikings as we now refer to them, sailed from Scandinavia conquering, stealing, looting, raping, and killing people. There were slave traders, merchants, farmers, and warriors.
As dedicated followers of Norse religion with Germanic roots, they worshipped many Gods and Goddesses. Odin is seen as the father/King/principal of the Norse Gods. Odin’s wives Frigg (Queen of Asgard) and Freya (not the same Goddess as many believe) gave birth to many including four sons. Frigg and Odin’s son Baldr (also spelt Baldur and Balder) was killed by mistletoe, caused by the trickster God Loki. Baldr’s funeral pyre was lit on his ship which was sent out to sea. This is possibly where the ideology of Viking funerals comes from.
However, this wasn’t how a Viking funeral was held. Longships took a long time to build with many resources which is one of the reasons the image of a flaming longship at a funeral is inaccurate. If all Vikings had this kind of funeral, there wouldn’t be the time nor resources to build the longships needed.
Viking Graves
Graves of Vikings have been found and exhumed and this is how we know of certain aspects of Viking funerals. Like us they marked their graves with stones, headstones, and markers. Called Hogbacks, the stones had carvings on them denoting the burial place of an important person.
They were buried with grave goods which included jewellery, beads, swords, arrows, and knives. Women were buried with keys, spindles, (in honour of the Goddess Frigg, Goddess of marriage, motherhood, and fertility), cauldrons, and other household items. The most important and the wealthiest were buried in a boat which was put over the grave to make a sealed chamber or in the ground with the body of the person placed in it.
Why You Can’t Have a Burning Boat Viking Funeral
There are two reasons why you can’t have a burning boat Viking style funeral. The first is UK law won’t allow open air funeral pyres because of pollution and other reasons. The second reason is sea breezes prevent the extremely high temperature required to completely cremate a body.
How to Have a Burning Boat Viking Funeral
If you or your loved one wants a Viking style burning boat funeral, there is an alternative way which involves the following:
A standard cremation takes place
A longship urn
An archer is present with a flaming arrow
The cremains (ashes) are placed into the longship urn which is then placed in the sea or in a river. Next the archer puts an arrow into their bow and lights the arrow which is shot into the sails of the longship urn. The urn catches alight and floats off into the distance.
It is a very poignant moment, and it has happened many times including here in Whitby, the town previously called Streonshal by the Saxons until the Vikings invaded and renamed it Whitby.
Be Buried Like a Viking
For those who embrace Viking life, religion or are members of re-enactment groups, being buried as Vikings is their funeral choice. The person can be buried wearing Viking clothing with items that were important to them. Grave goods such as Whitby jet beads, ‘which are believed to be for amuletic protection and are usually found at the foot of graves’ can be placed into the grave.
I have created and led many Viking style funerals which have been held in different locations, mainly in natural burial grounds. Guests attending dress in Viking dress clothing. Graves for those who are involved in re-enactments have been longer and wider than other graves because they wanted to be buried with their full kit including their bow. Natural burial requires only allowing into the ground materials which will biodegrade. Some may allow other items as they are independently owned.
Unlike traditional burials and in keeping with natural burials, the ceremony isn’t rushed. The person who has died is carried to their grave with prayers and other words said from the available Norse texts as this happens. After the ceremony has ended, all are invited to help to back fill the grave, making it an unique and individualised ceremony.
Unique Funerals for Unique People
Many people are now choosing to have a funeral which is inclusive and reflective of their lifestyles, and this includes those who want to have a Viking style funeral. Over 956 years since the Viking age ended, their culture and lifestyle still has an influence on many today. As an alternative funeral celebrant with a knowledge of Viking culture and a Pagan Priestess, I can create Viking style funerals for all who seek them.
If you would like further information about having a Viking funeral, please contact me for further information.