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What’s a Viking?
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So, I have a lot of friends from Scandinavia, mostly Norway but also Sweden and Denmark and I travel to Norway at least once a year to spend time with them. Most of my friends from the area (except the one from the Faeroe Islands) identify quite strongly as Vikings.
They’re mostly tall blonde chaps, normally with cropped hair, as is the case with most of the Scandis I meet. I mean year some of them have brown hair but it really does seem to be blondes everywhere.
So why is the “British Viking” so different to Scandi Vikings when self-identifying on sites like this?
Is it purely down to that Viking TV show do you reckon? Or is there another cultural force at work here?
Do you think someone should have to qualify somehow to be a Viking? I know I wouldn’t qualify because my DNA test said I was only 2% Viking. 
I can’t help wondering if the long “Viking” hair that many men seem to sport would be impractical on long sea crossings and when doing all the pillaging and whatever else Vikings do. I have to shower every day to keep my 2% ginger Viking hair in good condition. 
Anyway, I'm basically always dissapointed because they’re never blonde and I can’t practice my Norwegian after sex. |
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"Think they're like that guy in the film Dodgeball who identifies as a pirate."
Is dodgeball any good? Should I watch it?
The question started out as nonsense but actually I’m here if people want to give me film and tv reviews. |
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By *zeroMan 41 weeks ago
Glasgow |
Judging by profiles who state they have the viking look its large men with long beards, tattoos and long hair tied back while having it shaved in at the sides
I've yet to see any "viking" women. If they are out there I hope they all look like Alyssa Sunderland |
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"Judging by profiles who state they have the viking look its large men with long beards, tattoos and long hair tied back while having it shaved in at the sides
I've yet to see any "viking" women. If they are out there I hope they all look like Alyssa Sunderland"
I’m 2% Viking. They probably all look like me.
I kind of hope they’re all like my Norwegian friend’s wife. She’s 5ft tall like me with ginger curly hair and makes great coffee. |
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By (user no longer on site) 41 weeks ago
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I think people who refer to themselves as "Vikings" on here is purely from the aesthetic point of view rather than having any actual Viking ancestry. Long hair and beards, tattoos, quite big. I think self identifying as a Viking is a bit cringe but whatever helps them stand out I guess. |
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"I think people who refer to themselves as "Vikings" on here is purely from the aesthetic point of view rather than having any actual Viking ancestry. Long hair and beards, tattoos, quite big. I think self identifying as a Viking is a bit cringe but whatever helps them stand out I guess."
I suppose they have to be the right tattoos though. A Paddington Bear tattoo probably wouldn’t cut it. |
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By (user no longer on site) 41 weeks ago
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"I think in the UK the first requirment to be one is to skip the soap and shampoo.
So that’s why so many people specify that good hygiene is a must - the Vikings aren’t showering!"
Yup. Lots of "primal" types skip that part too. |
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The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't. |
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't. "
I think you should tell that to the Scandis who all seem to heavily identify with their Viking heritage. 
I kind of wish it was more acceptable/common to identify with our traditional heritage in this country. I’m largely genetically Anglo Saxon and we have some incredible craftsmanship, art, and oral history in our heritage. |
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't.
I think you should tell that to the Scandis who all seem to heavily identify with their Viking heritage.
I kind of wish it was more acceptable/common to identify with our traditional heritage in this country. I’m largely genetically Anglo Saxon and we have some incredible craftsmanship, art, and oral history in our heritage."
And they rightly should identify with it. My point being is, on the back of the popularity of several TV shows, the majority jumped onto it because its "cool" without fully understanding the belief system.
True fact. Women in viking times had more rights than their equivalent saxon counterparts.
They where an unbelievably progressive group of people for the time.
But they didn't just shout "Skoll" and drink mead
|
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't. "
You can bore me to sleep anytime you like   |
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't.
I think you should tell that to the Scandis who all seem to heavily identify with their Viking heritage.
I kind of wish it was more acceptable/common to identify with our traditional heritage in this country. I’m largely genetically Anglo Saxon and we have some incredible craftsmanship, art, and oral history in our heritage.
And they rightly should identify with it. My point being is, on the back of the popularity of several TV shows, the majority jumped onto it because its "cool" without fully understanding the belief system.
True fact. Women in viking times had more rights than their equivalent saxon counterparts.
They where an unbelievably progressive group of people for the time.
But they didn't just shout "Skoll" and drink mead
"
Modern Vikings seem mostly drink moonshine and aquavit.
*shudder* |
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't.
I think you should tell that to the Scandis who all seem to heavily identify with their Viking heritage.
I kind of wish it was more acceptable/common to identify with our traditional heritage in this country. I’m largely genetically Anglo Saxon and we have some incredible craftsmanship, art, and oral history in our heritage.
And they rightly should identify with it. My point being is, on the back of the popularity of several TV shows, the majority jumped onto it because its "cool" without fully understanding the belief system.
True fact. Women in viking times had more rights than their equivalent saxon counterparts.
They where an unbelievably progressive group of people for the time.
But they didn't just shout "Skoll" and drink mead
Modern Vikings seem mostly drink moonshine and aquavit.
*shudder*"
I'm a Guinness man myself. Every Friday I drink from a drinking horn, with my long hair down past my shoulders.
I'm not a viking. I just like drinking from a horn and refuse to have my hair cut |
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't.
I think you should tell that to the Scandis who all seem to heavily identify with their Viking heritage.
I kind of wish it was more acceptable/common to identify with our traditional heritage in this country. I’m largely genetically Anglo Saxon and we have some incredible craftsmanship, art, and oral history in our heritage.
And they rightly should identify with it. My point being is, on the back of the popularity of several TV shows, the majority jumped onto it because its "cool" without fully understanding the belief system.
True fact. Women in viking times had more rights than their equivalent saxon counterparts.
They where an unbelievably progressive group of people for the time.
But they didn't just shout "Skoll" and drink mead
Modern Vikings seem mostly drink moonshine and aquavit.
*shudder*
I'm a Guinness man myself. Every Friday I drink from a drinking horn, with my long hair down past my shoulders.
I'm not a viking. I just like drinking from a horn and refuse to have my hair cut "
|
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"The trouble is, viking isn't a race or nationality. It was a job. Vikingr the old norse. Roughly translates as "pirate" or "raider"
So whilst the popularity from several TV shows (of which I am a fan) (DESTINY IS ALL)
It's hard for anyone now a days to say they are a viking.
By all means follow and practise pagan beliefs. The old gods. And such like.
I think most on here. Romanticise about Uthred and Ragnar. Without fully understanding the belief system the vikings actually followed.
I could go on and on and bore everyone to sleep. But I won't.
I think you should tell that to the Scandis who all seem to heavily identify with their Viking heritage.
I kind of wish it was more acceptable/common to identify with our traditional heritage in this country. I’m largely genetically Anglo Saxon and we have some incredible craftsmanship, art, and oral history in our heritage.
And they rightly should identify with it. My point being is, on the back of the popularity of several TV shows, the majority jumped onto it because its "cool" without fully understanding the belief system.
True fact. Women in viking times had more rights than their equivalent saxon counterparts.
They where an unbelievably progressive group of people for the time.
But they didn't just shout "Skoll" and drink mead
Modern Vikings seem mostly drink moonshine and aquavit.
*shudder*
I'm a Guinness man myself. Every Friday I drink from a drinking horn, with my long hair down past my shoulders.
I'm not a viking. I just like drinking from a horn and refuse to have my hair cut "
Legit. I gave up having my hair cut about a year ago because it’s expensive. |
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"I think in the UK the first requirment to be one is to skip the soap and shampoo.
So that’s why so many people specify that good hygiene is a must - the Vikings aren’t showering!"
Which is ironic because the Vikings left plenty of archaeological evidence that they took care of their appearance and enjoyed regular saunas.  |
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It’s just a fashion thing these days - A look
Made popular by Travis Fimmel & the show Vikings. Beard, undercut & topknot combo? Boom, you’re a Viking.
Chicks loooove it.
Maybe I should start my own. I’m not in anyway Nordic , but I am ZULU somewhere |
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What I’ve found out about Vikings from visiting the Jorvik Viking Centre in York and by excavating the Viking settlement that Vikings were not a very tall civilisation as the average hight of a fully grow Viking man is 5.5” so in conclusion the shorter Viking impersonators are truer to the actual Vikings |
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By (user no longer on site) 41 weeks ago
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I see that it just comes down to the environment and culture you're born into and live around. History obviously plays a role in people's perceptions/views of what certain time periods wore at the time as well.
I've got a fair bit of viking blood in me (did a DNA test), but what I wear and my hairstyle is no where near what the vikings would have been. |
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