Today, I have just come back from the greatest viking fair in Denmark and possibly the entire North. It is done twice yearly in the oldest town in Denmark Ribe.
Ribe was one of the great trade-towns of the north and tradesmen came from all of the known world and from a lot of the unknown too, in order to trade. Untouched by time after the middle ages, it is also a very valuable archaeological area.
The recreation is very similar though on a smaller scale to the old viking town and further inland, in fact no one has a 100% accurate idea because only a very small percentage of the town has been excavated (as several hundred-year-old-buildings have to be destroyed in order to excavate).
I experienced a horse display with Icelandic horses, a fight display with burly viking warriors and saw how "viking" people lived, farmed and made things. I also did a bit of archery.
When you go to the stalls, you see the people making the things you intend to buy, at one place I bought silver and copper coins which we had seen being pressed only moments earlier.
I saw at another, iron belt buckles and swords being made.
The viking event is a praise to DIY, all participants are hobbyists who love the ethic and philosophy of the viking era. Some are modern pagans like myself, but that is not necessary, it is about creating good quality products that time has proven to be in high demand.
A lot of the techniques & designs created by the vikings are still in use today and their design has not been altered since then.
I myself own wood/bone spoons, knives, combs, dice, boxes, bowls etc... that are as perfect a replica you can get of what the vikings used, but are at the same time the most practical and modern design out there.
A spoon is a spoon several thousand years and nobody has improved on the design.
In fact viking fairs, medieval fairs and traditional folk fairs are really good places to get practical, sturdy equipment for the home.
I haven't had a plastic comb last more than half a year, but I have a bone comb and a wooden comb that has lasted me for many, many years.
Are viking fairs green...yes, well mostly
Very little electricity - only a few fires
Only high quality products that are recyclable, degradable and good for the environment. In fact a lot of it is created from recycled material.
Yeah, it fulfills all three 'R's
The only shame is the few food arrangements for the visitors, which include plastic cups and paper plates and that so many drive out there.
I took the train and walked the rest of the way (2-3km).
It was a brilliant trip, the weather was fantastic (my brother got burned), I didn't but I rarely do (I was also using a factor 20 organic suncream). If any of you ever make it to Denmark, don't just go to Copenhagen, visit places like Ribe which has almost just as much to offer.
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