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 When most people think of Vikings, they think of the marauding raiders represented in fairy tales and Hollywood movies. But this isn’t the whole truth of the history of the Vikings. Vikings were also a people with a rich culture who lived throughout Scandinavia in the 9th Century. Each year in mid-June, people in Iceland and Denmark celebrate this culture with the International Viking Festival.
Europe was almost completely settled by the 8th Century, but the northern most regions of Scandinavia remained. They were concerned too harsh and cold for most people. A hardy people began to settle this region, bringing with them a rich culture heavy in agriculture and trade. The men would go on sailing expeditions to trade with other people, and sometimes those expeditions would degenerate into looting and other less-than-noble activities.
Each June, communities throughout Scandinavia celebrate this rich culture and its history with the International Viking Festival. The most prominent of these, held in Iceland, is called FJÖRUKRÁIN and is attended by thousands of people from all over the world each and every year.
 During the International Viking Festival, there are many exhibits for people of all interests. There are displays of Viking arts and crafts, highlighting the artisan nature of the Viking heritage. Here people can buy traditional Viking items and celebrate the less well-known agricultural side of Viking culture.
There are also, of course, displays of battle skills by men dressed in full Viking garb for those who prefer the more vigorous side of Viking history. Onlookers can challenge the performers in some of the more tame activities if they’re brave enough to do so. The modern-day Vikings are also challenging each other in games that simulate the battle skills of that long-ago time.
Once people have taken part in their choice of the day’s activities, they’re encouraged to turn in at one of the nearby Viking hotels. Themed with traditional Viking-era décor, these hotels are the perfect way to complete the International Viking Festival experience. These hotels also offer a wide variety of activities for visitors, including Viking “kidnappings” and booming speeches from Thor, the Viking god of thunder.
So this June, why not take a turn to the past and explore the best that Scandinavia and Iceland have to offer. After all, it’s not every summer that you can say you shopped till you dropped, battled with a Viking, and drank Schnapps while listening to a lecture from Thor.
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