Nordic culture is more than symbols, ornaments and traditions.
It is a living heritage that continues to shape the way we build, communicate, create, work and live together.
Sólfar (The Sun Voyager) is a modern work of art in Reykjavík harbor with clear roots in traditional Nordic ships and graphic art.
Our mission is to work with companies, organizations and individuals to express this heritage – through modern design, education, cultural guidance and experiences.
Whether you are developing a visual identity, seeking a stronger organizational culture or exploring the values that have shaped the Nordic people for over 1000 years, we provide knowledge and tools to bring a distinct Nordic perspective into the modern world:
- Nordic Ethics.
- Nordic Design – graphics, interior design and identity.
- Nordic Equality.
- Unpretentious communication.
- Personal responsibility in the community.
- Hospitality.
- Craftsmanship and quality.
- Local engagement.
- Resilience and independence.
- History and traditions.
- Experiences.
Traffic lights in Aarhus
Still Vikings
Viking-age Nordic society stood out from the rest of the world with gender equality, egalitarianism, popular sovereignty, self-reliance and a social safety net.
The same can be said of today’s Nordic countries.
But for about 500 years – from the 14th century to the 19th century – these values were ignored by the church and nobility, with inspiration and pressure from the rest of Europe.
Now the Nordic countries are once again the envy of the world, but the concepts are not new. They were revived in a new and modern way, while the rationale is the same as it was 1,000 years ago: everyone is important, worth listening to and worth caring for (read also the page about Felag).
After all, we are still Vikings.
Hof Ásatrúarfélagsins is Iceland’s first large Hov (temple) for the Nordic gods since the Viking Age.
Nordic Ethics
Nordic ethics is not about saying it nicely, but clearly. Direct and clear communication prevents and solves most challenges – and requires a certain robustness to honest messages.
Honesty, sincerity, timeliness, composure and courage are central virtues.
In business contexts, getting to the point is valued rather than starting with small talk, charm or flattery. Small talk naturally comes after the business is over.
A promise should only be made when it can be kept – and once it has been made, it is expected to be kept, even when it becomes more expensive or more difficult than expected.
Emotions and faith can have their place when they do not displace rationality or are imposed on others. Missionary work can therefore be experienced as one of the most un-Nordic things there is.
Courage is highly valued – including the courage to openly acknowledge one’s fears. Therefore, Nordic upbringing is traditionally associated with independence, responsibility and problem-solving from an early age; Children cycle to school alone from the first grade.
Fetish for the Past
Interest in the historical Viking Age has never been greater. Museums and exhibitions are popping up everywhere, Viking plays and role-playing games, TV series and computer games, and webshops with Viking jewelry…
Frederikssund Viking Open Air theatre: vikingespil.dk
Netflix Vikings: netflix.com/dk/title/70301870
Odins Klinge (viking jewelery): odinsklinge.dk
Sail on a Viking ship in Roskilde Fjord:
modernevikinger.dk/oplevelser
Ride with a Viking: modernevikinger.dk/oplevelser
History and Traditions
To understand the present, you need to know the past. The Nordic countries have a short but fascinating history, which nicely explains the society we live in now.
The fact that the Nordic countries always top the lists of least corrupt countries, happiest countries, and so on, has roots back to the Viking Age, and is primarily due to open-minded rational thinking and mutual trust.
Storyteller and author Hasse “Hassan” Sørensen has written a number of books that easily provide a detailed and thorough introduction to the history and traditions of the Nordic countries.
Hasse can also be booked for café lectures and talks by contacting him on 31 50 20 15.
Vikingology & Norse Mythology Encyclopedia
You’ve seen the movies, now read the book!
We’re peeling back the layers to reveal the real Vikings.
Expect a thrilling mix of new underground archaeology and historical facts that are anything but boring.
And because you’re here for the good stuff, we’re also diving headfirst into the mythical sagas and epic tales that truly defines the Norse world.
Prepare for a longboat trip that’s equally enlightening and entertaining.
12 x 19 cm
Paperback: DKK 249
ISBN: 978-91-990142-4-1
Ásatrú
If you only want to read about the Norse Mythology:
Ásatrú, also known as Norse Paganism, Norse Mythology or Forn Siðr, is not like other faiths.
Most faiths and religions are aimed at the afterlife – often at the expense of this tangible present life.
Most faiths and religions teach about scrutiny and judgement.
Most faiths will discriminate between good and evil, leaving no gabs for real life.
Ásatrú is different; a celebration of life and love; the might of nature and all the emotional encounters life will throw at you.
This book is not written to convert you to this faith, but to place you in front of a buffet, where there might be a tempting snack you can sneak out, without buying the whole seating.
That’s how it works, because Ásatrú is not a religion but a tradition; not a philosophical framework but thousands of years of real life experience; not a commitment but a toast dedicated to Skaði, one happy evening down the pub.
232 pages
12 x 19 cm
Paperback: DKK 149
Ebook: DKK 65
ISBN: 978-91-990142-5-8 / 978-91-990142-6-5
Experiences
Everyone needs a Viking experience from time to time.
That’s why we offer different experiences – something for everyone.
- Ride with a Viking: On horseback into nature, where we make a fire and eat, and get a story or two from the Viking Age.
- Bike with a Viking: A guided tour of Copenhagen where you get the whole story from the goddess Gefion’s agreement with the Swedish king Gylfi to CopenHill and the Metro.
- Sail with a Viking: A guided tour of the Roskilde Viking Ship Museum and a cruise on the fjord in a real Viking ship.
- Æsir Academy: A fun afternoon with Danish sandwiches and pancakes where you learn all about the Ases, the Vanir, the Giants and Nordic Mythology.
- Storytelling (read more here)
- Workshops for companies and associations (read more here)
- Viking Soul – a workshop about equality.
Equal Worth
Norwegian Viking Queen Evie Louise Madsen and Vikingologist Hasse “Hassan” Sørensen are holding the seminar “Viking Soul” together to clarify how pan-European concepts such as “feminine and masculine values” have crippled and obscured the perception of equality that is natural in the Nordic world.
Women can do what men can, and vice versa, but that does not mean that we should be clones of each other. Many men in particular have gotten lost in this complex and are looking for a guide in the gender jungle.
We do not aim for equality but for equal worth – and mutual respect.
Date and place will follow soon. If you want more information, you can call Hasse on +45 31 50 20 15.
Answers about Vikings
What does "Viking" mean?
The word “Viking” itself has changed meaning over the years, from “From-the-Bay” (Vik or Vig means bay), to pirate or expedition, and to Nordic culture; everything from souvenir shops to bus companies and fitness centers.
Viking is not linked to a specific ethnicity, as immigration and emigration have always been a large part of Nordic culture, but to the landscape of the Nordic region and certain character traits such as mutual respect, hospitality, independence, integrity and self-sufficiency (read also about Felag).
Viking is also not linked to a specific religion, as the historical Viking Age was actually a slow transition from Asatru to Christianity, and most modern Vikings are atheists.
What characterizes a Viking?
Relatively reserved, respects other people’s privacy, hospitable, self-reliant, confident, hard to shock, and at the same time completely cold to “cultural sensitivities”.
Public breastfeeding, public nudity, public drinking, etc. are what we call “an ordinary Tuesday”.
If others have a problem with religious caricatures, they have a problem. We don’t. Should they burn the Danish flag in protest, we don’t care.
Often described as the “Law of Jante”, a humble attitude is ingrained in the Nordic people, and even a billionaire would rather die than drive a Ferrari or wear big gold jewelry. The general perception is that if you brag, you are covering up some doubts about yourself; if you claim to be wealthy, we assume you are in financial trouble, and if you claim to be tough, we will perceive you as fragile and anxious.
We cannot be intimidated, and we are very difficult to impress.
Trust is given by default, respect is earned.
We leave sleeping babies in a stroller outside the restaurant, and our phones are on the table when we go to the bathroom.
We trust our neighbors and strangers, we trust the government, educational institutions, and public health care. More than 90% of the time, our trust is rewarded.
We hesitate to make promises, but when we do, we deliver or die trying.
Time is important, money is not. Being fifteen minutes late is more insulting than setting money on fire.
Everyone has equal value. From the Bronze Age village to the modern IT company, this is a timeless fact: the CEO of the company and the guy sweeping the floor will show mutual respect, and no decisions will be made until all opinions and ideas have been taken into account (read also about Felag).
Gender equality is so obvious that we barely talk about it.
Having a temper is acceptable if you are developmentally disabled – otherwise not.
What does a modern Viking look like?
Like everyone else: Jeans, shirt and smartphone in hand.
The Nordics are not a big Iron Age festival.
What do modern Vikings eat?
Pork, fish, chicken, rye, wheat, potatoes, milk and eggs are the main ingredients in our diet. In Iceland we replace pork with lamb.
Bread with a spread of meat/fish and two or three toppings for one meal, and the next meal will be a large piece of meat/fish served with potatoes/rice/pasta, some vegetables on the side and a thick sauce of some kind.
We drink water, milk, beer and wine, and occasionally a cocktail. And we drink much more coffee than anywhere else in the world, despite the fact that we do not produce the black gold ourselves.
Traditionally we eat three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. Snacks are a novelty in the Nordic countries.
For treats we prefer licorice and chocolate, and occasionally pastry or chocolate cake with berries and whipped cream.
The longer you observe us, the more you will notice minor local variations.
What is the conversation like between modern Vikings?
Direct, honest and without mincing words. Having your say is more important than peace of mind. Being clear is more important than politeness.
A business conversation does not start with pleasantries and questions to the family, as this is considered bad taste and cheap tricks, but it is usually concluded like this when the business is done, as this shows genuine interest.
Hvad anses som succes for en moderne viking?
Tid! At have tid til familien, fritidsinteresser, ægte engagement, personlige forbindelser.
Penge og statussymboler er af sekundær betydning.
Hvad er familiens og venskabets betydning for den moderne viking?
Kulturen i de nordiske lande er helt klart mere individualistisk end kollektivistisk. Når det er sagt, er det vigtigt at forstå at familien er den nærmeste kreds omkring en person, og at venskaber der starter i børnehaven ofte holder livet ud. Venskaber og familiebånd kan holde på trods af forskelle i tro, politiske forskelle og moralske uenigheder.
Det der opfattes som sagt i fortrolighed forbliver en hemmelighed, som vi tager med os i graven.
Et afgivet løfte overholdes, eller vi dør i forsøget.
Ærlighed, fortrolighed og redelighed anses som de største dyder.
Hvad er humor for den moderne viking?
Primært selv-ironi og underspillet sarkasme.
Hvad er tabu for den moderne viking?
Der findes ingen tabuer.
Afhængig af selskabet kan alle emner diskuteres, inklusive sex, tro, politik, lovovertrædelser med mere.
Hvad er den moderne vikings forhold til autoriteteter?
Ingen autoriteter er hævet over granskning og italesættelse.
Hvis du ikke kan tåle at blive mødt med skepsis skal du tie stille – uanset din position og status.
Hvor imødekommende er moderne vikinger?
Ikke specielt. Vi samtaler med fremmede hvis der findes en specifik anledning til det, ellers ikke.
Hvad er vikingereligionen?
Med de åbenlyse undtagelser fra mindretal er “vikingereligionen” faktisk slet ingen – de facto ateisme.
Fra ca. år 700 til 1300 gik de nordiske lande langsomt over fra asatroen (nordisk mytologi) til kristendommen, og i dag er omkring 65% af de nordiske folk officielt medlemmer af de nationale lutherske menigheder, dog primært af traditionelle årsager og for at bidrage med den (meget lave) kirkeskat til bygningsvedligeholdelse. Når de bliver spurgt, om de tror på Gud, svarer mindre end 10% ja, og for den bibelske skabelsesmyte er svaret omkring 0%.
Samtidig vokser et lille asatro-samfund langsomt i alle de nordiske lande, men tallene er langt fra imponerende.
Men når vi taler om folklore, er der en vedvarende opmærksomhed på de nordiske guder, og især på Huldufolket, elvere og trolde; vi fejrer stadig Jul/Jól i stedet for kristmesse, og mange årlige festdage har tydelige asatro-elementer.
Kort sagt: Meget opmærksomhed rettet mod noget, vi ikke rigtig tror på.
Før man taler om religion og tro i Norden, er det vigtigt at udvikle en sans for humor og hænge følsomheden i garderoben.
Selv for den stærkeste troende hersker den oldnordiske tankegang: Kun handlinger tæller – tanker og følelser er toldfrie.
Hvad betyder nordisk mytologi i hverdagen?
For de fleste mennesker: Ikke meget. Det kan være at bruge de nordiske guder som metaforer, når det lige passer, at pynte med nisser til Jul, en troldefigur i vindueskarmen, og de allestedsnærværende Mjølner eller Yggdrasil halskæder.
At blive indoktrineret med historierne som børn former nok vores opfattelser af visse ting en smule: Hvad er sjovt og hvad er pinligt, og hvornår er det tid til at indrømme en fejltagelse…
Mest af alt betyder det nok at vi lærer at for guder og mennesker gælder de samme regler: problemer løses ved handling, ikke ved at bede eller ønske.
Hvornår var Vikingetiden?
Vikingetiden startede i 1873.
Forvirret?
Det skal du ikke være. Ligesom de gamle grækere ikke vidste at de levede i det antikke Grækenland, vidste vikingerne hverken at de var vikinger eller at de levede i vikingetiden.
Men da Jens Jacob Asmussen Worsaae udgav bogen “De danskes Kultur i Vikingetiden” fik alle i Norden stjerner i øjnene og begyndte at kalde alting noget med Viking.
Nogenlunde samtidigt fik scenograf og kostumier Carl Emil Doepler den fantastiske idé at give vikingerne horn i hjelmen, til Bayreuther Festspiele opsætningen af Richard Wagners opera “Der Ring des Niebelungen”.
Nu er det op til alt for mange uenige historikere og arkæologer at definere hvornår vikingetiden startede og sluttede, og budene er alt fra fra mellem år 300 og 793, til mellem år 1066 og 1350.
I realiteten lever vi mere i “vikingetiden” nu end nogensinde før.
Hvad med den mørke side?
Der findes bestemt også en mørk side af den historiske vikingetid: Plyndringer, slaveri, krige og angre unoder.
Der findes en hel side hvor du kan læse om det her: Den Mørke Side
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