Up until this point, we had been lead to believe that the ceremony would take place in the parking lot outside the hall. When our "guide", Helle, told us to drive in another direction, we were a bit surprised. However, as we got closer, I realized where we were heading: Lindholm Høje (a Viking burial site near Vadum). When we got there, we saw a large gathering of people up on the hill. All dressed as Vikings, but not the war garb that you see in the movies, but in the Viking "everyday wear". We met our witnesses, Torsten and Ann-Britt, and waited for the signal to approach. First, I was signalled to walk up to the ceremonial gathering with Torsten. As I approached the group, they parted and formed a "human hallway" cheering and waving birch branches in the air over my head. I took my place in front of Christian of Grambye. Then Kristen approached with Ann-Britt and was received the same way as me. She took her spot, facing me. At this point, it pretty much proceeds as the following (adapted by my father from a viking wedding ceremony script) with each speaker delivering lines in Danish and English.
Cast of Characters:
Kristen as Kristen Oregonsdatter
Kristen as Kristen Oregonsdatter
Richard as Richard of Denmark
Christian Grambye as Christian of Grambye (Ceremony conductor)
Torsten Lunild as Torsten Lunildsøn (Richard's witness)
Ann-Britt Tønnesen as AnnBrittBørgesdatter (Kristen's witness)
Trine Lunild as Trine Lunsdatter (viking woman who objects)
Flemming Pedersen as Flemming Pederssøn (viking man who objects)
Bruno Madsen as Bruno The Giant
Christian of Grambye
We are gathered here today to witness the pairing of Kristen Oregonsdatter and Richard of Denmark. Who speaks for this woman?
Ann BrittBørgesdatter
I speak for this woman.
Christian of Grambye
And who speaks for this man?
Torsten Lunildsøn
I speak for this man.
Christian of Grambye
Let it be known that there are at least two witnesses to this betrothal. Has the bride’s price been agreed with the family?
Richard
Yes it has.
We are gathered here today to witness the pairing of Kristen Oregonsdatter and Richard of Denmark. Who speaks for this woman?
Ann BrittBørgesdatter
I speak for this woman.
Christian of Grambye
And who speaks for this man?
Torsten Lunildsøn
I speak for this man.
Christian of Grambye
Let it be known that there are at least two witnesses to this betrothal. Has the bride’s price been agreed with the family?
Richard
Yes it has.
Christian of Grambye
Let the witnesses step forth and give their names.
Torsten Lunildsøn
I am Torsten Lunildsøn
AnnBritt Børgesdatter
I am AnnBritt Børgesdatter
Christian of Grambye
It is hereby agreed that the bride price is available to compensate for her labor value and therefore you, Richard of Denmark, must pay the price to the family immediately after this union or you shall forever live in shame. In return you shall receive the dowry, which you must keep and never use without her consent. Tradition dictates that Richard of Denmark shall give to his bride his sword that he and his forefathers have carried in battle which she must keep, maintain, and pass on to her son and he to his bride on the occasion of his marriage. Richard of Denmark, if you have such a sword, you must now give it into Kristen Oregonsdatter’s keeping.
Richard gives Kristen his sword, handle first (as you do not point a sword at another person unless you want to fight).
Christian of Grambye
Kristen Oregonsdatter, now Richard of Denmark has no sword to defend you and your kin. So if you have a new sword, never tried in battle, you must give it into Richard of Denmark’s keeping.
AnnBritt gives Kristen a new sword, which she gives to Richard, and he places it into his belt.
Christian of Grambye
The bridal gifts and swords have been exchanged according to tradition.
The crowd cheers, raising their branches.
Christian of Grambye
I now ask all those who are assembled here today, are there any persons, who are not in agreement with the bonding in marriage of this man and this woman? If so, they must step forward now and state their objections before the gathered guests and witnesses or forever hold their peace and never gainsay the marriage.
Christian of Grambye looks over the crowd they cheer in approval of the marriage. Suddenly, one Viking in the back raises his sword, loudly objecting to the marriage:
Flemming Pederssøn
I am Flemming Pederssøn and I object to this bond. I want Kristen Oregonsdatter and I want her to have me. I raise my sword against you Richard of Denmark.
Christian of Grambye gets worried and looks to Torsten for support. Torsten Lunildsøn steps in front of Richard:
Torsten Lunildsøn
I am Torsten Lunildsøn and I speak AND defend my true friend, Richard of Denmark. He is the true soul mate for Kristen Oregonsdatter and she for him. She has no interest in you. I therefore take you on to defend the honor of my friend.
As he speaks he jumps into the crowd which lets him pass forming a circle around the two Vikings. Richard and Kristen watch as a wild fight develops between the Vikings. As the fighting gets wild, a Viking woman screams her objections from the crowd:
Trine Lunsdatter
I am Trine Lunsdatter and I object to this bond in marriage. I want Richard of Denmark. He is mine and I challenge you Kristen Oregonsdatter.
Christian of Grambye now gets really worried as he sees his ceremony going totally off track. He looks around to see how he can solve this new problem. Suddenly AnnBritt jumps forward and shouts:
AnnBritt Børgesdatter
I am Kristen’s true friend and I know she deserves Richard of Denmark and you don’t, you wench!
As AnnBritt is shouting her lines, she jumps into the circle of the two fighting Vikings and leaps for Trine. They engage in a wild fight much to the entertainment of the crowd. The crowd cheers the fighting couples and waves their branches. At the climax of the fight, Bruno the Giant jumps in and separates the combatants. Flemming is thrown to the ground and Bruno holds him in place with his foot.
Bruno the Giant
I am Bruno the Giant and I want order. Anyone objecting to this union between my friends must deal with me first.
Bruno over the crowd. Flemming under his foot is getting uncomfortable and wants out. Trine is jumping from the pain she is feeling by Bruno’s grasp of her arm. The fighting Vikings are afraid of Bruno and respect him, so they don’t attempt to do anything. Bruno now lets go of Trine and AnnBritt chases her off the arena to the cheers of the crowd, and she returns to stand by Kristen. Bruno also lets go of Flemming who jumps up and runs away from the arena to the cheers of the crowd.
Bruno The Giant
Anyone else who is against this union of my friends?
Crowd
NO!!!
Bruno The Giant
Now that everyone is in agreement we will fill our drinking horns with mead and drink. Then we can proceed.
Bottles are passed around in the crowd; they fill their drinking horns, and drink with each other. Hereafter the ceremony continues.
Christian of Grambye
Richard of Denmark, will you take this woman Kristen Oregonsdatter into your life, support her and her family in good times and in bad times, protect her against the enemies and of the natural elements, give her the keys to your house and valuable, and accept her as the mistress of your households?
Richard of Denmark
I will.
Christian of Grambye
Kristen Oregonsdatter, will you take this man Richard of Denmark into your life, to be your husband, to be faithful to him, to support him and his family in good times and in bad, fight with him against enemies and the natural elements, and do you accept the keys to his house, to be responsible for managing his household and property, to preserve and protect it for your life together?
Kristen Oregonsdatter
I will.
Richard takes his keys from his belt, puts them on the handle of his sword and gives them to Kristen. Bruno steps forward with a bottle of Viking Mead. Richard and Kristen take their drinking horns from their belts and Bruno pours a little Mead into them.
Christian of Grambye
Now I ask you to offer your respect to Odin and Freja, the protectors of prosperity and fertility and ask that you may always have what you need and produce many strong children who will make your family proud and bring new blood to your families.
Richard and Kristen pour mead on the ground as a token of their respect. Then Bruno pours more mead in their horns. They link arms as they drink. Now AnnBritt walks up to Kristen with a flower wreath and puts it on her head.
Christian of Grambye
Kristen Oregonsdatter has received her flower wreath as a symbol of her vows and to show all men that she is no longer an available woman, and she now belongs to Richard of Denmark and Richard to her. The ring you are wearing shall forever show all men that you are a married couple. You may now offer your affection to each other.
Christian of Grambye
Kristen Oregonsdatter, will you take this man Richard of Denmark into your life, to be your husband, to be faithful to him, to support him and his family in good times and in bad, fight with him against enemies and the natural elements, and do you accept the keys to his house, to be responsible for managing his household and property, to preserve and protect it for your life together?
Kristen Oregonsdatter
I will.
Richard takes his keys from his belt, puts them on the handle of his sword and gives them to Kristen. Bruno steps forward with a bottle of Viking Mead. Richard and Kristen take their drinking horns from their belts and Bruno pours a little Mead into them.
Christian of Grambye
Now I ask you to offer your respect to Odin and Freja, the protectors of prosperity and fertility and ask that you may always have what you need and produce many strong children who will make your family proud and bring new blood to your families.
Richard and Kristen pour mead on the ground as a token of their respect. Then Bruno pours more mead in their horns. They link arms as they drink. Now AnnBritt walks up to Kristen with a flower wreath and puts it on her head.
Christian of Grambye
Kristen Oregonsdatter has received her flower wreath as a symbol of her vows and to show all men that she is no longer an available woman, and she now belongs to Richard of Denmark and Richard to her. The ring you are wearing shall forever show all men that you are a married couple. You may now offer your affection to each other.
Richard and Kristen kiss and the crowd cheers. They again form a gate holding their branches high. Kristen and Richard walk through the gate to their family and wait until the guests have departed.
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A few posed random photos:
Kristen and Rich with the new sword, untested in battle
Rich's cousin Ann-Britt and her boyfriend, Morten
Kristen, Rich, and the Swedish niece and nephew, Nathalie and Christopher
Stephanie (Rich's sis) and her Cuban boyfriend, Henrry
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