Lindisfarne Day

Time - Wednesday, June 8 · 12:00am - 11:30pm
Location -Everywhere

On this day in the year 1043 Runic Era (793 CE) three Viking ships raided the Isle of Lindisfarne, officially opening what is generally called the "Viking Age". Toast these warriors who began the resistance of an alien religious invasion of the Northlands and sought revenge for the slaughter of thousands of Danish and Saxon Men, Women and Children by Charlamange. Thus the legend of the feared and mighty Norse began, and their le...gacy would shape Northern Europe as it emerged from the Dark Ages.

Many explanations are given for why the Norsemen struck at this place and time. Population pressures in Scandinavia are often given, as is the lack of arable land in Norway and Sweden. In his book “The Vikings: A History” (2009), author Robert Ferguson proposes another explanation. Between the years 773 and 792, Frankish ruler Charlemagne launched at least six separate campaigns to subdue the pagan Saxons. Many of these people, rather than live under the “White Christ,” chose to flee their homeland; no doubt they sojourned north to live among their fellow pagans in Denmark, Norway and Sweden, telling bloodthirsty tales of the Frankish subjugation of their countrymen over religion. [In the autumn of 782, for example, Charlemagne ordered the beheading of 4500 Saxon leaders guilty of practicing pagan rites after their conversion to Christianity.] Mr. Ferguson theorizes that perhaps some of the early Viking raids were purposely aimed at religious sites. Note that some of the Lindisfarne monks were “drowned in the sea,,,” perhaps in a brutal imitation of baptism.

One of the most learned men to be produced by the British Isles was Alcuin, a Saxon scholar, poet, ecclesiastic and teacher. He had been lured to the court of Charlemagne, king of the Franks and the soon-to-be-declared “Emperor of the Romans, to assist in the so-called “Carolingian Renaissance.” One of his most enduring acts was persuading Charlemagne to abolish the death penalty for paganism in 797. Alcuin told the Frankish ruler, “Faith is a free act of the will, not a forced act. We must appeal to the conscience, not compel it by violence. You can force people to be baptized, but you cannot force them to believe.” He would make some interesting observations on the events to come.

The Scandinavians, contrary to popular belief, focused more on farming and trading than raiding, and in the period immediately followed the Lindisfarne raid, began to lay claim to the mostly uninhabited islands to the north of mainland Britain. While these islands did not afford the gold that Lindisfarne and comparable monasteries could, they provided the Norse with an even more precious commodity—free land. The over-population in Scandinavia at this time had begun to affect the free farmers, forcing them to find new land away from home. The perfectly situated islands in Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides offered land, protection and the promise of a new life, as well as a strategic staging ground for raiding and trading across the north Atlantic.

On this day Let us try to remember that governments are not always right and usually not looking after your best interest but rather theirs. Let us try to remember that, no matter what your opinion of this event, our history is ours to keep and remember for the future generations, weather good or bad. Let us remember that sometimes you do need to fight back. Let us remember our ancestry, that so many have tried to distort or erase.

Hail the Folk

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Day of Remembrance for Sigurd the Volsung

Time- Thursday, June 9 · 12:00am - 11:30pm
Location - Everywhere

He is the model Germanic hero. His wooing of the Valkyrie Brynhild, the winning of the treasure of the Nibelungs, and the constant theme of Odinic initiation that weaves itself throughout his story are priceless parts of our Asatru heritage, that provide endless material for contemplation and inspiration for action.

On this day I try to remember many of the great Germanic heros from history and how the stories have effected modern literature and movies around the world. Remember that despite negative propaganda from political rants we share a rich and powerful heritage, admired around the world, that has had a direct and positive effect across many nations, Not just Europe.

Hail to the heros of the folk.

(from the Asatru Alliance on Facebook)