“The leaves of trees were glistening, and every twig was dripping; the grass was grey with cold dew. Everything was still, and far-away noises seemed near and clear”
Baby clothes: What a perfectly cute way to make use of small pieces of leftover fabric!
This is the second addition to my little boy’s Viking wardrobe. While the red tunic posted about a couple of months ago was made using the fabric left over from one of my apron dresses, this blue one is made of fabric from one of his father’s tunics.
“Velkomin sértu, góa mín, og gakktu í bæinn; vertu ekki úti í vindinum vorlangan daginn”
According to the Old Icelandic calendar have just left behind the month of Þorri, and today we enter the month of Góa. Being among the last winter months, it might have been a difficult time with food supplies running low, but also a time filled with hope for an early and mild spring. This is illustrated by Icelandic proverbs such as "að þreyja þorrann og góuna” (to endure Þorri and Góa, that is, to overcome difficult times). Several aspects of the stories and traditions related to Góa are associated with hopes of fertility and growth.
Icelandic folktales describe how this month is the month of women, and that it should be greeted by the housewife on the farm. On this first day of Góa she should rise early and step outside before getting dressed, walk thrice around the farm, and speak the words from the top of this post. Let me translate them to English:
“Welcome, my dear Góa, and come on inside; don’t stay out in the wind, on this long day of spring.”
My annual Viking & Medieval market calendar is up now at Valkyrja.com (link in profile)
I honestly didn’t think I would be able to make it this year, since I have a 2-month-old baby on my arm these days, but here it is! ^^ Please feel free to bookmark and share!
Will you be attending any markets this year, and which ones?
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that our little boy will be introduced to the Viking reenactment life… And, at the age of one month, his first pieces of Viking clothing and gear are already in place!
The first garment I’ve sewn for him is this red tunic.
Check out my latest blog post at Valkyrja.com (link in bio)
My highest wish for New Year’s is a quiet celebration at home with my new little family. ❤️
I have spent the last few days in hospital due to a nasty infection, and while I love and admire the Norwegian health care system I must say I’m officially tired of spending time surrounded by naked concrete walls, beeping sounds and nightly disturbances by others than my newborn baby. My expectations that the “fourth trimester” was supposed to be tough led me to walk around with an untreated infection for weeks rather than seeking treatment, and I learned the hard way that gritting your teeth is not necessarily the best way to cope in all cases… I am recovering well now and it looks like I may be discharged tomorrow, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed to be home on this side of the new year!