My Little Report on Norway

"Norway, a land of adventure!" These familiar words start the beginning of Walt Disney World's Norwegian ride, Maelstrom, an indoor boat trip that explores Norway, the Vikings, and common folklore. Sadly, this ride is going to be replaced by a Frozen ride and construction has already been started. I was so excited to go to the Norway Pavilion, because I am a Viking nut, but when we got there, it was mostly inhabited by Frozen paraphernalia. Now don't get me wrong; I love Frozen as much as the next, have seen the movie over and over, and sing the songs daily in the shower, but it was a big disappointment to find the buildings dedicated to Norway's culture taken over by this new animated movie. Anyway, this blog wasn't supposed to be about Disney, it was supposed to be about Norway! In case you've ever been to the Norway Pavilion, seen Frozen and wondered about the country that inspired Arendelle, or have just been curious about Vikings, here's this post! I've spent about two to three years off and on learning about Vikings, and here's what I've found...
    Okay, so Vikings are big, hairy, and smelly, right? And Vikings always wear helmets with horns, right? And surely Vikings live their entire lives raiding monasteries and were completely uncivilized, right? Wrong! I always thought this, too, but Vikings were a civilized people that took baths and used combs and brushes to keep hygienic. They did grow beards, and may have been muscular and big, but they weren't smelly.  Also, artists later added Vikings wearing horned helmets, but in truth, their helmets were regular metal and they probably didn't wear them around their farms. Yes, that's right, Vikings had farms. Cattle, sheep, and horses, were very common for farmers to raise, and many planted hay. Fishing and trading was also a very popular occupation, but there were other jobs to be found in towns, as well. Unfortunately, Vikings did go on raids, but it was not their means of their livelihood. I guess I should back up a bit. All of what I said was true except for one thing. The Vikings might have been "civilized" but they were not civil. They treated the elderly and the young as if they had no value, they were morally corrupt, and held barbaric practices. They worshiped false gods, and were violent. Although the Vikings have a rich culture, and are intriguing, I have learned a very important lesson: a people without God will do heinous things. God can truly change people and lead them to Him, no matter what they have done. Christianity came to the Vikings a few hundred years later, and all though not everyone actually excepted it, I believe that hearts were changed. God is good!                                     
                         This has been Page Turner's little report on Norway. Farvel, venner! (good bye, friends!)