Are you thirsty for some culture, beer or both?

We hereby invite you to a poetic journey into the past! Join us in the Backyard on Thursday at 6 pm for Norse Poetry!“Soma, the nectar of the gods, the water of life or the mead of poetry. From India in the east to Ireland in the west, Greece in the south and Norway in the north, all Indo-European peoples have stories of a holy drink, a liquid that gilds our words and lifts the soul.

The art of poetry was highly esteemed in Norse times, something the texts we have inherited from our ancestors bear witness to. Why was poetry so central? What was a poet? What is the difference between a kenning and a heiti – and what is galdralag – or the magical verse form?Welcome to a discussion of mythological stories about the gods’ holy drink from all over the world, as well as discussion of the role of poetry in Norse culture. Having formed a broad picture of the symbolism of poetry’s mead in various mythologies, we will focus on the peculiarities of Norse poetry. Here we will look both at the role of poetry in the everyday lives of our ancestors, as well as in spiritual contexts. In addition, we will look at different uses for poetry in the Viking Age, from sarcastic jealousy to praiseworthy queenly poetry!

This evening you will also get to take part in a preview of Norse Tradition’s upcoming release of a new translation of Voluspå!”