We were lucky enough to attend the the preview, a trial run of this event on 10 October, two days prior to admittance by the paying public. The occasion was to celebrate the “region’s Norse and Viking heritage in a raucous adventure like no other.” As one gentleman visitor told me, “It certainly was different.”
The Gathering and the Dutch Barn
Our first visit was to “The Gathering” to listen to the storyteller. The atmosphere was set with dimmed lighting for the audience and what almost could have been the glow of firelight around the captivating storyteller beating a drum on occasions as the story progressed, a ploy that highlighted his dramatic tale. Children and adults listened as the story unfolded but it was an exciting Grimm’s fairy tale, not a tale of “Norse gods and shape-shifting beasts.”
The brass quartet in the Dutch Barn was lively and very well performed especially their rendition of Brahms Lullaby played to a still sleeping babe in arms. They were followed by the fire dancers, haunting music accompanying dare devil performances, especially the young female who swung a hula hoop with three fires attached, first adeptly around her waist and then unbelievably around her neck. A feat definitely not to be tried at home!
The Glittering Trail
We entered the “Glittering Trail” itself, wandering through illuminated trees and listening to tinkling electronic music. Earlier we had looked at the fish in “Andvari’s Ring.” In the daylight they were interesting shapes but at night the lights had transformed them into shimmering, glowing fish apparently swimming in the gentle breeze.
We approached a puppeteer astride Gullinburstin, Freyr’s boar. Freyr’s boar was made by Brokk and Sindri, two highly skilled dwarves, the same dwarves who had crafted Thor’s mighty hammer. Gullinburstin had a magical dazzling appearance with golden bristles so bright it could lighten up a night sky. Raby’s Gullinburstin, although cleverly done, did not look as if it could run faster than a horse over land, sea and in the air, although when the puppeteer approached and began to grunt menacingly, its sharp tusks and heavy jaws did give the impression that it could terrify enemies in battle.
The glittering unicorns were impressive but less so was Sleipnir, Odin’s horse. It just whimpered wistfully in the breeze, it’s eight legs not evident. These legs carried Odin faster than light between Valhalla and Hel, the Viking Underworld. The winter festival of Yule, when a log was burned for several days and feasting and festivities took place honoured Odin who, in return travelled through the night sky on his eight-legged horse bestowing presents to children, the children in return leaving hay for Sleipnir to eat. Sound familiar? An old man, with a Thor-like beard and eight reindeer travelling faster than light to reward the good children. The Raby horse we saw did not appear to tell this story.
The Valkyries too were disappointing; static and immobile but Huggin and Muggin, the ravens wanted stories, so they could relate then back to Odin, who loved stories.
It was however, overall, a stimulating visit but you must go with the imagination of a child, a warm woollen hat and you really must partake of a delicious, steaming hot chocolate before you leave. Enjoy!
