4 INTERESTING FACTS YOU PROBABLY DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT OUR VIKING ANCESTORS

Author: Fran O'Reilly

Published at: Apr 11, 2017

So, you've invested heavily into the history of Vikings? So much so that King Ragnar Lothbrok has since become your new found beard role model? But do you know all there is to know about the Viking era, and how they really lived?

Today, I wanted to discuss 4 Interesting Facts You Probably Didn't Know about Our Viking Ancestors. So let us begin...

VIKINGS MAY APPEAR BLOODIED AND DIRTY, BUT THEY WERE ACTUALLY VERY CLEAN!

Although the history books may depict Vikings as rather filthy human beings, with blood spattered beards and sweaty stretching bodies, in truth they were rather clean people.

Vikings actually took great pride in their appearance and would often wash and groom their marvelous beards clean ready for their next battle. Females too were exceptionally hygienic, and would often bathe for hours a day ready to welcome home their loved ones.

VIKINGS ORIGINALLY STARTED THE WORD 'BERSERK', AND 'EY UP'!

The Vikings spoke mainly in Old Norse, which originally stemmed from North Germany. When the Vikings first settled in Britain in AD 793 their language and lingo soon blended with the locals, and many of the words then used still exist within the English language as we know it today.

The word 'berserk' in a shortened abbreviation of the Old Norse word 'berserker', which were Viking Warriors known for their ferocious attacking abilities on the bloodied battlefields.

'Ey Up!' is still regularly used in England, more so in the Midlands area where I'm from in the UK, which is based on yet another Viking term which was used as a greeting from one Viking to their fellow countrymen.

VIKINGS WERE FIRM BELIEVERS THAT BLONDES HAD ALL THE FUN!

Vikings are often depicted in the history books to portray naturally blonde long glowing manes and beards, when in truth blondes were rather rare and somewhat difficult to find.

Vikings were mostly brunettes, both men and women, so when blondes were discovered in short numbers they were seen as most attractive to the opposite sex and certainly knew how to have the most fun.

VIKINGS WERE EXCELLENT CRAFTSMEN, BUILDING SEAWORTHY SHIPS THAT WERE BUILT TO LAST!

One of the earliest skills learned by many Vikings were craftsmen skills. Starting with basic weaponry items, such as handheld axes, daggers and wooden shields, then onto weapons that were fit for battle.

Many Vikings excelled in creating longships that were designed to comfortably manage around 60 men per ship. They would make light work of the rough oceans and often outlive their creators.

Longships were designed to last but remain somewhat lightweight in order to quickly move and and depart from shore, giving them the advantage during raids and battles.

Many historians have argued that the Vikings were so skilled in creating these ships and note these ships as the main reason for the Vikings success.

So, there you have it. 4 Viking facts for you now know and can share with your friends at the office or next time you are out for drinks at the bar.

Have something you'd like to add? Then let us have it in the comments section you'll spot directly below this post. In the meantime why not take a moment to visit our 'The Beard Struggle' new and exclusive Viking beard care range?

And until next time, Beard on Brothers, Beard on...