A Viking's welcome

The Vikings turned out in droves to welcome my parents on their first full day in Denmark. There may or may not have also been an annual Viking Moot (festival) to attract them to the Moesgård beaches, but I am confident that that really was secondary.

My parents received a full viking welcome on their first full day in town.

Beware the Viking Battle! (photo courtesy of Tibor)

The Moesgård Viking Moot began in the 1970s as a place for people to take lessons in Viking crafts. It rapidly expanded, drawing crowds and picnickers. In 1977, the first Viking market was held. Today, Moesgård hosts the world's largest Viking festival, falling around Saint Olai Day (July 29), when Aarhus historically hosted a market. 

The Viking Moot crafts fair (photos courtesy of Tibor)

The Viking Moot is open to the public on Saturday and Sunday, but lasts all day and night, with Viking participants living only on Viking technologies for the weekend (including ocean bathing, which they weren't ashamed to do right in front of the day-time visitors!).

The Vikings camped on the seashore all weekend. (Photo courtesy of Tibor)

Though despite the not particularly welcome boldness of some of them, some of the Vikings were quite the charmers!

Viking babies! (Photos courtesy of Tibor and my mom)

The only word of advice for future visitors is to not show up in heels. But as a recent Paris transplant, what's a girl to do?

Hats (or Viking hoods) off to the Moesgård crowd for a perfectly Danish welcome to my mom and dad!