Midgardsblot
| Midgardsblot | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Extreme metal, folk music |
| Locations | Borre, Norway |
| Years active | 2015–present |
| Organized by | Runa Lunde Strindin |
| Website | https://www.midgardsblot.no/ |
Midgardsblot is an annual extreme metal and folk music festival in Borre, Norway. The festival has been organised since 2015 and takes place at Midgard Viking Centre, museum in a former Viking settlement and largest burial mound site in Northern Europe.
The programme of Midgardsblot includes tours of the area, battle reenactments, documentary screenings, lectures and panel discussions, as well as a Viking village "Fòlkvangr", a Viking market "Kaupangr" and a games arena for archery, axe-throwing, and other activities. There are daily sailings with a hand-built replica of the Viking ship Saga Oseberg, where the participants must join in rowing. The daytime lectures at the nearby museum are held by internationally recognized experts on topics such as linguistics, archaeology, cultural heritage, ancient craft techniques, and folklore.
Each year the festival begins with a blót ritual as a way for festival goers to come together. The ritual acknowledges old Norse gods, but not necessarily in a religious way. It is a way for people to get in touch with their past, connect to one another and the natural world. Individuals put their own meaning on the ceremony as they choose. The ceremony includes music, drumming, and chanting by folk music group Folket Bortafor Nordavinden and is led by Benny Braaten and Gustav «Astralseid» Holberg.
Both festivalgoers and volunteers – the latter referred to as "Einherjar" – are coming to the festival from all over the world, and the community is keeping in touch between festivals via social media groups.