Welcome to the Gudvangen Viking Market October 6-9, 2022:
Gudvangen Market Kit Guide
The Viking town aims to recreate the atmosphere of the Viking age. We look forward to spending time with our participants! The goal of this guide is to give some pointers for beginners who want to join the market and for experienced people that want to develop their gear in a good direction. We do not aim to be
the strictest market around, only a good one. To us that means striving for historical accuracy but also having space for people in all kinds of life situations. In consequence this means that we really like the variation and creativity of people and want to be welcoming to everyone. At the end of the document, please find useful links and resources. Contact us if you have any questions. GENERAL EQUIPMENT:
Our aim is to display the material culture and dress of the Scandinavian region in 800-1100, with all equipment appropriate for Northern European Middle Ages. - Norwegian late iron age. If you want to do other regions or cultures, you have to tell us about it in your application. We expect that all participants acquire the equipment necessary to be a part in this market. These rules don’t apply for medical needs, consult with our management beforehand. CLOTHING
This is what we expect our participants to be wearing:
FOR WOMEN:
Basic outfit
Plain shift(serk) / underdress – wool or linen/hemp, if colored see below
Simple style overdress - wool or linen/hemp
Head-cover - linen/hemp/wool/silk- or have natural hair, color and style
Turn-shoes or simple/neutral leather shoes, preferably reconstructed from Viking age findings. Additions
For high status/nicer occasions: apron dress (smokkr) with tortoise brooches and jewelry. For work: necessary aprons, belts, fighting equipment and similar
For colder times: cloak, hood and pants (i.e. Skjoldehamn), maybe a jacket. FOR MEN:
Basic
Shirt, under-tunic - wool or linen/hemp, if colored see below
Tunic, over-tunic – wool or linen/hemp
Pants or hose - wool or linen/hemp
Belt
Turn-shoes or simple/neutral leather shoes, preferably reconstructed from Viking age findings. Additions
For high status: baggy trousers, sword and jewelry
For work: necessary aprons, fighting equipment and similar
For colder times: cloak, hood (i.e. Skjoldehamn) and maybe a jacket. IN GENERAL:
If you are dressing as a person of high status or for nicer occasions, you may use silk in your clothes. About colors and textiles:
There is little evidence of dyed linen fabrics in the area, only woad blue, so we ask you NOT to make new garments in colored linen for this event. Garments should be natural colors or as stated under:
The colors you choose for your garments should be possible to create with natural dyes. We encourage hand sewn clothes; machine sewn seams must be not visible. Adornments, makeup and scent; keep it simple and natural. Piercings; must be removed if visible and if possible. (We understand that some cannot be removed)
Medical equipment is OK. (This includes prescription glasses but please remove them for tourist photos.) Food: Keep it historical or out of view. If you wish to take photos during opening hours, please change into modern clothes. TENTS
You are required to keep your tents open to the public, and therefore they should be furnished according to the period and the type of person you portray. No visible modern objects are permitted. High status should display reasonably upscale furniture in their tents, while lower status should have simpler furniture. We allow cotton tents. However, we encourage everyone to buy historically accurate tents, to be able to participate in all kinds of Viking age events worldwide. PETS
Pets are welcome if pre-approved by management, and if they are under control. Consider if your pet can thrive in one stressful week of hundreds of visitors and other animals including chickens and sheep. Animals cannot be in town if they are in heat. Remove all animal waste and clean up after them immediately. All animals must be on leash. CAMP EQUIPMENT
All camp equipment and furniture must be traceable within sources from Scandinavian and Viking influenced regions in the period 800-1100. This includes personal equipment, such as tools, eating utensils and cooking equipment. Modern utensils can be used out of sight. If you want to do other regions or cultures, please request this in your application. SALES
All goods that are for sale should be at least related to the Viking age and preferably as authentic as possible. They should be constructed by you and not contain modern components, fibers or materials. We ask that you match our price if you are selling the same item in our gift shop so the customers do not feel taken advantage of. For clothes or textiles see guidelines over.
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These rules don’t apply for medical needs. If you have questions regarding this, or special needs, please consult with our management in advance. USEFUL LINKS
General clothing compilation: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/daily_living/text/clothing.htm
Female headdresses: https://ciarsstitchintime.wordpress.com/2013/10/24/viking-age-head-coverings/
Smokkrs: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/daily_living/text/clothing.htm
Trousers: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/daily_living/text/clothing.htm
Leg wraps: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/daily_living/text/clothing.htm
Shoes: http://www.hurstwic.org/history/articles/daily_living/text/clothing.htm
Tablet-woven bands: https://www.pinterest.se/susannabroom/viking-age-clothing-tablet-woven-braids/
Fabric colors: https://www.pinterest.se/susannabroom/viking-age-clothing-colours-and-dyes/
Embroidery: https://www.pinterest.se/susannabroom/viking-age-clothing-embroidery-finds/
Tents and household items: https://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Household
Furniture and chests: http://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Chests,_Caskets_%26_Boxes
Wargear: https://www.vikingage.org/wiki/wiki/Wargear
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
These links were taken mostly from the Swedish market “Ancestors footsteps”; another market with a very interesting guide from available on https://docs.google.com/document/d/1OHYe1-LRazGvkHKNdNsh4D_vswg1DEDOjdEXQNb AAxU/edit?fbclid=IwAR1fb1gAO31uwR3yBrZQkE0HZWrI2S6NtRFlbzXBW9AnR28wW8OeP 4rYOPo
ALSO! Remember to consider your sources of knowledge carefully. Some of the links over have content from other time periods, and some beautiful things are pure fantasy. Keeping it simple is the best way in most cases. Let's have fun with history together! Inspiration for this guide came from the arrangement: “Battle of Visby” https://medeltidsveckan.se/battleofwisby/
