Know your norse mythology

This past Halloween (spent in the US) me and la boyfriend had kind of a viking theme going on. He made a very impressive viking costume (emphasis on made!) and I decided I wanted to go as a valkyrie (actually got the idea from Moline). So while Matt was learning how to sow fur on his cape, boots, wristbands etc, (not to mention his made-from-scratch wooden shield. In fact the only thing he bought was the hair and beard, and sword) I was looking into how to discribe a valkyrie to the common american.

My costume was made up by a female wrestler costume (ever heard of the Glamazon?) that came with a kind of roman-warrior-looking chest plate over a grey mesh rag of a dress with some random chains and other confusing details. I added a battle ax, black wings (it was impossible to get through doors!) and devil horns, spray painted white (the paint, however, never properly dried so I was stuck with alot of white paint in my hair for the next month). I added some cosmetic details, like "blood" at the edges of my nails, and found an idea for facial make-up, zombie style, online. I was pretty content, and also spent way too much money.
Anyway, Halloween came and went, had a good time and actually won a prize in a costume contest (althought the judges suggested I was a vampire! Grr!). I realized that while most of you have heard of Thor and Odin, valkyries are more peripheral characters in norse mythology. In advance I decided to make little notes with descriptions of what a valkyrie is, to hand out to all the ignoramuses our there. I also printed out a snappy comeback for anyone who might suggest I was dressed as a vampire or some goth-zombie.
As I predicted, not alot of people knew what a valkyrie was, (and really, why would they know?) so I thought I'd enlighten you guys (mostly cause it's a cool story). The next time you meet a scandinavian, you can flaunt this piece of Average Viking knowledge in their robust, frecled faces.

The word valkyrie derives from Old Norse valkyrja (plural valkyrjur), which is composed of two words; the noun valr (referring to the slain on the battlefield) and the verb kjósa (meaning "to choose"). Together, they mean "chooser of the slain".  They are typically female "angels of death", sent by Odin to keep an eye on all wars and battles fought. Odin lets them choose who is to fall in battle, and then take them back to Åsgard (a big fortress for the gods), where they become "einherjer"; the gods chosen army, selected to fight side by side with the gods in the "final battle". Only the really brave warriors are worthy of this honor.
Valkyries are typically dressed in full armor, and are armed. They can ride through air and water, all over the world. They always travel in pack (so I really should have assembled a little army myself for halloween....). In Vallhalla they are also used to serve mead and meat, and for entertainment. Some of them are to "out of control" or mischievus and can only be used as slaves.
That was the short version. The long version(s) are all in poem-form, and I don't really wanna get into enterpreting that right now.


Norse mythology holds alot of facinating tales of the viking gods, much like greek mythology, and I use wikipedia a lot to find out more about all the different characters, which is where I found the story of the valkyries. You can read more about them here, including the previously mentioned poems. Good luck!

Matt the Mighty and his loyal valkyrie, Halloween 2010.