Important Events in Hebridean History
Life in a Viking Longhouse (with audio)
Main Article
Artists impression of a Viking longhouse, by David Simon
My husband and his men will be coming home soon for the harvest. I hope the voyage went well. If he got a good price for the fish and cloth, there will be feasting in the hall for days. Everything is nearly ready. The cheeses are made, and I have brewed enough beer for two ships' companies. We will set fires all along the floor, not just at the cooking end. I will take the hangings from the cist, and the colours will dance in the lamplight. We will hear great tales of all their deeds since they sailed away. The drinking horn will pass gladly from hand to hand, and the red meat will drip from every lip. My spindle and my loom will sleep until all have had their fill. The news will spread on Norse and Gaelic tongues to every part of the estate.
I wonder what gifts my husband might bring me. Last year I had a roll of silk and an Irish jewel, which I wear with my woollen tunic with its linen dress and my Norse brooches.
Every day now I wait for word of their return. We have sacrificed a ram to Thor to give them safe passage on the sea-road, and to spare them from those cursed pirates, so their swords and shields can stay easy at their sides. But when I am alone I pray to the White Christ to bring them home safe.
Chan fhada gus an tig an duine agam agus na fir aige dhachaigh airson an fhoghair. Tha mi an dòchas gun robh turas math aca. Ma fhuair e prìs mhath air an iasg agus an aodach, bidh fèist a' dol san lùchairt airson iomadh latha. Tha gach nì gu bhith ullamh. Tha na càisean dèante, agus rinn mi leann gu leòr airson dà bhuidheann-luinge. Cuiridh sinn teintean bho thaobh gu taobh den làr, chan ann dìreach far am bithear a' còcaireachd. Bheir mi na cùirtearan a-mach às a' chiste, agus bidh na dathan a' danns ann an solas nan lampa. Cluinnidh sinn sgeulachdan mu gach nì a rinn iad bhon àm a sheòl iad. Thèid an còrn a chur timcheall bho dhuine gu duine, agus bidh an fheòil dhearg a' sruthadh bho na lipean aca. Bidh mo dhealgan agus mo bheart nan tàmh gus am bi gach broinn air a lìonadh. Sgaoilidh an naidheachd ann an cainnt Lochlannach agus Gàidhlig gu gach ceàrn den oighreachd.
Saoil dè na tiodhlacan a bheir mo dhuine thugam. An turas mu dheireadh fhuair mi rolla sìoda agus seud Èireannach, a bhios orm le mo chasag chlòimhe leis a' ghùn anairt agus mo bhràistean Lochlannach.
A h-uile latha a-nis tha mi a' feitheamh gus an cluinn mi gu bheil iad a' tighinn. Dh' ìobair sinn rùda do Thor gus an toir e sàbhailte iad air an t-slighe-mara, agus gus an seachain iad na spùinneadairean mallaichte ud, gus am fan na claidheamhan agus na sgiathan nan stad rin cliathaich. Ach nuair a bhios mi leam fhìn bidh mi a' guidhe ris a' Chrìosd Ghil an toirt dhachaigh sàbhailte.
Audio Interpretations
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Associated Locations
This event is associated with some locations in the Hebrides. For more details on these, see the list below, or go to the Interactive Explorer.
