Since 1992
Print and digital marketing
By Barbara McAllister
Word of the Day: Beserk
The word “beserk” is from the Old Norse “ber-” (bear) and “serkr” (shirt). Berserkrs were Viking warriors who wore bearskin coverings and worked themselves into intense frenzies for battle. Vikings were not one unified group. The word refers to all Scandinavians who took part in overseas expeditions from what is now Denmark, Norway and Sweden. They were a patchwork of tribes whose chieftains often fought against each other. Because the Vikings preferred oral history to written, much of what we know is from accounts written by their enemies, but scientific study has turned up some surprising facts. Most Vikings were primarily farmers, not raiders. They loved board games. They had excellent personal hygiene, bathing at least once a week, much more frequently than other Europeans at the time. They skied not just out of necessity but also for fun. The average male was 5-foot-7. They did not wear horned helmets and there is no evidence to support they were tattooed.
Viking words are a part of our everyday life. Thursday is named for Thor, god of thunder and strength. Wednesday is literally Woden’s Day, who is also known as Odin. Tuesday and Friday are named after Tyr and Frigg, the god and goddess of war and marriage. Harald Bluetooth, the legendary King of Denmark and Norway who unified Denmark around 985 A.D., was the inspiration for the name of today’s Bluetooth technology. The founder, Jim Kardach, felt this technology would also unify people. The distinctive symbol for Bluetooth is a combination of the Nordic runes for B and H, the initials of Harald Bluetooth.
