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| The Viking Apocalypse is coming: Norse myth predicts world will end this Saturday |
| 2014-02-21 |
| Another apocalypse to survive. As always, don't forget to pillage before you burn. Good habits breed good character... Norse mythology states the world will end this Saturday, February 22. Ragnarok is last battle between Viking gods, causing Earth to split open After, the Earth will be restored and inhabited by the surviving gods. The Viking apocalypse is allegedly set to destroy Earth, with Norse mythology claiming the planet will split open and unleash the inhabitants of Hel on February 22. According to the Vikings (wiki), Ragnarok is a series of events including the final predicted battle that results in the death of a number of major gods, the occurrence of various natural disasters and the subsequent submersion of the world in water. The wolf Fenrir is also predicted to break out of his prison, the snake Jormungand will rise out of the sea and the dragon of the underworld will resurface on Earth to face the dead heroes of Valhalla -- who, of course, have descended from heaven to fight them. Snakes. I hate snakes... Legend has it the sound of the horn will call the sons of the god Odin and the heroes to the battlefield, before Odin and other 'creator gods' will be killed by Fenrir. Thor had better remember to get his hammer out of the coat-check... The Vikings believe the Ragnarok is preceded by the 'winter of winters', where three freezing winters would follow each other with no summers in between. All morality would disappear and fights would break out all over the world, signalling the beginning of the end. Oh, so it's much like San Francisco or Detroit... The wolf Skoll would then devour the sun, and his brother Hati would eat the moon, causing stars to fall out of the sky and the Earth subjected to tremendous earthquakes. Should Saturday be the day, the world will then be restored and will be inhabited by the surviving gods and just two human survivors - with the Earth sinking into the sea and paving the way for a new utopian land with endless supplies. Another part of the legend claims that the Midgard Serpent, named Jormungand, shall free itself from its tail and rise up from the ocean, with believers claiming this had already occurred when two giant fish washed up on the coast of California last year. Ragnarok, which is literally translated to mean 'Fate or Twilight of the Gods' or 'Final Destiny of the Gods' is based on a 13th century poem written by Snorri Sturluson. Modern day Vikings warriors have already begun preparing for the apocalypse by converging on the UK town of York to celebrate the Jorvik festival -- an excuse for grown men to dress up and swing wooden swords at each other. And drink. Especially, drink... The festival's finale on Saturday will see about 300 warriors march through the city, before rival tribes participate in an 'ultimate battle'. The Jorvik Viking Centre predicted that Ragnarok would occur on 22 February because this is the end of the feast of Jolablot. Traditionally, the Viking festival of Jolablot marked the end of the winter. While not a scientific conclusion, they claim that Vikings loved to feast and wouldn't want to miss this event. And if nothing happens on Saturday, Ragnarok will join a list of hundreds of other failed predictions for the end of the world, including the Mayan apocalypse on December 21, 2012 -- which convinced many the Earth would be destroyed by an asteroid -- and Y2K on January 1, 2000. |
| Posted by:Beavis |
| #21 So I shouldn't waste my time getting my hair cut tomorrow? |
| Posted by: Barbara 2014-02-21 21:09 |
| #20 Can they wait until season 2 of Vikings is over? |
| Posted by: Bangkok Billy 2014-02-21 19:29 |
| #19 Well, swksvolFF, I got the Rib-eyes and the spuds so you better be right. They look good too. ;^) |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-02-21 15:23 |
| #18 Passing along an Operator Fitness workout video for you Deacon. Enjoy. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-21 13:19 |
| #17 unleash the inhabitants of Hel on February 22 Having been to Hel(sinki) a number of times, I find this hard to believe. Mind you, free liquor might do the trick. |
| Posted by: phil_b 2014-02-21 12:56 |
| #16 ...and don't think I haven't noticed. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2014-02-21 12:45 |
| #15 You'd make a fine berserker DB. You got look done perfect. |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2014-02-21 12:35 |
| #14 And here I thought the Viking Apocalypse was when they signed Josh Freeman as QB. |
| Posted by: Green Steve 2014-02-21 12:18 |
| #13 You mean, linen sheets will be our downfall? Oh for Freija's sake. (slams bearded axe onto desk) |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-02-21 12:17 |
| #12 'Cause everybody knows that the norse were sooo good at predicting things. (Scene from Douglas Adams 'Long Dark Tea Time of the Soul' : An unemployed Thor, wearing his 'god-gear' and an overcoat, dejectedly walking down a street in London in the rain. As he walks past lamp posts, one by one, they go out then come back on. Muttering to himself about a hammer...) |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2014-02-21 11:47 |
| #11 CrazyFool, GREAT comment! |
| Posted by: Fleck Gray5221 2014-02-21 11:05 |
| #10 I prefer the Viking helmet, Besoeker. A friend gave me the NVA one. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2014-02-21 10:19 |
| #9 Well heck! It's supposed to rain Saturday anyway. |
| Posted by: OCCD 2014-02-21 09:55 |
| #8 Nobody expects the Viking Inquisition! |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2014-02-21 09:24 |
| #7 Deacon: Your Norse variant much preferred to your previous NVA model. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2014-02-21 09:15 |
| #6 Laurdag. In the dark. Ragnarok is coming to-niiight. Snake is stalking, wolf is laughing Odin selling ice cream. Don't be hesitant brother, what people would do for a menu like that. Tonight, we dine on twice bakes vs. Hel! |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2014-02-21 09:14 |
| #5 My son and DiL are coming for dinner on Suday to celebrate his birthday. I was going to go shopping today for the Rib-eyes and some Idahos for twice-baked and some asparagus. Do I really need to go? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2014-02-21 08:56 |
| #4 Well, I just hope they hurry! |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2014-02-21 08:49 |
| #3 I have my Viking Helmet. |
| Posted by: Deacon Blues 2014-02-21 08:45 |
| #2 We can't get to Valhalla by dieing of old age... Where's my sword? |
| Posted by: BrerRabbit 2014-02-21 08:22 |
| #1 Huginn and Muninn will be reporting this false prediction to Odin. Not good for the braggers at York! Huginn and Muninn explained by wikipedia |
| Posted by: 3dc 2014-02-21 01:26 |