What would you feel if you saw a guy with a runic tattoo? Many would probably feel uneasiness, including myself. The question is why. I perfectly know that ancient Germanic peoples used the Elder Futhark not because they were white supremacists. I realize that vikings used the Younger Futhark not because they were racist skinheads. So where comes the uneasiness from? Let’s take another example. If you use the Bluetooth technology on your mobile phone, you should remember their logo. Do you? It is actually a bindrune, that is two blended runes: Hagall (hail) and Bjarkan (birch). These two represent the initials of the 10th century viking king Harald Blåtand (Bluetooth), who ordered the Jelling stones to be erected. Bluetooth team are certainly not a hate group, and their rune logo does not scare people away from buying their technology. However, tattooed on someone’s shoulder, it may make others feel uneasy. The question remains: why? My answer is: because western civilization has been too long obsessed by Classical Antiquity as its treasured source. All we usually know about Norse or ancient Germanic symbols is that nazis used them and neo-nazis still use them. That’s not a lot. The other answer is: many people with Christian background still feel that heathen convictions may be dangerous, especially if associated with Norse or Scandinavian culture (or with anything ancient Germanic). Even atheists have been educated in schools long dominated by Christians who admired Classical Antiquity. “Virgil and Homer, not Edda and Beowulf” has been their slogan for many centuries.
True, Norse heathen symbols were used by Nazis. For instance, the Hagall rune used in the Bluetooth logo is present on the SS Totenkopfring. In his description of the ring, Himmler wrote: “The swastika and the Hagall-Rune represent our unshakable faith in the ultimate victory of our philosophy.” This rune was also used during the SS wedding ceremonies. Does it mean that the Hagall rune is in itself a hate symbol? No way.
The origins and the cultural meaning of Norse symbols or Germanic heathen symbols, which may point to racism in certain contexts, are treated in a series of articles on this web site:
Photo courtesy Prince Heathen. Used under the Creative Commons Attribution-No Derivative Works 2.0 Generic Licence. The tattoo represents the so-called dancing warriors from the Sutton Hoo helmet.
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
Hmm, Vikings as racist skinheads… Didn’t they shave the heads of their slaves? I know the Irish did.
My own tattooed left-arm is full of Germanic/Viking symbolism and I’m about as far from neo-NAZI as you can get. As far as I am concerned those thugs are more akin to Christian fundamentalists than Viking warriors. Same cultural ethic.
Oh, great site by the way, very informative and well researched. Can’t wait to see a post about the Irminsul :)
Hi Jenny,
I am not aware of a Viking practice of shaving the heads of slaves. As for Norsemen’s own hairstyle, Sviatoslav, son of Igor (Old Norse Ingvar), a Varangian ruler of Kievan Rus, was described by Leo Diaconus, who saw him in 971, as follows: “His head was shaven except for a lock of hair on one side as a sign of the nobility of his clan.” An 11th-century letter in Old English mentions that Norman men shaved the back half of their head, while on the front half the hair was left to grow long: “Danish fashion with bared neck and blinded eyes.” However, these traditions do not seem to have anything to do with modern hate groups.
Thanks for the feedback!
Oftentimes, I think that the ignorance of the masses and wanton following of christian clergy has cast a dispersion upon Norse Asatru, as a religion. And the Third Reich fell over 50 years ago. When will the public just believe that Norse pagans are not skinheads and aren’t devil-worshipers. Besides runes were traditionally used as a communications tool by the Vikings to leave a written record of exploits and voyage history to honor family and comrades. Should we then say that the Internet is a tool of satan or that it is a tool of neo-nazism, just because it is a communication tool? When will we get over the reality that everyone is not a christian and that people should be able to believe what they wish without fear of repercussions from the christian “right”?
Admin:
The “Viking Answer Lady,” Christie Ward, has a well-researched website on early Norse culture, including the keeping of thralls.
Short hair was the mark of a male thrall, according to her.
http://www.vikinganswerlady.com/thralls.shtml
Look a little more than halfway down the page.
I myself keep a short head of hair because I feel a spiritual duty to do so, as the keeper of a modern day Temple (no, I don’t hang sacrifices off trees, but I do keep horses and a pig).
Regards,
Jalkr
The Germanic peoples were a practical lot. And of course we still are.
Men kept long hair back then not just for fashion or status, but because their two long braids could be wrapped around the head for extra helmet padding (or so I read somewhere).
But, as mentioned above, some eastern Germanics shaved the head (like Sviatoslav I of Kiev) and if a warlord could do it (even if he did still keep his scalplock), why not others of lower status?
And I’m sure some Norsemen may have experienced male pattern baldness even back in the old, virile Viking days. A shaved head is usually seen as a little bit more fearsome than a combover!
I myself keep a shaved head. Not because I’m balding (I’m not) but for such practical reasons as it’s convenient, clean and safe (I work with potential hair-pulling and scalping clients).
As to the Runes been seen as something malignant; I risted the futhark on a pine cupboard’s doors in my younger days. When my brother moved into a group house he took the cupboard with him. It ended up as the property of a fundamentalist Christian, who subsequently sanded them off. Still too evil for some!
It is true that there is a lot of ignorance when it comes to runes. I have a bind rune tattoo on my arm and I used to get some angry looks at the gym, especially from black guys. I found this extremely ironic, because I am married to a mixed race woman. If runes are symbols of hate, then the same logic says that the cross is a symbol of oppression and the star and crescent are symbols of terrorism.
I am a big fan of viking, and Norse culture, so much so that I was thinking of getting a Norse Leben Rune of life branded on me. Being of african decent, will those of viking decent find this offensive?
I am of Scandinavian/Viking decent and no, I wouldn’t.
Tatoos are very personal things to get. Runes in particular.
I don’t think this is something many people study, if they did they’d be less apt to judge.
Hey Jerry Shabazz,
I seriously doubt that anyone will find it at all offensive that you’re considering a Viking style tattoo, in fact I’d personally feel very honoured.
And really, aren’t we Homo sapiens all of African descent originally anyway?
I say go for it, however (someone correct me if I’m wrong) isn’t the “Leben” rune in actuality the algiz/elkhaz rune of the elder futhark that was simply re-named “Leben” (life) by the SS?
To Jerry Shabazz,
I am happy you like the old vikings ways. But I feel you should look into your own background. Honor your people! I see it offensive. Sorry. I am not hating on you. I just feel you should embrace your own background, my friend.
To Skandi,
How on earth is it offensive?! What, is it suddenly impossible to embrace your own culture whilst having an interest in others? I’m of Norwegian decent and damn proud of it, but I guess the Chinese symbol for the year of my birth I had tattooed on my back is disrespectful to my heritage huh? Jeez, lighten up.
I could never think of it as offense as it is part of my culture. I have a magic sign tattooed on myself and runic lettering. It didn’t even cross my mind until I read this article that some people might find it offensive in anyway or that they might wonder if I were a Nazi.
first of all what Hitler did to the swastika and other symbols is horrible.. he perverted old significant symbols into his own twisted ideology, and for us in this modern age to associate the symbols automatically to Hitler and his nazi regime, is understandable, but still rediculous.. I myself have alot of old viking symbols on my right arm, even the dreaded and oh so controversial swastika, however, I for one see the symbols for what they are, not for what some clinically insane people have used them for. since I got my inked up sleeve I’ve noticed how narrow-minded most people are about these symbols.
I for one see the beauty and history in these symbols, and I think that everyone should be able to see it that way.
oh and by the way, to Jerry Shabazz, you can tattoo what ever you want on yourself, it’s your body and therefore, your descision. if anyone finds it offensive it’s their problem, but honestly however, i dont see why anyone would find it offensive.
I am pleased with said site. May oden look opon it with great plesure
In no way do i find norse, pagan, wiccan or any other religon symbols offensive, i myelf have a pentagram on my right wrist plus a triquatra on my left wrist. i really want to get some norse symbolsm, i think any body should be able to get what ever they want. these symbols shouldnt been seen as symbols of hate. i live in Australia and i want to get involved with the viking religion but i dont know how. i admire the vikings and their runes, symbols and such.
The Nazis and their racist ideology ruined many symbols for the rest of us. The swastika is an ancient symbol found in many cultures and religions including Hinduism, Buddhism, and some American Indian cultures but because Hitler chose it for the Nazi flag, people can’t see it without thinking of the Third Reich and the Holocaust. I remember the controversy when the swastika appeared in the manga series Blade of the Immortal. Dark Horse comics had to add a disclaimer to the American edition of the comic to clarify the swastika’s benevolent meaning. Runes date back to the 1st Century but thanks to Himmler people don’t see them with out thinking of the SS. It’s sad that some racists continue to pervert these symbols to promote their sick ideologies.
Yes it is sad, for two reasons. First reason is everything you explained of course. The other is a bit difficult, well most vikings who were pagan were very much like Himmler. There really is no getting around this. Whether the vikings from long ago were racists or not is debatable. Here is my take. All people from all ages were similar in belief and habbit, 100o years ago most triumphant cultures were barbarians. They believed they were top of the chain and everyone else was weak. Now after 1000 a.d. christanity was introduced and accepted as the religion and things changed. Live by the sword die by the sword, that was the viking way. That was the nazi way, it was himmlers way until the end to where he did prove to be a coward and tried to sneak away but was caught. Hitler too was a coward, he wasnt a pagan but he did make a comment to Erwin Rommel : “Your god is for the weak, Mine is for the strong” Hitler thought he was god he didnt believe in anything.
You people want to talk about RACE eh???…How’s this for RACE???…I have been praticing ASATRU for over FOURTEEN YEARS NOW,….And guess what….I,m AFRICAN-AMERICAN!!!(Actually I’m of mixed race….I’m BLACK/NATIVE AMERICAN(Chactaw tribe to be exact…),And EUROPEAN/BLACK on my fathers side(My grandfather was an immigrant from centeral SCOTLAND!!!)HE’S BLACK?!?….AND PRACTICES ASATRU,OOOHHH NOOOOO!!!(LAUGH!!!)…To add insult to injury,I’m an EX-CHRISTIAN!!!….When I excepted(SELF-INITIATION RITUAL THAT I PERFORMED,NO LESS…)ASATRU,there were no pagan festivals where I live(Anchorage,Alaska…)No one introduced me to ASATRU(OR PAGANISIM FOR THAT MATTER…)Nor were there any practicing ASATRUAR around….ODIN “SPOKE”(ORDERED-MILITARY STYLE….)to me(Sort of like, an EMPATHIC THOUGHT that I heard….)The ALL-FATHER,he,um,….Well, he DRAFTED ME!!! My initials,” CJG”, actually form a rune from the ARMENEN FUTHARK If you use the nine-stave pattern used in the book”RUNE POWER”,by NIGEL PENNICK(…The RUNE of GIBOR no less…), My name actually gives of runic energy…My other pagan friends laughed at me, and said I never stood a chance!!!…DEATHSKULL
I thank you very much for this article.
As a Dane and Asatruar living in the united states, california to be exact.
I have been refused to be tattooed by new employees of a tattoo shop I had previously been a patron of, because of what I was asking for was “political” and what I had was “political”.
The feeling of being called, “ignorant, intolerant, and hateful” without ever being asked questions or even spoke to for that matter just seems silly.
Information like yours would be greatly appreciated in a printed, heavily distributed medium.
Thank you.
Nick
If the only arguement that anyone can discuss is race the their problems are far deeper than relegion I for one have been ASATRU for only four years and oathed to ALL-FATHER,ODIN for two and from my own experience its not ones race that defines them but the way one lives what we do in this life echos in the next seems to me one would use their time for the better of all people insteed of tring to pick who’s better or more right than the other besides in the end noone can deny the norns our fates are already sealed just embrace who we are , May the gods whatch over you and yours with a keen eye and steady sword hail ODIN
First off I am a proud member of the V.A.R.P’S (vikings against racism prejudice) and nazi’s used more of the roman armies traditions and symbolisms than pagan. the giant hand carried banners with large gold or metallic eagals was the exact thing used in rome. the zig hiel right arm extended straight with thumb under palm fingers together outstreched was also a roman salute. though hitler incorporated the swastika but flipped it as a mirror image purposely changing the meaning from the other religious meanings of sun/light, love, peace, happiness and so forth to the exact opposite which befits the nazi army. though it still retained one of its norse meanings of strength. i do not find it offensive for other cultures/peoples to use norse symbols though i would agree it is better to be proud of who you really are but if u believe thats who you are then by all mean you ARE! modern mongoloids or “neo-nazi’s” honestly practice none of what the germans did or the actually nazi religion did and yes hitler had a religion though as most norse borrowed things is reffered to as aryan. some norse people were called aryan pre-nazi germany as a race same as norse or germanic though in hitlers eyes he saw that blonde hair and blue eyes are recessive traits which they are and will one day cease to exist. unknow why he though this to be a mark supiriority i do not know. he was infatuated by the norse people for their magical beliefes, immortality and pure warrior mentallity when comes to war. their lack of fear and beserker rage has also enthralled me. unfortunetly nazi germany along with many horrible acts of mindless violence by self proclaimed neo nazi’s and “aryan” gangs has brought a off putting and terrifying name to all us norsemen. Most definitely belated is the mass explanation of the difference between white supremists and norse symbols/religion. But we all must remember that the majority of the world especially america still remains ignorant to most other peoples beliefs and religions let alone the origins of symbols and proclivities. so when the modern man see a swatika or norse gods tattooed they think of neo-nazis or hate. you cant blame them for atleast in america the majority of who you see with these tattoo’s are ignorant racists from prison or a drug addicted family. all you CAN do is be proud of who you are wear your norse beliefs openly and educate those who do not understand.
I think that the way hitler ruined the norse symbols was horrible. People think that we are racist pricks when actually we just want to support something we believe in. People are so narrow minded sometimes.
I wasn’t aware there is such a hatred of Norse symbols, at least not where I live, the Netherlands which, ironically, is right next to Germany. Of course, the hakenkreuz is known here but almost everyone is aware that it is in fact a symbol of many cultures. I don’t think people would look at me oddly if I had a Norse symbol simply because they no longer know that Nazi-Germany used them as well or simply because Christianity isn’t quite so radical or heavily present here. I am thinking of getting my name in Runic symbols so I hope I don’t run into some unexpected narrowmindedness.
my bloodline is full of germanic and even farther back norse heritage and i am getting a tattoo of the norse runes of fire and of life under a hammer with valkyrie wings reaching out from it does anyone like this idea or have a better one
So, vikings were inventors of Bluetooth technology? :D
I think, in a way, the fear comes not only from fear of Norse symbols, but also from tattoos. Tattoos are often associated with what we call “hardmen”, gang members, and thugs. So if you see a rune as a tattoo, you’re more likely to feel anxious than if you saw it on a shirt or something.
Of course, in this sick Christian society, there is a fear of the native people of Europe, especially the Norse. But when it comes to runic tattoos, I think most of the fear comes from it being a tattoo, and only a little fear comes from the actual symbol.
why are there so many jesus tattoos then?
to john, i disagree.i think more fear comes from the scary pagan symbols than the fact that it’s a tattoo.i’ve seen plenty of jesus tattoos.and the people that have them are the same type that would feel some sort of taboo about rune tattoos,or any tattoo that represents any type of religion that is not christianity.
I feel the love and wisdom here. I have recently found myself drawn to the Norse culture, heritage, and religion. The rune speak to me of their symbolism and magical power, but the ink never has. I spent twenty in military service and never once thought about getting inked. I think for me the permanence of ink holds a place reserved for sacred acts of rites of passages and initiations into an order or brotherhood. I feel getting inked because it looks ‘cool’ profanes its intent. Then again, each his own. When I feel the power of the runes is needed for a magical operation or intent, I like to use paint. This allows me to rist my runes each time.