Víkingahátíð - Viking Festival Hafnarfjörður

WORK/PROJECT: SEEDS volunteers in this project are given the unique opportunity to take part in a cultural festival, devoted to the settlers of Iceland: the Vikings. We will be involved in preparing, participating and taking down the festival. First the area will be prepared: Viking tents will be set up and the atmosphere of the Viking era recreated. After the festival we will help to deconstruct the tents and get the area in its former shape.

Volunteers will receive a Viking typical costume to wear during the festival and the tasks will be quite diverse. SEEDS volunteers will be selling tickets, serving in an outdoor restaurant, keeping the area clean, controlling at the venues, assisting visitors and helping out the “real” Viking volunteers in general.

The festival takes place in Hafnarfjörður, within the premises of the Viking village. Apart from SEEDS “Vikings” there will be around 200 more Viking volunteers (Norsemen) coming from all around the world! A colourful collection of artists will be at the Festival: artists, warriors, bowmen, wrestlers, woodcarvers, stonemasons, blacksmiths, storytellers and enchantresses, musicians and magicians.

The settlement of Iceland by the Vikings started in 874 and was largely over by 930 AD. During the annual Viking Festival modern-day Icelanders and visiting Vikings from abroad celebrate their heritage with appropriate vigour.

The Vikings' wild and adventurous spirit lives on today, in the people of this unique country. The event is a lot of fun; there are displays of ancient arts and crafts, and large gruff men in full Viking attire demonstrate their ancient battle skills to anyone brave enough to challenge them.

ACCOMMODATION: Volunteers will be lodged in a house inside the Viking village, in a sleeping bag accommodation; sleeping on mattresses on the floor. Please bring your own sleeping bag.

SEEDS volunteers will share the facilities with the other Viking volunteers. All meals will be provided. Do not forget some traditional/typical food from your home country for an international evening.

LOCATION: Hafnarfjörður takes its name (meaning Harbour-fjord) from the area's excellent natural harbour and it is located 10 kilometres south of the capital, Reykjavík. The town is first mentioned in the medieval "Book of Settlements," and the earliest reports of voyages to Hafnarfjörður date from the end of the 14th century. Englishmen began trading in Hafnarfjörður in the 15th century, but German merchants followed in their wake and eventually drove the English out. After that, Hanseatic traders prevailed in town until 1602, based at Hvaleyri. At this point, the Danish monarchy established a Danish trade monopoly in Iceland which lasted until late in the 18th century. During this period, Hafnarfjörður was the nation's busiest trade centre.

Hafnarfjörður is Iceland’s third-largest town, with approximately 26,000 residents. And yet that number is open to debate, since legend has it that some of Iceland’s elves and hidden people live in Hafnarfjördur’s lava cliffs and rocks, in peaceful coexistence with the town’s human residents. In fact, it is possible to tour the elf lands, and those with second sight may even be lucky enough to spot one or two!!

LANGUAGE: English will be the language in the camp; conversational skills are needed.

TERMINAL: Closest international Airport: Keflavík/Reykjavík (KEF). Bus station: Central Reykjavík (BSÍ).

EXTRAS / SPECIAL REMARKS: Participation fee EUR 200,- (Euros).

Excursions (Blue Lagoon, Golden Circle, South shore, etc) arranged for SEEDS at discount fares.

SEEDS volunteers will have entrance passes to a geothermal swimming pool in the neighbourhood.

Volunteers have to bring warm clothes, even though summer is around the corner, it might still be cold outdoors; thermal underwear, hats and gloves might be necessary.

Age: 18+