5 FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DRINKING HORNS

5 FUN AND INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT DRINKING HORNS

(READ UNTIL THE END - 3 MINUTE READ)

History buffs will tell you that Viking drinking horns were a popular way for the Norse to drink mead or honey wine (Ever had mead? read more about mead here or purchase some right here from AleHorn). Some may argue that this is because it contained fewer impurities than other beverages of its time and was considered healthier by some cultures. Or maybe they just got hooked on how easy it made their job when trying to get drunk! In any case, here are five facts about these nifty contraptions:

OVER 2600 YEARS OF DRINKING HORN TRADITIONS

Drinking horns are 2,600-year old tools that have been used in many cultures. Originally they were just practical drinking utensils but over the years their uses diversified into something more ceremonial and ritualistic. They've even shown up throughout ancient Rome, Greece, & Celtic culture too! We associate them with Vikings mainly because of how prolific they once were; everyone could use these handy cups back then - not only Vikings!

THE WHOLE ANIMAL GOES TO USE

In older societies, waste was not seen as a thing, and many that prized hunting more than necessity believed wasting any part of the animal to be an affront to gods of nature. It took so much energy for people in these cultures to track, trap, and hunt prey- why would they go through all this trouble just to throw away what could have been used? Viking drinking horns probably came into existence out of old society's sensibility; lucky us! Nowadays we are able to get enjoyment from thousands of years worth of art by using their horn creations - even if it wasn't always made with animals' bones or horns.

FROM FAMILY MEMBER TO THE NEXT

If you visit a museum and see Viking drinking horns, you might notice the majority of them are tipped with metals such as gold or silver. The inscriptions on these horns typically speak about who they belong to, how many generations it has been passed down for, etc. Drinking horn making was very common in Scandinavia during this time period because people viewed commemorating events through social customs like gifting others with alcohol of vast importance - some would even melt their family's crest into the metal tip!

 

FROM THE ALMIGHTY GODS

Valued for their craftsmanship and often decorated with intricate carvings, Viking drinking horns are part ceremonial objects. In Greek mythology, Dionysus held the drinking horn in high esteem: it is seen as sacred by his followers. The Scythian tribe believed that a god gifted them this instrument to use when they wanted to praise him; other cultures believe these vessels can symbolize abundance or life itself. Christians replaced paganism across Europe but didn't manage to get rid of the Viking drinker's most prized possession - you'll find many medieval European churches have one hanging from an archway somewhere around its altar!

HORNS OF FUN

The Viking drinking horn, in every single culture that had one, was associated with alcohol and revelry. The pagan gods who were intertwined with the importance of the drinking horns were all party favorites- Dionysus being at the helm. With that, you'd probably think drinking is a wine affair but while this drink can be served as such it wasn't always used for just that purpose - anything ritualistic significant to its given society could fill up these cups of fun! So if we're talking about Vikings then they would have been offered mead when slain warriors arrived at Valhalla; so rest assured your favorite Nordic god will give yours something good to sip on after a hard day's work or fight (let’s not forget those epic battles!)

I DON'T LIVE IN ASGARD, BUT I WANT A VIKING HORN.... WHERE CAN I GET ONE?

 

Now that you know 5 interesting facts about Viking drinking horns, here's where you can get your hands on one. Want to have a true Viking drinking experience? Get your hands on one of these authentic mead horns. Made from real ox horn and capable of holding up to 36 (or more) ounces!, it’s the perfect way for any lover of Scandinavian culture or Vikings in general!

Horn tankards in multiple sizes and curved traditional Viking horns are for sale along with other Norse and Viking merch and accessories. Become an American Viking today!

The Viking drinking horn toasts a 2600-year-old legacy. Carry on the tradition and celebrate an important part of nearly every ancient culture in the world with your own custom ENGRAVED ALEHORN that you can pass on to your children.