Slavs and Vikings - SAGA

Getting to know the early Middle Ages is reaching to the very roots of the modern European community, but also an opportunity to look at the patterns and archetypes from which today's mass culture draws. Concepts related to the culture of the Vikings or ancient Slavs are present in modern times. Who was Thor and why does he wield a hammer in comics? What is swarzyca? What are runes? What exactly is a Viking? Touching the past, experiencing the transition between eras and cultures, the possibility of "incarnating" in the old war, the craftsman – this is something that you can experience thanks to our classes. The classes are conducted by people from the historical reconstruction group "Villsvin Hird" in costumes that are replicas of clothes from the 10th and 11th centuries. These activities can be found in the composition of excursions, integration events and camps organized by "Kortunal". We carry out the medieval program in our accommodation base, the Stronghold – it is a facility stylized as a medieval settlement, with a central hall building and a palisade. Classes require minimal physical effort, no more than during typical team games, and the worst threat during them is an occasional bruise or abrasion. WHAT CLASSES WE RUN "LIVING HISTORY" – a short lecture on the reconstruction of the early Middle Ages, combined with the presentation of replicas of equipment, clothing and weapons. During the classes, it is possible to wear a reconstructed Slavic or Viking costume from 1000 years ago. 🙂 The content of the lecture is adapted to the age of the participants, their level of knowledge and interest in the topic. This is not a compulsory history lesson, but a presentation of a reconstructive passion 🙂 WARRIOR WORKSHOPS: presentation of the WEAPONRY of the early medieval warrior – chainmail, helmet, sword, shield, axe, etc. Possibility to try on equipment BATTLE – several teams of "Vikings" and "Slavs" will face each other in a short fight with a safe weapon, modeled on the elements of offensive weaponry typical of the early Middle Ages (sword + shield, axe, long axe, spear) SPEAR THROWS to the target COMBAT AXE THROWS to the target HISTORICAL CRAFT WORKSHOPS: LEARNING TO WEAVE – joint or individual execution of a decorative woolen belt (braids), which can be hung in the classroom as a souvenir when you return. FORMER HANDWRITING – Each participant will be able to write their name with a real bird's feather on handmade paper and make a plaque (leather hardened in wax or wood) on which they will engrave their name or symbol written in runic script. CULINARY – making and baking snacks together, which will be part of the dinner by the fire LEARNING TO start A FIRE WITH FLINT – the traditional way OF starting A fire with flint, steel and "sponge" MAKING CANDLES – from natural honeycomb slices of beeswax Colorful – on the fire, using plants and simple chemistry (salt, vinegar), we dye pieces of natural fabrics (wool, linen) in different colors.

The bow is one of the oldest weapons that man has mastered. From prehistory, through ancient times, long after gunpowder weapons were invented, the bow was an effective tool for hunting and fighting. We use laminate arches – that is glued from many layers of wood and plastic, made on two historical prototypes: – LONGBOW – sometimes called "English", weapons of the English and Welsh infantry of the Middle Ages – A REFLECTIVE ARCH – came to Europe from the east along with nomadic tribes. Shorter, comfortable for horse fighting, with a characteristic broken shape. STATIC, DYNAMIC AND CONTACT Archery can take the form of target shooting, but it can also be a dynamic and emotional shooter. For the latter, we use a pacin shot at the end, and the participants protect their face with special masks. Shooting at targets can also take various forms – on accuracy, on focus (hitting many shots in the smallest possible area), on time or in the pendulum. We are also preparing an archery track for marching. CLASSES WE RUN: LEARNING TO SHOOT with BOWS – we start with a shooting attitude, learning to aim (traditional bows do not have aiming instruments) and simple shooting at the target. ARCHERY TOURNAMENT – a competition of shooting from traditional bows, for the best diplomas on decorative paper with a lacquer seal. For the winner – a gift. BATTLE OF ARCHERS – a contact clash of shooters, armed with special arrows secured with rubber pacina. Shooters use light (max 12 kg of tension) bows, they are equipped with protective masks (similar to, for example, paintball). Several (2-6) gunners take part in the battle, who must eliminate opponents using various field shields. Fun gives participants a lot of adrenaline and great fun 🙂

The bow is one of the oldest weapons that man has mastered. From prehistory, through ancient times, long after gunpowder weapons were invented, the bow was an effective tool for hunting and fighting. We use laminate arches – that is glued from many layers of wood and plastic, made on two historical prototypes: – LONGBOW – sometimes called "English", weapons of the English and Welsh infantry of the Middle Ages – A REFLECTIVE ARCH – came to Europe from the east along with nomadic tribes. Shorter, comfortable for horse fighting, with a characteristic broken shape. STATIC, DYNAMIC AND CONTACT Archery can take the form of target shooting, but it can also be a dynamic and emotional shooter. For the latter, we use a pacin shot at the end, and the participants protect their face with special masks. Shooting at targets can also take various forms – on accuracy, on focus (hitting many shots in the smallest possible area), on time or in the pendulum. We are also preparing an archery track for marching. CLASSES WE RUN: LEARNING TO SHOOT with BOWS – we start with a shooting attitude, learning to aim (traditional bows do not have aiming instruments) and simple shooting at the target. ARCHERY TOURNAMENT – a competition of shooting from traditional bows, for the best diplomas on decorative paper with a lacquer seal. For the winner – a gift. BATTLE OF ARCHERS – a contact clash of shooters, armed with special arrows secured with rubber pacina. Shooters use light (max 12 kg of tension) bows, they are equipped with protective masks (similar to, for example, paintball). Several (2-6) gunners take part in the battle, who must eliminate opponents using various field shields. Fun gives participants a lot of adrenaline and great fun 🙂