A Modern Runestone in Denmark
In November 2006, the Danish Asatru group Forn Siðr dedicated a contemporary runestone outside the Danish village of Jelling. Jelling is the site of the famous runestone erected by Harald Bluetooth to announce the Christianization of Denmark. With the modern stone, Forn Siðr celebrated their ninth anniversary and their recognition by the Danish government — choosing Jelling as a location to “tell the world that we’re back, and that Harald failed in his mission.”
The Forn Siðr website features an informative account of the runestone project in English. The account includes a translation of chairman Linda Nørgaard’s dedication speech, which details the mixed reception that met this project:
…We’ve also heard from many Danes that rejoyce and look forward to the unveiling of this stone. People that regard Forn Siðr and the stone project as interesting, even sympathetical, and certainly not provocative. The anger we’ve met during this project, has almost exclusively been from christians. We have no perception of any anger coming from ordinary Danes regarding this celebration of our anniversary, only from christians. So I’m forced to say, short and simple, in a language everyone understands: We really can’t be bothered with it.
She also gives a vision for Asatru in Denmark:
That is why I hope that the work of art you’ll be seeing in a moment will bring people joy, and bring pleasure not only to the members of Forn Siðr, but to all people locally and nationally, who enjoys an exciting work of art and believes that there is room for The Old Ways in this country. Forn Siðr is non-missionary, which means that Asatru is a belief that everyone needs to find and embrace by themselves. But I personally believe that many more are ready to embrace Asatru, if only they can find the strength to free themselves of their given limitations and of other people’s expectations. So it’s not the purpose of the stone to facilitate mass conversion of people to Asatru, or in any other way force something upon people, but only to act as an inspiration in many ways.
Mike H. on 09 Jun 2007 at 4:37 pm #
Lovely. Modern art strikes again. So are there any images of this thing that actually show runes and/or an inscription? As is, it looks more like a highway construction accident to me. Or one of those eggs from the “Alien” movies hatching out.
As to placing a modern runestone to proclaim that heathenry is alive and well, I certainly admire the sentiment but — in this case — not the results.
Mike H. on 10 Jun 2007 at 8:14 am #
Oops… evidently I missed the light green link to the detailed account given by the Danish group on my first go around.
Can see the runes in the close-up. Still not liking the oozing tar effect…
Frankie on 12 Dec 2007 at 2:52 am #
Ha ha! They’re a buch of cheeky bastards aren’t they. I congrajulate them, thier efforts, and of course their cheek.