The Mirth of the Mead-Hall: Classic Viking Jokes and Riddles

Frigg, greatest of the goddesses and the wife of Odin, lord of the gods, possessed a magic looking glass through which she could see all that came to pass — whether in Asgard, in Midgard, in Niflhelm where the ice giants dwell, or even in Svartalfheim, home of the dark elves.

One day, while consulting with her looking glass, she happened to see Odin, disguised as a mighty fish-eagle, descend to Vanaheimr where he perched upon the shoulder of the beautiful Vanir Freyja, goddess of beauty, love, and fertility. The eagle began to speak into Freyja’s ear and the goddess began to giggle. Seeing this, Frigg was enraged because, although her looking glass could show her all that happened, she could not hear what passed between her husband and Freyja.

Resolving to discover for herself what was being said, she abruptly left her boudoir and came out into the god-bright sunshine of eternal Asgard. Seeing mischievous Loki, the prankster god, lounging idly in a nearby poplar grove she commanded him to “call me a cab.”

Shrugging his shoulders, naughty Loki replied, “Okay, you’re a cab.”

The Mirth of the Mead-Hall: Classic Viking Jokes and Riddles

After a long and successful hunt, the great Odin, lord of all the gods, returned to his vast mead-hall, Valhalla, to celebrate. Under his mighty arm he carried the giant wolf Fenrir. To the great table Odin strode and placed Fenrir upon it and held him there. Then, great Odin addressed the Einherjar and Valkyries.

“All who witness me, hear and know that I do not deceive!” he roared, “I will place my manstaff and red balder in the mouth of Fenrir and then withdraw them undamaged!” And, when all had gathered around him, the god did as he said he would, placing those parts in the mouth of the savage beast. As the lesser gods and elves and trolls watched in astonishment, Odin brought his iron chalice, which was called Morranar, down hard on the head of Fenrir and then removed his god-meat from the perilous jaws unbitten.

Taking a great draught from Morranar, Odin faced the throng. “I challenge any here to do the same,” he cried. “Any who dare shall receive a golden sword, a magical spinning wheel, and a hogshead of dragon’s blood, which can cure any ill.”

Not a man replied. But Uror, the once beautiful water sprite who had been turned into a hideous crone by Hel, Loki’s half-giantess daughter, after she became jealous of Uror’s beauty, spoke at last. “I shall perform that feat – but I entreat you, great Odin, do not strike my head with the chalice!”