Haagdyve with Capt. Alan Price at Mavis Grind, Shetland

BACKGROUND: About 1200 years ago, the Vikings marauded and traded along the western coast of the British Isles. They regularly reached as far as, what is now known as Pembrokeshire on the west coast of Wales. The local men when asked jumped at the opportunity of employment as Viking mercenaries.

The Welshmen found the local Shetland women initially unfriendly as they claimed that they were not clean enough. To address this problem they decided to have a ritualistic cleansing festival. This eventually became known as HAAGDYVE. A site was chosen to enable participants to bathe in both the North Sea and Atlantic. This is the place now known as Mavis Grind. The local women succumbed to the handsome and cleaner Welshmen.

The Vikings plus local Welsh mercenaries returned to Northern Islands regularly, however, the Welsh remained on the British island, now called Shetland; whilst the Vikings returned home to prepare the next voyage.

Next Haagdyve = New Years Day 2012

More info: http://www.haagdyve.com

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Haagdyve
• Capt. Alan Price
• Mavis Grind
• Shetland
• Vikings
• Pembrokeshire
• Wales
• Welsh Vikings