Viking Childhood My Story

'This story belongs to Ashton

'and his Auntie Sheila,

'who he calls Ishi Masi.

'Ishi, because he couldn't say "Sheila" when he was younger

'and Masi is a Gujarati word for "auntie".

'Auntie Sheila is Ishi Masi.

'It's a tiny tale about how children just like you

'lived in the olden days, over 1,000 years ago.

'Now it's time for Ishi Masi

'and Ashton to go on a journey of discovery.

'Together, they're going to find out what life was like,

'all those years ago.'

Ashton, would you like help sowing your seeds?

No, thank you.

-What things are you planting?

-Salad leaves.

Salad leaves? Wow.

I know a story about a boy called Regnauld

who liked salad leaves.

-Regnauld? That's a funny name!

-Isn't it just!

He was a Viking. He lived over 1,000 years ago.

-1,000 years ago?

-Mm-hm.

-Do you know what Vikings are?

-No, what are they?

Vikings lived over 1,000 years ago

and they came from Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

'The Vikings came to Britain looking for good farmland, to grow things.

'They were great sailors and had beautiful boats

'called longboats, which were like the one in this modern film.

'They sailed to lots of countries all around Europe and further.

'Some Vikings were like pirates, and stole treasure from people.

'Some were traders, who bought and sold things.

'Some were craftsmen, who made many different things,

'and some were warriors, like soldiers.'

-Do you know where Regnauld lived?

-No.

In a little village near York.

Do you think it was very different 1,000 years ago?

-Yeah.

-Yeah, I think so too.

Do you want to get dressed up and find out about Vikings?

-Yes, please!

-Come on, then.

So, Ashton, what do you think of these Viking clothes?

-Amazing.

-You think they're amazing?

My favourite bit is the jewellery.

Would you like to wear these clothes every single day?

-Yes!

-Would you? I think I'd be hot.

-Shall we strike a Viking pose?

-Yeah.

BOTH: Rarrr!

'Ashton and Ishi Masi look ready for a big adventure.

'But where will they go and what will they see?'

'Ishi Masi has brought Ashton to the Danelaw Centre for Living History,

'where they teach people all about the Vikings.'

Children: Yay!

'They've built a village that looks a lot like the

'one Regnauld would have lived in.

'And they dress up just like the Vikings used to do.'

'Ishi Masi is going to show Ashton around a Viking house.'

FLUTE MUSIC PLAYS

Wow, Ashton! This is a Viking house,

the kind of place Regnauld would have lived with his family.

Do you like it?

-Yes.

-What sort of things do like about it?

I like these four pictures.

-Like that one over there?

-Yes.

-And do you like the fire?

-Yes.

They would cook all their food on one fireplace

and they'd all live in one room.

What sort of things are missing from this house

-that you might have in yours?

-A comfy sofa.

Yeah. What else?

Maybe some toys?

-And bath.

-And a bath, yes.

Do you all live in one room, in your house,

or do you have lots of rooms?

-LOTS of rooms!

-Lots of rooms, I know.

And what would happen if you needed the toilet? Where's the toilet?

-Outside?

-Do you think? Shall we go and look?

-Yes.

-Come on, then.

Look at this! This is a Viking toilet.

What do you think about that?

It looks very, very stinky.

It looks like it could have been, yes.

They didn't have flushes then,

so they had to wait for the rain to flush everything away.

And what else do you think they used?

They used leaves to clean their bottoms.

They did, they used leaves for toilet roll!

What do you think it would be like using leaves for toilet roll?

Yucky!

Ooh, yucky!

'There were lots of things the Vikings didn't have.

'No schools or teachers in the villages.'

DRUMS BEAT

'Children learned from their parents and others in the village.

'There were no shops,

'so they had to grow all the food they needed to survive.

'Ashton is helping the other children sow seeds,

'just like Regnauld would have done,

'so they can have plenty of wheat and vegetables to eat.

'The Vikings grew wheat and barley, so they could make bread.

'Ashton and Ishi Masi are being shown by Fiona how to

'grind wheat and turn it into flour.

'The wheat is put into a hole, then Ashton

'and Fiona turn the stone wheel and the wheat is

'rubbed in between the two heavy stones until it becomes flour.

'You need flour and water to make Viking flatbread.

'It's a dusty job, Ashton!'

This is some we made earlier, if you'd like to try it.

-Mmm! It's nice!

-It's good!

'Ashton has another chore. He has to feed Murphy, the goat.

'Vikings loved keeping goats, because goats gave then milk to drink.

'They also used the milk to make cheese, and sometimes,

'the goat's hair was used to weave into cloth.'

-Do you like his beard?

-Yes.

-I like it.

-Do you want to stroke him?

It's like Da-da's!

It is like Da-da's, yes!

That's Grandad - that's my dad, isn't it? He's got a beard.

'Everything in a village had a use.

'Everyone had to work together and look after each other.'

'The Viking villagers had to protect themselves from the cold,

'as there were no shops close by, so they made their own clothes.

'Everyone in the village knew how to weave, both boys and girls.

'The clothes Regnauld wore

'were probably woven by someone in his family.

'Ishi Masi and Steph are nalbinding, which is

'the Viking way of knitting with one needle.

'They're using a thick, wooden needle.

'They stitch lots of loops together,

'and this is how Vikings made socks,

'to keep their feet warm.

'Ashton is busy winding the wool into a ball

'so it can be used for nalbinding.

'Now they're weaving woollen threads together on a frame called a loom.

'There are lots and lots of woollen threads on the loom.

'That is going to make a lovely hat for Ashton.'

'Ashton and Ishi Masi are learning to protect the village,

'just as Regnauld would've done.'

Right, guys. We're going to learn

-how to protect our village, yes?

-Yes!

Now we take a step forward, as a line,

and the Vikings would've said "stiga",

meaning "take a step".

So when I shout "stiga", let's all take one

step forward and shout it really loudly. Are you ready?

-Stiga!

-ALL: Stiga!

That was good. Go back, try again.

-Stiga!

-ALL: Stiga!

Ah, you're getting it!

You'll make fine warriors. Stiga!

'Often, the men of the village would go off to work elsewhere,

'trading or hunting, leaving the women and children behind.

'Everyone had to help protect and

'defend the village from wild animals or intruders.'

-Stiga!

-ALL: Stiga!

'Sometimes, they had to defend the village.

'But also, they would get visitors from other

'villages, who'd be welcome.

'When visitors came, they would have a big meal called a banquet.

'The whole village would go.'

-Ashton, are you liking the banquet?

-Yes.

-Especially the soup.

-Especially the soup.

-Do you think you'd like to eat Viking food all the time?

-Yes.

-And would you like to live in a Viking village?

-Yes.

-Shall we have some more food?

-Yes.

-Come on, then.

'The Vikings ate ham, flatbread and fish,

'just like we do today.

'And it looks really, really yummy.

'Many Vikings couldn't read or write as they didn't go to school,

'but loved listening to stories and hearing about their history.

'A skald, a Viking word for storyteller,

'would tell stories.'

The wolf closed his jaws... Unghh!

Yeah! And he bit off...

'Stories about Viking history are called Viking sagas.

'The children are listening to a saga being told by a skald.'

'When Regnauld finished his chores,

'he and his friends would play games.

'Ashton and Tom are playing a Viking game called kingy bats.

'They have to keep the ball in the air using a bat like a shield.'

OK, we're having a strong person competition.

-Who's going first?

-Me!

-All right, Ashton.

Come on, you know what you need to do.

Are you going to hold it that way? Everyone going to count? Ready?

One, two...

'Children played strength competitions,

'to see who could hold something heavy, the longest.

'Ashton's friends are counting to see how

'long he can hold on to the log.

'Hold on tight, Ashton!'

-So, Ashton, did you have fun in the Viking village?

-Yes.

What did we do, do you remember?

We got dressed up like Vikings. We looked amazing!

-Shall we strike a Viking pose?

-Yeah.

BOTH: Rarrr!

'We went to the Living History Centre.

'We went into the village and had a look around a Viking house.'

This is the kind of place Regnauld would live in.

'The toilets were outside.'

What do you think about that?

It looks very, very stinky.

'We grind wheat on big stones to make flour,

'then bread!'

Mmm! It's nice.

'I fed a goat.'

Well done!

'We learned how to protect the village.'

-Stiga!

-ALL: Stiga!

'That was fun. We tried some Viking knitting and weaving.

'I loved playing Viking games, just like Regnauld.

'We had a Viking banquet.

'We ate Viking food and listened to a story, and I had lots of fun.'

So, Ashton. What was your favourite bit?

-My favourite bit was doing the hoeing.

-Was it?

-Would you like to be a farmer?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

Well, my favourite thing was spending time with you.

Do you know what time it is?

Time for a big hug?

Time for a BIG hug!

'What a fabulous heap of fun!

'That was Ashton and Ishi Masi's tiny tale

'about being a child during Viking times, over 1,000 years ago.

'Now Ishi Masi has shared this story with Ashton,

'it's time for Ashton to start his very own story.

'Do you know someone with a story to share?'