The Vikings weren’t just fierce warriors and seafaring raiders – they were also deeply superstitious. Their beliefs shaped nearly every aspect of life, from battle rituals to burial customs and even personal grooming habits. Many of these superstitions may seem bizarre today, but to the Norse, they were essential for ensuring victory, survival, and favor from the gods. Some rituals were practical, some were terrifying, and others were just outright strange. Here are 11 Viking superstitions that will leave you scratching your head.
1. The Undead Had to Be Stopped—By Tying Their Toes Together
The Vikings had a serious fear of the Draugr, a type of undead creature that could rise from its grave to kill people, destroy property, and spread misfortune. But they had a few tricks to prevent the dead from returning. One method involved tying the deceased’s big toes together before burial, making it impossible for them to walk. Another superstition required placing scissors on the corpse’s chest or sticking needles through the bottom of its feet.
They also believed that carrying the dead in and out of their home through different doors would confuse the spirit and keep it from finding its way back. If these precautions failed and a Draugr did rise, the best course of action was to wrestle it back into its grave – because apparently, even Viking ghosts had to fight their way out.
2. Blonde Hair Was a Sign of Beauty—So Men Bleached Theirs
Today, when people think of Vikings, they often imagine blond-haired warriors with wild beards. While some Scandinavians naturally had light hair, many Viking men weren’t born with golden locks – so they took matters into their own hands. They used lye-based soaps to bleach their hair and beards, ensuring they matched their culture’s standard of attractiveness.
This wasn’t just about vanity. The same lye-based treatments also killed lice, making Viking hygiene a step above many other medieval societies. Whether it was a fashion statement or an early form of pest control, these fierce warriors took their haircare surprisingly seriously.
3. Battle Magic Could Make You Invincible
Vikings didn’t go into battle relying solely on brute strength – they also practiced magical rituals to improve their odds. Warriors believed in reading omens before a fight to predict their fate. If the signs were bad, they might delay an attack or change their strategy entirely.
They also carved symbols onto their weapons to channel luck, courage, and strength. Some of these runes were believed to make swords stronger, sharper, or even unbreakable. Before battle, Vikings also sacrificed powerful animals, such as bulls or stallions, to please the gods and ensure victory. Whether these superstitions helped or not, the Vikings still managed to terrorize much of Europe for centuries.
4. The Gods Expected a Blood Sacrifice—And Lots of It
Viking religious festivals weren’t all about feasting and drinking – they also required blood sacrifices. The Blót was a ritual where animals (and sometimes humans) were sacrificed to honor the gods. The blood was then collected and sprinkled on altars, statues, and sometimes even on the participants themselves.
These ceremonies took place multiple times a year and were meant to bring prosperity, good harvests, and protection from misfortune. Some Viking communities even held mass sacrifices every nine years, killing 81 people and animals over nine days to appease the gods.
5. A Viking Chief Didn’t Die Alone—His Slave Girl Went With Him
When a powerful Viking chief died, he wasn’t going to the afterlife alone. One of his slave girls would “volunteer” (under questionable circumstances) to be ritually sacrificed so she could accompany him in the afterlife. But before her death, she had to endure a disturbing ceremony.
First, she was kept in a constant state of intoxication, likely to keep her compliant. Then, she had to participate in sexual rites with multiple men in the village. Finally, she was strangled, stabbed, and cremated alongside the chief, ensuring she would continue to serve him beyond death.
6. The Fearsome Blood Eagle Might Have Been Real
One of the most infamous Viking execution methods was the Blood Eagle, a ritualized form of torture and sacrifice to Odin. According to Norse literature, the victim was laid face down while their ribs were cut from the spine, then pulled outward to resemble wings. The final gruesome step involved removing the lungs and draping them over the ribs, making it seem like they were still “breathing” as they died.
Historians debate whether this practice was ever actually performed or if it was just Viking propaganda to terrify their enemies. Either way, the sheer detail of the accounts makes it one of the most unsettling Viking superstitions.
7. Teeth Modifications Were a Viking Status Symbol
Some Viking warriors filed grooves into their front teeth for reasons that remain unclear. The most common theory is that the markings intimidated enemies in battle, making the warriors appear more fearsome. Others believe the grooves represented victories, much like notches on a weapon.
Archaeologists have found Viking skulls with these unusual dental modifications, showing that this practice was widespread among elite warriors. They may have even painted the grooves with dye, adding an extra level of intimidation.
8. Urine Could Be Turned Into Fire
Vikings found some incredibly creative uses for their own waste. They discovered that by boiling a type of fungus in urine for several days, they could create a material that held a slow-burning ember. This made it possible to carry fire over long distances, a crucial survival tool for raiding parties and travelers.
The secret ingredient was sodium nitrate from urine, which made the fungus smolder instead of burst into flames. This technique allowed Vikings to start fires easily, even in the harshest conditions – though it’s safe to say that modern matches are a much more appealing alternative.
9. Viking Berserkers Thought They Could Become Animals
Berserkers were Viking warriors who fought in a trance-like fury, appearing almost immune to pain. Some believed they could literally transform into bears or wolves during battle. These warriors would live in the wilderness, hunt like animals, and give up all human morality to unlock their inner beast.
They were described as foaming at the mouth, howling, and biting their shields before charging into combat without armor. Whether these warriors truly believed they were shapeshifting or were just high on hallucinogenic mushrooms, their battle frenzy made them some of the most feared fighters in Viking history.
10. Yule Celebrations Included Human Sacrifice
The Viking festival of Yule had many elements that survive in today’s Christmas traditions, including Yule logs, wreaths, and decorated trees. But one tradition that didn’t make the cut? Human sacrifice.
Every ninth year, Swedish kings were expected to sacrifice men at the Temple of Uppsala. The ritual required nine human heads to be offered to the gods, with the bodies hung in the sacred grove. This grim festival lasted nine days, with feasts and celebrations taking place alongside the executions.
11. Lowering a Coffin in Three Directions Prevented Restless Spirits
The Vikings had several rituals to ensure the dead stayed dead. One of these involved lifting and lowering a coffin in three different directions before burial. This was believed to confuse the spirit, preventing it from returning as a Draugr.
This small but important ritual ensured that the dead moved on peacefully, rather than rising from the grave to haunt the living.
Connected to Unseen Forces
The Vikings were deeply connected to their myths, gods, and the unseen forces they believed shaped their world. Their superstitions reveal a culture that sought to control fate through rituals, sacrifices, and strange traditions that might seem baffling today. Whether it was bleaching their hair, carving symbols into their weapons, or ensuring the dead stayed buried, every action had meaning in their quest for power, protection, and prosperity.
While modern society has left most of these customs behind, the echoes of Viking superstition still linger in our fascination with their legends and the larger-than-life warriors who followed them. In the end, their mix of fierce combat and mystical belief makes them one of history’s most intriguing civilizations.
Raised in a small Arizona town, Kevin grew up surrounded by rugged desert landscapes and a family of hunters. His background in competitive shooting and firearms training has made him an authority on self-defense and gun safety. A certified firearms instructor, Kevin teaches others how to properly handle and maintain their weapons, whether for hunting, home defense, or survival situations. His writing focuses on responsible gun ownership, marksmanship, and the role of firearms in personal preparedness.