Nilfeheim Customs: Cutting of the Braids

Cutting of the Braids, custom of Nilfeheim

(this is an  Anthropology page supplemental to : Cutting of the Braids)

(local customs)

 part of the wedding customs practiced on Nilfeheim by the Neo Viking culture.

 During the wedding ceremony and as a highlight, the groom is cutting the braids (usually only one) of his wife to be.

It is to signify the skills of the man as a warrior. He cuts her hair (A woman does not cut her hair before marriage[1])

in a symbolic act to elevate her from girl to adult hood and cutting her ties to her family, making her his.

She symbolizes her unwavering faith in him and submits to his rule.

The traditional set up
The Woman places her head in the center of a wooden target, her braids are affixed to it (most women have very long hair and the braids often exceed a meter in length)

The groom stands seven meters distant and throws an axe ( Viking Francisca type throwing axe) and cuts one braid. Usually as far away from her head as possible.

Some instances are known where the groom cut more than one braid, or took a stand further away.

Injuries to the woman, even fatal ones are very rare but not unknown.

It usually escalates into a Clan feud, because the Groom is immediately challenged by the Champion of the bride (her father or a brother, some times the best warrior of the Clan)

These challenges are always to the death.



Origin of the tradition
Researchers have discovered that it is not a tradition practiced by the original historic Vikings of Earth (No historical accounts could be found)

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">Instead it is part of a Pre Astro 2D Film : The Vikings (1958 OTT) that has little to no actual connection to the historic Viking culture.

<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">The images and scenes of the film found their way into Reenactment groups and the Cutting of the Braids was first recorded to be done on Earth by a LARP group in England)

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<p lang="en-US" style="margin-bottom:0cm">[1] Necessary trimming is permitted. Woman with short hair are unknown to the Nilfeheim society