Olafs cross our heritage

Olaf II, the Viking king of Norway from my last post, lived too long ago to have a Coat of Arms. His symbol, Olavs cross (Olavskors/solkorset) is part of the traditions born long after his death in 1030. The symbol was used by the Nazis during World War II, as other elements from the Viking age and also the Norse mythology. In 1944 the Nazis made a big statue on the same place were the king died, at Stiklestad. The monument was torn down by resistance fighters after the war and buried. Modern days Nazis still try to use these old symbols, but they will never own them. We don’t accept people with totalitarian ideology to occupy our heritage. Like the cross, which can be seen as a flower decoration at Stiklestad. The picture above is from visiting the historic play last week. The one below is from the same occation in 1995.

The people above is from the audience at the play this year. Just before 11 at night. The one below is also from 1995, when the play was performed in the middel of the day. The play has changed a lot over the years, so I also add an old picture of the pagan dance, the sun dance, as it was performed in 1995.

From a visual point of view I will say the new play performed at night is much more interesting. There are more pictures in my photo gallery from the play, Spelet om Heilag Olav.