Who is Edgitha Hlammandi, anyhow?
Edgitha (pronounced "Ee deth ah" but often shortened to just "Edith") is a 10th Century woman, born to a native Schetlandian mother and a Scandinavian father. She grew up in a large community in Scaholme (today called Skaw on the island of Unst), which is in what we call the Shetland Islands today, on the northerly most isle (you can find an historical map of the area here in the top right corner). As she grew, she discovered a deep connection with the Gods, and so she studied and became a seeress, or völva. She learned the various ways to speak with the Gods, to craft items such as charms and prayers, to bring hope and knowledge to her people.
When I am playing at being Edgitha, I dress in the traditional apron dress (called a hangerock) and shift (similar to a kirtle in England, but minus the lacing and less fitted). If it's cold, I'll add an underdress of silk for warmth. I wear socks, though not the type that historical Vikings would have worn, because at this point I don't know how to nålbind yet. I also wear more modern footwear, although I would love to pick up a pair of hand sewn Norse style shoes or boots! I also have a plaid wrap to wear on chill evenings, a heavy wool cloak for when it's very cold, and a slightly out-of-period wool and corduroy cloak for when it's in the middle.
My main brain-and-time-eating interest in the SCA is heraldry. This is a rather complex, arcane subject which is a fascinating mix of history and modern usage. There are a lot of places online to learn about heraldry, many of which are listed under my "Heraldic Help" page. My favorite types of heraldry, at this point, are voice heraldry (which is mainly crying the camp - the medieval "newspaper" person, running around shouting the daily news) and court heraldry (at a court session in the SCA, a herald is usually in charge of speaking loudly and clearly to read off scrolls and summonses for the Crown). I'm also learning a little about arms heraldry (creating and conflict checking people's shields/devices).
The name "Edgithe" was taken from my grandmother, Edith. I wanted to honor her after her death (she turned 100 and then passed away on her own terms, a "Viking Lady" in her nature and a Scottish Lady in demeanor), and was happy to discover the Scandinavian version of her name. And so when I play at being Edgithe Hlammandi, I am also sending my thoughts and prayers to my beloved grandmother, Edith Sangster Davidson.
If you're wondering who I am, the real me behind the personas, I'm Allyson S. I wear many hats: mother, step-mom, priestess, interfaith minister, wedding officiant, author, editor, chief cook and bottle washer, and a few others that are more obscure. I'm open to questions, if you have any! You can find me on FaceBook, and my email is [email protected].
When I am playing at being Edgitha, I dress in the traditional apron dress (called a hangerock) and shift (similar to a kirtle in England, but minus the lacing and less fitted). If it's cold, I'll add an underdress of silk for warmth. I wear socks, though not the type that historical Vikings would have worn, because at this point I don't know how to nålbind yet. I also wear more modern footwear, although I would love to pick up a pair of hand sewn Norse style shoes or boots! I also have a plaid wrap to wear on chill evenings, a heavy wool cloak for when it's very cold, and a slightly out-of-period wool and corduroy cloak for when it's in the middle.
My main brain-and-time-eating interest in the SCA is heraldry. This is a rather complex, arcane subject which is a fascinating mix of history and modern usage. There are a lot of places online to learn about heraldry, many of which are listed under my "Heraldic Help" page. My favorite types of heraldry, at this point, are voice heraldry (which is mainly crying the camp - the medieval "newspaper" person, running around shouting the daily news) and court heraldry (at a court session in the SCA, a herald is usually in charge of speaking loudly and clearly to read off scrolls and summonses for the Crown). I'm also learning a little about arms heraldry (creating and conflict checking people's shields/devices).
The name "Edgithe" was taken from my grandmother, Edith. I wanted to honor her after her death (she turned 100 and then passed away on her own terms, a "Viking Lady" in her nature and a Scottish Lady in demeanor), and was happy to discover the Scandinavian version of her name. And so when I play at being Edgithe Hlammandi, I am also sending my thoughts and prayers to my beloved grandmother, Edith Sangster Davidson.
If you're wondering who I am, the real me behind the personas, I'm Allyson S. I wear many hats: mother, step-mom, priestess, interfaith minister, wedding officiant, author, editor, chief cook and bottle washer, and a few others that are more obscure. I'm open to questions, if you have any! You can find me on FaceBook, and my email is [email protected].