Explosive end to York's Viking Festival

Explosive end to York's Viking Festival


AN EXPLOSIVE finale to the 27th annual Jorvik Viking Festival saw hundreds of warriors battle on Knavesmire before the traditional burning of
the longboat.


A week of city-wide activities culminated on Saturday evening with
thousands of visitors braving freezing winds on Bustardthorpe field, to
enjoy a re-enactment of Viking battle, the burning of the
specially-made Viking longboat and a firework display.





View further Viking festival pictures>>



Earlier in the day, events had taken place throughout York, including
the ‘Brawl in the Guildhall’ Strongman competition - which saw Viking
warriors battle for the first ever Jorvik amazing
Strongman trophy.


Meanwhile hundreds of Viking warriors gathered at Dean’s Park in the
shadow of the Minster, to set off through the streets of the city to the
Eye of York, where they prepared for battle later on
Knavesmire later that evening.


Festival marketing manager, David Scott said more than 2300 people came to Knavesmire on Saturday.


“It was the biggest and busiest event we have ever staged,” he said. “All the feedback has been really positive.”


Lord Mayor York, Coun David Horton was one of those who braved the cold to witness the finale on Saturday evening.


He said: “I have been to this event a few times in the past but not while it’s been in this location.


“It looks like a good turn out given that it’s very cold. I have been
told by the Archaeological Trust that it’s been a very turn out all week
but it has been a good week weather-wise.”


Coun Horton said the boat burning was always “quite a spectacle” and
said the Jorvik Viking Festival marked the kick-off of York’s tourist
season. He said: “From February you are into march and
that means it’s tourist season again.”

The makers of this video would like to stress that no Vikings were burnt during filming, we burnt the bassa's later.

Good stuff Tom!

Topdog wrote:The makers of this video would like to stress that no Vikings were burnt during filming, we burnt the bassa's later.

We have burnt afew in the past -

"Isolated attacks on Jews also occurred at Colchester, Thetford, and Ospringe, but the most striking incident occurred at York on the night of March 16 (the day of the Jewish feast of Shabbat ha-Gadol, the shabbat before Passover) and 17 March 1190.The Jews of York were alarmed by the preceding massacres and by the
setting on fire of several of their houses by the anti-Jewish rioting in the wake of religious fervour during crusaders' preparations for the Third Crusade against the Saracens, led by Richard. Their leader Josce asked the warden of York Castleto receive them with their wives and children, and they were accepted into Clifford's Tower. However, the tower was besieged by the mob of crusaders, demanding that the Jews convert to Christianity and be baptized. Trapped in the castle, the Jews were advised by their religious leader, Rabbi Yomtov of Joigney,to kill themselves rather than convert; Josce began by slaying his wifeAnna and his two children, and then was killed by Yomtov. The father ofeach family killed his wife and children, and then Yomtov stabbed the men before killing himself. The handful of Jews who did not kill
themselves surrendered to the crusaders at daybreak on 17 March, leavingthe castle on a promise that they would not be harmed; they were also killed. In the aftermath the wooden tower was burnt down."






Clifford's Tower, where the Jews of York were killed in 1190.

Serves them right, what race would cut a bit off their willie's before they know how big they are going to be.