Today in Sweden:

Första begravningsplatsen för asatroende: "Vi kommer tillkalla Oden, allfadern".

[machine translation]

First cemetery for Nordic Asa believers: "We will call upon Odin, the All–Father"

Outside Molkom in Värmland, the first cemetery for Asa believers has been granted permission.
– "It feels great to finally be there," says Thommy Vähäsalo, who is responsible for the Nordic Asa community.

Next to the church in Nyed outside Molkom, three hills will be built in the shape of ships. It will be the first modern cemetery for Asa believers in Sweden. The Nordic Asa Society, which is behind the project, hopes that it will be ready for use in 2026.

– "It's something we've been fighting for for many years and it's important for our members," says Thommy Vähäsalo, who is the national leader of the Nordic Asa Society and is involved in designing rituals and ceremonies.

Researcher not surprised

Fredrik Gregorius at Linköping University researches neo–paganism and the use of Norse religion today, and is not surprised that the movement has now been given its own burial place.

– This is an interesting development. It suggests that there is an attempt to make Asatro more integrated into the rest of society and the religious market. "Even though there may not be a big rush to funerals for atheists, it will be a symbolic issue. It is a way of demanding their right as a minority religion," says Fredrik Gregorius.

Like in the Viking Age?

Knowledge of how Viking burials were conducted is scarce.

– "We know very little about how Viking burials were conducted, but archaeological finds indicate that they could be quite bloody stories with grave goods," says Fredrik Gregorius, who believes that the rites need to be rewritten.

One of the more famous accounts is that of Ibn Fadlan from the 920s, when he witnessed a chieftain's burial in present-day Russia where a slave woman was sacrificed and burned with the chieftain on his ship. But that kind of ceremony is not relevant today.

– "Many new religious movements are creating funeral traditions that pretty much follow those that already exist," says Fredrik Gregorius.

However, one example of what will be taken from historical funeral customs is burial gifts—that is, things that you are buried with—says Thommy Vähäsalo.

– "There are opportunities in connection with the burial for personal items to be included in the grave. This is an old tradition that we include in our funeral ceremony.

Source:  SVT "News", Johan Scheéle ("journalist")

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