The first of two volumes, The Viking Age includes detailed and interesting information on the lives of Vikings, including their religion, funeral rituals, dwellings, duelings and class system. One of the most interesting of the Viking customs was that of the marriage ceremony. Marriage was one of the most important social institutions in early Scandinavia. It was believed that the marriage rituals had to be performed exactly right so that the gods would have good favor for the couple. Usually the first public gathering of the couple's families, the wedding would consist of a great feast that would last several days. Anything less than three full feast days was considered insulting to the guests. After the ceremony and feast, the bride and groom would be led to their private quarters by guards carrying ceremonial torches. Only then would they be considered legally married.
