What is viking calendar?

The Viking calendar, also known as the Old Norse calendar, was a lunar-solar calendar used by the Vikings during the Viking Age (793-1066 CE). It was different from the modern Gregorian calendar we use today and was based on the phases of the moon and the seasons of the year.

The Viking calendar had 12 months with names that were mostly derived from the old gods in Norse mythology. The first month was called "Gói" and represented the end of winter, while the last month "Þorri" marked the beginning of spring. Each month was divided into three weeks called "tides", and each tide had a name associated with the lunar phases: "Ný" (new moon), "Mið" (mid-month), and "Full" (full moon).

The Viking calendar was also used to determine important dates for religious and agricultural purposes. For example, the winter solstice, which marked the beginning of the Norse Yule festival, was usually celebrated on the night of December 21st.

The Viking calendar fell out of use after the arrival of Christianity in Scandinavia, and the Gregorian calendar was eventually adopted. However, the Old Norse month names and tides have survived in some Scandinavian countries, often used in folk traditions and celebrations.