Asatru question: Ragnar's beard???

"If someone shouts, "Hail, Ragnar!", you should echo "Hail, Ragnar's Beard!"

May I asked why?

"It gladdens me to know that Balder?s father makes ready the benches for a banquet. Soon we shall be drinking ale from the curved horns. The champion who comes into Odin?s dwelling does not lament his death. I shall not enter his hall with words of fear upon my lips. The ?sir will welcome me. Death comes without lamenting? Eager am I to depart. The D?sir summon me home, those whom Odin sends for me from the halls of the Lord of Hosts. Gladly shall I drink ale in the high-seat with the ?sir. The days of my life are ended. I laugh as I die."

Danke!

That is actually a movie quote from a movie called The Vikings with Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis. 1957

That is from a movie and is no reflection on historical heathery.

Bitte scone!

answer: Mental is correct - that's a movie quote. It's a death song. Saying "Hail someones beard" is recognizing their maturity (and sometimes masculinity - yeah the ancestors could be sexist). A boy not old enough to grow a beard wouldn't be considered manly unless he had performed a great deed or feat.

It was considered a brave and very Viking thing to compose a death song when facing overwhelming odds. Laughing at death, so-to-speak.

The Japanese had a similar view - Samurai and nobles would compose great poems when they planned to commit ritual suicide to save honor.

Come one cupcake. Ask real questions. You're smarter then that. To someone who doesn't know you, you look like you are mocking.

To answer I don't. For reasons explained above.

The Vikings was a darn good movie