Household goods for winter travel and leisure in Norway : objects, games and processes of enculturation

Abstract

In this paper, we shed new light on winter travel; our point of departure is the household goods related to medieval winter transportation in Scandinavia. Because most areas lacked cart roads, there was a network of trails between farms and hamlets, and waterways were exploited wherever possible, using boats in the summer and sleighs and skis or ice skates during the long winter months. Medieval winter transportation made use of some very well-suited equipment – skis, bone skates, sleighs and snowshoes and ice cleats for both people and horses – all of which made winter travel not only possible, but often a preferred way of transport and communication. Skiing and skating were not only a fast way of traveling, they were fun. However, the winters could be harsh, and environmental knowledge, physical fitness and technical abilities were essential preconditions for safe travel in wintertime. Children could acquire this knowledge and these abilities by way of enculturation. Through games and leisure activities children would learn to master different conditions, as well as skills for travel, hunting, cooperation and teamwork. Processes of enculturation and socialisation through play and games served to introduce children to the social ideals and norms of society, while conditioning them for both the hardships of life in Scandinavian agrarian society and safe winter travel.