**Spoiler Warning**
History Vikings star Katheryn Winnick portrays the badass Shieldmaiden Lagertha in the hit TV show, and for years her character has brought joy, inspiration, and confidence to fans around the globe.
It seems only fitting that the character and actor should be forever immortalized in some way, and a company in Portland, Oregon called Wyrd Leather and Mead has done just that – by dedicating an official mead in their production line to Lagertha and Katheryn Winnick.
And that’s not all! The Canadian Actress has even reported back to the company via Twitter on what her favorite berry is, so it would seem that the Viking Queen of Kattegat herself has some small collaboration in this new product!
Wyrd Leather and Mead is located in the Pacific Northwest within the town of Portland, Oregon and their brick and mortar shop has many things from making mead in their attached meadery, to handmade leather armor, to local artists on consignment. The shop has it all!
They can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter by just a few clicks on their website. The company has begun shipping their mead as well.
The running title for their new mead inspired by Katheryn Winnick’s beloved Shieldmaiden is “Lagertha’s Oath” and should be completed in 2020.
Follow their page for more updates.
Probably the world’s oldest alcoholic drink, mead is essentially fermented honey and water and has a long and glorious history.
It is referenced in the ancient cultures of China, India, Greece and Egypt. The earliest documentary evidence suggest that a fermented honey beverage was drunk in India some 4000 years ago. The ancient Greeks called mead ambrosia or nectar and it was believed to be the drink of the gods, descended from the Heavens as dew, before being gathered in by the bees.
Because of this belief, it is easy to see why the ancients thought mead had magical and sacred properties and would prolong life, bestow health, strength, virility, re-creative powers, wit and poetry.
Closer to home the legends from Germany, Norway and the Celts have gods and mortals alike knocking back mead from cow horns, goblets or ceremonial vessels, often bestowing magical powers and ritual importance. Celtic mythology tells of a river of mead running through paradise, while the Anglo-Saxon culture held mead up as the bestower of immortality, poetry and knowledge.
Lagertha, who started out as a simple farmer/once Shieldmaiden with her husband Ragnar has risen to become an internatinal icon for women to look up to, someone to be inspired by, and to teach people to fight and keep fighting even when life can be difficult.
“Lagertha has been an iconic character for so many young women and girls from all around the world. And I think that there hasn’t been a character like her on TV yet, that is not only strong but also vulnerable, and a warrior but also a mother, and a shieldmaiden and now a grandmother. She’s one that a lot of people look up to around the world and I think her legacy is really leaving the world a better place. And she’s one of the first early members, I guess, of the Time’s Up movement and really believes in feminism and equality and sticking up for women’s rights. And I hope her legacy lives on for years to come.”
– Katheryn Winnick (Lagertha)
For six long seasons, Lagertha has been a strong role model emblazoned in the hearts of many (especially for women), surely earning her spot in Valhalla when that day should come.
“Who knows, Ragnar, what the gods have in store for us. But this, I can never imagine. If you have gone to Heaven, then we will never meet again. And yet, I think Odin will ride like the wind, and rescue you, and take you to Valhalla, where you belong, my own sweet Ragnar. And there, there we shall meet again, and fight and drink and… love one another.”
-Lagertha (Katheryn Winnick)
Lagertha met her fate in last weeks episode “Death and the Serpent” during an amazing chilling performance by a skald in the halls of Kattegat singing a Lament for Lagertha (Song of the Goat Theatre) while a few hundred yards away the real Lagertha stumbled in the rain returning back home injured form her current battle.
Lagertha’s impact on the show for both the characters within and the people watching was received in worldwide mourning for the fallen Shieldmaiden, as she received a spectacular funeral during this week’s episode “The Ice Maiden” , where characters said their goodbyes, how she inspired them, and who she was. A particularly moving speech was spoken by her son Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig) in quiet sorrow as he watched his mother leave the realm of mortals forever .
“I hoped the day would never come when I’d have to bid you farewell. You were always my strength, my guide. You taught me to go on no matter what. You taught me not to be afraid. And now I see that, like me, the Earth itself isn’t willing to let you go. But the gods call you home. They eagerly await your arrival in Valhalla, as does my father. I wish I could be there at your reunion, secretly in Odin’s glittering, gold, shielded hall surrounded by all the gods. You were already a legend, the greatest shield maiden of all time. A hero to thousands of women. But to me you will always be my mother, who bore me, who raised me, who protected and fought for me. And I swear I will fight for you now. I could not protect you in life, but I can punish your murderer after it. Farewell. I have loved you more than I have loved any other. Farewell, Lagertha. Farewell. I love you. I will miss you. I will avenge you”
-Bjorn Ironside (Alexander Ludwig)
After the final farewell, she was pulled out to sea across the beautiful frozen shore and snow covered ice by her loyal Shieldmaidens while peacefully residing in her burning Drekar.
” I ended up going to set and coming to prepare my directing debut and I came to my own funeral. And to see a prosthetic me lying there on the boat and all these hundreds of actors who are mourning over Lagertha, it was just so surreal. I felt like I was watching my own funeral. I actually had to leave. It was too emotionally hard for me to stay for that. So it was definitely something that I’ll always remember and cherish.”
Katheryn Winnick
During the scene, her very young granddaughter ran out and gazed into the frozen depths and fans got to see how Lagertha ascended with the valkyries, her age reversing, and viewers instantly were thrown back in reminiscence to where the show all started with Lagertha and Ragnar.
In the end, Lagertha reunited with her beloved Ragnar, despite the many years apart. Their relationship was not an easy one, and yet their fates once more reunite in peaceful slumber.
Hail Lagertha, Mother of Norway and Shieldmaiden Queen of Kattegat.
Thank you Katheryn Winnick for the amazing performance over the years.
We hope you will share a picture of yourself with the new Lagertha Mead soon to come.
Skål
The Obsidian Crow 