But over time the alphabet was simplified, as is common in many languages, and from the 8 th century onwards they used the 16-character Younger Futhark alphabet. From about the 2 nd to the 8 th centuries they used Elder Futhark, a 24-character runic alphabet. When used intentionally as part of a Pagan wedding ritual, including Viking weddings, runes are said to bless a marriage with wealth and good health, fertility, wisdom and strength, protection from evil outside forces, and years of love and happiness. The Vikings used a runic alphabet as their form of writing. You may even see them placed on the walls or floors of a wedding venue as part of casting a circle. You’ll find runes printed on wedding invitations, etched into wedding bands, wedding crowns, and pieces of heirloom jewelry, and painted on wedding altars and arches. (See Handfasting Ceremony Scripts and Pagan Weddings Scripts in our Library) Runes can be engraved on wedding bands or wedding swordsīecause of their symbolism and visual beauty, as well as their role in Pagan ritual and magic, runes are frequently seen at Viking weddings as part of the marriage rite, and at Wiccan and Pagan handfastings.

They have since been used by Wiccans, Hedge Witches, Neo Druids, Heathens and other modern Pagans.Įach character represents a sound which can be placed together to spell words and create a story, or read on its own to symbolize a unique concept, object, or action. They were carved into stone and metal for protection, ritual magic, casting and divination, vengeance, and to share stories of harvest, gods, and battle.įirst used by Germanic and Scandinavian peoples, including the Vikings in northern Europe, it’s speculated that the Futhark runes became popular in the first or second century A.D. These runes are known by scholars as the Elder Futhark, and are thought to be one of the oldest forms of runic alphabet. Norse runes are powerful symbols with an ancient and magical history. Norse runes can be used in Pagan wedding decor, on the ceremony altar, added to invitations, and more

Elder futhark rune circle