Disting
A scene from the disting of 2008 The Disting ( Swedish pronunciation: [ˈdiːsˌtɪŋː] ) is an annual market which is held in Uppsala, Sweden, since pre-historic times. The name (Old Swedish: Disæþing [1] or Disaþing [2] ) originally referred to the great assembly called the Thing of all Swedes, [1] and it is derived from the fact that both the market and the thing were held in conjunction with the Dísablót, [1] the great blóts (sacrifices) for female powers called dísir (they include the Norns [3] and the Valkyries [4] ) at the Temple at Uppsala. They were all originally held at the end of February or in early March. [1] The Icelandic historian Snorri Sturluson, who was well-informed of Swedish matters and visited the country in 1219, [5] explained in the Heimskringla (1225): In Svithjod [6] it was the old custom, as long as heathenism prevailed, that the chief sacrifice took place in Goe month [7] at Upsala. Then sacrifice was offered for peace, and victory to the...