The Barony of Stonemarche invites you to A Market Day at Birka XXXIII!
January 26-28, 2024 at the Doubletree Hotel in Manchester, NH.
Greetings Friends!
Come get out of the cold for the largest shopping event of the year! Merchants have come from near and far to tempt you with their wares. They will set out their enticing merchandise for you to peruse, and maybe lighten your purse a little. 😉
We’ll have our usual activities fencing, fighting, youth fighting and youth activities. Along with order and guild meetings, an A&S display, the famous Birka Fashion Show, bardic circle, a ball and Hafla. We have been asked to host a Largess Challenge on behalf of Their Royal Highnesses and the East Kingdom. More information will be available on the website.
We have been working with other local hotels to get room blocks. We have several hotels with room block available now and we’ll be updating additional blocks as soon as they become available. Check out the Hotel page to see what’s available along with other local hotels.
Please join us as we ignore the cold, snow and ice outdoors, and have a fantastic time with our friends!
Visiting Royalty
We would like to extend a warm welcome to Their Royal Majesties King Baldric Leeman of NewCastle Emlyn and Queen Breyla La Viennette, and Their Royal Graces Tara, 3rd of her name, Queen of Acre by right of arms, and her Royal Consort and champion Damien, 3rd of his name, King of Acre
The Story of Birka
A Market Day at Birka is sponsored by the Barony of Stonemarche, the New Hampshire chapter of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. (“SCA”), a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the historical study of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.
The historical inspiration for this event is the town of Birka, which flourished in Sweden on Björkö Island in Lake Mälar during the 9th and 10th centuries. During its heyday it was a great trading center for the Vikings and travelers from the Nordic world, and goods could be purchased there from throughout Europe as well as much of Asia. It was also the location of the first Christian congregation in Sweden, founded in 831 by St. Ansgar, where Christians and pagans lived side by side in peace. Birka and the nearby town of Hovgården were added to the World Heritage List in 1993 as well preserved examples of the Vikings’ trading networks during the two centuries (700-900) when they expanded economically and politically in Europe. Birka is one of the most complete and untouched Viking Age trading sites from this period. We celebrate the heritage of Birka today in an SCA context with our own market day. Enjoy!