Kristin Lavransdatter

When Kristin marries Erlend, she is adorned with a wedding crown made of flowers and leaves. This laurel wreath is a traditional symbol in Norwegian marriages; everyone in the congregation understands the significance of the crown, which denotes the bride’s virginal purity on the day of the marriage. When she is taken into the bed chamber at the end of the night, for example, the crown is removed as a symbolic acknowledgement of the loss of virginity. The symbolic importance of the crown has a broader symbolism in the context of the society. These shared symbols illustrate the unified Christian symbolism of the region and the way in which traditional pagan practices, such as the laurel wreath, have been incorporated into the rituals of Christianity. The crown and its symbolism are not to be found in the Bible. Instead, the crown represents The Tension Between Pagan and Christian Beliefs, merging to form a syncretic, Norwegian interpretation of Christianity. The broad understanding of the symbolism of the crown represents the extent to which this blend of religions has become the culture of Norway. The crown symbolizes marriage, not only between Kristin and Erlend, but between the past and the present, between Christianity and something much older.