Runes in everyday life – how the Vikings used their writing

Runes are more than just ancient symbols carved in stone. For the Vikings, they were a living language , a way to remember, communicate, and even influence the world. The Younger Futhark – the Viking Age runic alphabet – was used in everything from everyday messages to magical rituals.

In this post, we will go over how the runes were really used in the everyday lives of the Vikings, far beyond the monumental runestones.

What were runes for?

Runes were the Vikings' own writing system . They were used from around 700 to 1100 AD and consisted of 16 characters , which was a simplified version of the Elder Futhark with 24 runes.

The runes were carved with a knife or chisel on hard materials – wood, bone, metal or stone . The shape of the characters was adapted to be carved into hard surfaces, which is why runes almost always consist of straight lines.

Runes in everyday life

Although the runestones are best known, runes were used everywhere in everyday life . Finds from cities such as Birka, Sigtuna and Bergen show that runes were carved on everything from wooden sticks to spoons and jewelry.

1. Ownership markings

Runes were used to mark possessions . A simple inscription might read:

“Þorfast owns this knife.”

It functioned as a nameplate – a way to show who owned an object, or perhaps who made it.

2. Messages and love letters

In Bergen, archaeologists have found hundreds of rune sticks with everyday messages – everything from shopping lists to love letters:

“Kiss me when you see this.”

It shows that runes were not just for ceremonial occasions – they were a living language in people's everyday lives .

3. Trade and travel

The Vikings were skilled traders, and runes were used in economic and practical contexts . Weights, coins, and goods were sometimes engraved with signs that showed who had traded or where the goods came from .

Runes could also function as travel notes – a short inscription that told someone that they had been to a certain place, for example “Toke was here” (much like early graffiti).

Runes as magic and protection

The runes didn't just have linguistic meaning – they also had spiritual and magical power .

According to Norse mythology, it was Odin who discovered the runes after hanging for nine nights in Yggdrasil, the world tree. Therefore, the runes were considered sacred .

They were carved on amulets, weapons and ships to provide:

• Protection in battle
• Good luck on your trip or hunt
• Birth wealth or love

Some runes were considered to have special power. For example:

• ᚦ ( Thurs ) – strength and defense
• ᛒ ( Bjarkan ) – fertility and renewal
• ᛏ ( Týr ) – victory and justice

Runes were thus both letters and symbols of energy.

Runes on wood – Vikings' text messages

Many people believe that runes were only carved into stone, but most runic texts were actually carved on wooden sticks . These runic sticks could be sent as short messages , almost like today's text messages.

Finds from Bryggen in Bergen show messages such as:

“Buy me fish”
“Come home now”
“I love you”

It's easy to recognize yourself – the language and emotions are universal, even a thousand years later.

Runes as memory

When someone died, a runestone could be erected to honor the deceased.
The runestone became a combination of epitaph, memorial, and work of art.

They often tell:

• Who erected the stone?
• Who it was raised over
• What deeds the person has done

Example:
“Thor erected the stone after his brother Ulf, who died in England. God help his soul.”

The runestone made memory eternal – a public story in stone that could be read for generations.

Runes today

Today, the runes have been given a new lease of life. They are used in:

• Designs and tattoos
• Fantasy literature and games
• Research and archaeology

But they still carry the same mystique. Each rune is both a sound and a symbol , an echo from a time when writing itself was considered magical.