January 31 is Valkyries Day in the Norse countries. It celebrates the Valkyries, the warrior maidens of Norse mythology. These spritely, yet powerful ladies were the warrior maidens of the god, Odin. They precided over battles and gently led the fallen to the Norse afterlife in Valhalla.
The Valkyries are perhaps best know for their appearance in Richard Wagner’s “Flight of the Valkyries,” a part of his “Ring of the Nieblung” cycle. I happen to love this piece. Listen below as the Berlin Philharmonic performs “Flight of the Valkyries”: