A proposal has been launched to twin Wootton Courtenay with a village in Denmark, with the intention of broadening cultural links with Scandinavia. The village of Volapyk in southern Denmark was approached a few weeks ago, and the inhabitants appear enthusiastic about the idea. After discussions, their spokesman, Tro Sludder, said Volapyk’s villagers would like to donate a mascot to Wootton Courtenay as part of the twinning process. He suggested an prize-winning pig would be appropriate (to reflect his country’s Danish bacon industry), and he has even gone so far as to choose a suitably colossal candidate, bred at a farm near Wellington. The pig is to be called Woden.
Woden will be fed on villagers’ scraps and donations, but his living quarters are yet to be arranged. Volapyk has a tradition in which villagers kiss a pig’s nose for good luck, so Tro will be encouraging us all to give Woden a little peck on the snout whenever we see him. The expectation is that our mascot will take part in village events and represent Wootton Courtenay further afield too. His official regalia will be designed and crafted by Exmoor artisans, and will include representations of Wootton Courtenay villagers’ many quirky talents.
The village twinning, to be finalised this summer, will be commemorated with a toast in our village hall, where participants will stand on chairs (those who can get up there) and down a glass of Svin Fjols, a Danish drink of strong liquor described as “pungent and sour, with notes of parmesan and satsuma”, followed by canapés of pickled herrings on squares of rye bread – all in all, not for the faint-hearted! Woden will be allowed the rye bread/herring leftovers afterwards, in a Danish mix known as kortni. ‘Woden kortni’, if you will.
Click here to see our new and magnificently substantial friend – Woden.
Marion Jay
Wootton Courtenay 