During ancient times the funerary rituals of Northmen of high standing involved an elaborate send off with much pomp and ceremony. Where the remains was clothed it his finest war cloths and weapons, was then placed in the center of a long boat with all the trappings to accompany him into the other world. Often a woman usually his wife, would volunteer to go into the other world with him. The long boat was then set adrift, as those congragated for the funeral repeated and chanted:

"Low do I see my father.
Low do I see my mother, my sisters and my brothers.
Low do I see the line of my people back to the beginning.
Low do they beckon to me to take my place in the halls of Valhalla to dwell with the brave forever."

A number of archers would fire flamming arrows into the long boat as it drifted into the center of the river or sea, setting it a blaze.

As the long boat is consumed in flames: Odin sends his nine [handmadians] Valkyrs down to bring the warrior back to Valhalla, where he shall dwell with the brave until the end of time.