Schoolchildren honor their dead goldfish with a fiery Viking-style sendoff to Valhalla
The children of the Papdale Primary School in Kirkwall, Orkney, decided that a toilet bowl funeral wasn't good enough for their beloved class pets -- two goldfish named Bubbles and Freddy. Instead, they decided to give the fish the fiery Viking-style sendoff they deserved.
The Primary 3 and 4 classes received Bubbles and Freddy for Christmas. Unfortunately, the pair died after a few short months.
Luckily for the dead fish (and the internet), the children were learning about Vikings the week of the untimely deaths of Bubbles and Freddy.
Inspired by the significance of a Viking burial -- reserved for the most important in the community -- the children crafted Viking long ships out of cardboard to see their goldfish off to Valhalla.
Before the ceremonial burning, the children took turns reading out dedications to Bubbles and Freddy.
One schoolboy said, "Now they're mini ghosts rest in Valhalla. We will always remember them."
While the children were sad about the death of their class pets, the ceremony helped them cope with the loss.
"It was really exciting when we saw the boat burst into flames," said the children. "It was pretty epic. We know they died, but we got to see them to go the place that they would have wanted. It made us feel a bit better when we saw them leaving for Valhalla, because they will be safe with the Viking Gods."
Teacher Corey Eddington said she enjoyed giving Bubbles and Freddy a Viking farewell.
"The children were initially upset when they heard the fish had died, but the Viking sendoff gave a really positive spin on the experience, and although we will really miss Bubbles and Freddy - what a way to remember them!"
