ANST - RE: ANST-Alcohol Traditions

John Ruble jruble at urocor.com
Mon May 4 07:11:46 PDT 1998


Gunnora spake:
{snip}
> The sumbel was a joint activity. Those participating came and sat
> together,
> usually within a chieftain's hall. It was often referred to as a drinking
> feast, where ale, beer or mead might be served in a ceremonial cup (such
> as
> the kåsa), and passed from hand to hand around the hall. The recipient of
> the cup made a toast, oath, or boast, or he might sing a song or recite a
> story before drinking and passing the cup along. While referred to as a
> "feast," the sumbel did not include food, but might precede or follow a
> meal. A sumbel was solemn in the sense of having deep significance and
> importance to the participants, but was not a grim or dour ceremony -
> indeed, at Hrothgar's sumbel in Beowulf, "...there was laughter of the
> men,
> noise sounded, the words were winsome." 
> 
> However, as the quotes from Hávamál above clearly show, it was considered
> poor form to become drunk at the sumbel. Taking drink from the ceremonial
> cup might be thought of as symbolizing the divine inspiration given to
> Óðinn by the Mead of Poetry, and the Allfather had much to say in Havamal
> about overdrinking:
{snip}

Thank you, Gunnora, for educating the barbarians in the civilized practices
of our kinsmen.  That was a well done article.

-Ulf

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