Winterfylleth Feast

Fires were lit to symbolize the heat, light and life-giving properties of the sun. The food was cooked over the fire in the middle of the house; meat was roasted and eaten with bread. Among the more important rituals associated with the mead-hall, ritual drinking had great significance to the Eorlingas during feast. Hosted by a lord or king, an organized banquet would be prepared for guests or favored retainers. Women played a ceremonial role at the banquet, carrying the ceremonial drinking vessel to the king and each of his guests in the hall. There was usually only one cup, which everyone shared. Making speeches (boasting, or “oral resumes”) and gift-giving often went hand-in-hand with this ritual. The lord or king would often bestow gifts and praise upon his valiant warriors through a very ritualistic reward system. Young men, those yet untried in battle, would receive weapons as gifts which they would then be expected to use in defense of the gift-giver. These kinds of rituals helped to maintain hierarchy and allegiance in Eorlingas society.