CHAPTER XVI. 



FEASTS, ENTERTAINMENTS. 



Coiiviviality of the Northmen Kecital of poems and sagas at the feasts 

 Music Arrangement of the hall Splendour of the table decorations 

 Plainness of the food Order of precedence The custom of drawing lots 

 for places of honour Entertainment of the guest by high-born maidens 

 Presents given at the end of the feast Heavy drinking Viking 

 customs Manners at table General hospitality of the people Waiting 

 at table. 



IN reading the Sagas we are particularly struck at the number 

 of feasts which marked the life of the Northmen. Every 

 event the least above the common was celebrated in this 

 fashion, a fashion which has by no means disappeared from 

 among the Norsemen's descendants. On the occasion of such 

 feasts, the houses and halls were prepared in the most elaborate 

 manner ; tapestry and embroidered cloths were hung on the 

 walls, and spread over the benches. Poems and Sagas were 

 recited, and music \\us also occasionally introduced. Among 

 other stringed instruments, the Sagas mention as used at 

 feasts, were, besides the harp, the fidla (probably fiddle) and 

 gigja (also probably a kind of fiddle). 



In some cases as soon as the dishes had been put on the 

 table the enjoyment of the repast was heightened by music. 



" When King Olaf of Sweden came to the table he asked 

 where lawman E in mid was. On hearing that he was at home 

 at his lodgings, he said : ' Go after him, he shall be my guest 

 to-day.' Thereupon the dishes were brought in, and after- 

 wards players with harps and gigjar entered " (St. Olaf's Saga, 

 c. 96). 



Harald Fairhair and Eirik Eymundsson of Sweden were 

 at a feast with the powerful bondi Aki in Vermaland. 



" Aki owned a large and old feast-hall ; he had a new hall 

 made ; it was as large as the other, and very well made ; he 

 had it covered all over with new hangings, and the old hall 



