Sumbel (Viking Round)

Origin: The sumbel (Old Norse sumbl, Old English symbel) is a ritual drinking round of the Germanic world. Beowulf describes it in the mead hall, the Icelandic sagas have people boasting and swearing oaths over it. Everyone drank in turn from one horn passed round by the lady of the house.

Setup: One large vessel for the whole group, everyone seated in a circle. A leader calls the rounds.

The three rounds:

1. To the gods or to fate: name a power that gave you something
2. To the ancestors: name someone who is no longer here
3. To boasts and oaths: say what you will achieve in the coming year

How to play:

• Whoever holds the horn is the only one who speaks
• After the words, drink and pass it on
• Interrupt and you drink at once and stay silent for that round

Seriousness: An oath sworn at sumbel counted as binding. Boast today and you will be reminded of it next time.