Drinking Jól
When we think of Vikings, images come to mind of rowdy beer bashes with men in horned helmets guzzling drink provided by subservient women. There is no doubt that brewing mead and beer and drinking it was an important part of ancient Scandinavian life, but it had deep significance and followed a strict formal procedure. In fact, hosting beer celebrations was once required by law in Scandinavia.
The oldest written law we have from Norway is the Gulating law, recorded in the mid-12th century, after Norway had become Christian. This law stated that a “neighborhood ale” feast must be held by at least three householders in common. If a freeman with the means to do so failed to hold the ale feast at the appointed time, he was fined. If he was found guilty of allowing a year to pass without sharing in a neighborhood ale, his fine was three marks. If he failed to participate in the ale feast for three winters, he forfeited everything he owned and was banished from Norway.
Imbibing was considered a religious act, in fact, celebrating Jól was referred to as “drinking Jól.” The Christianized Gulating Law cites the required ale feasts were to be held before All Saints Day and another on Holy Night, to give thanks to Christ and Saint Mary for peace and a fruitful harvest. This is strongly reminiscent to the Jól feasts of pagan times when toasts were made to Odin for victory in war, to Freyr for peace and prosperity, and to the king. Lastly, the minni cup was drunk in remembrance of ancestors.
Ale parties also had legal status in many situations. Neighbors were invited to the ale feast as witnesses to events such as adopting illegitimate children into the family, divorces, or the liberation of a slave.
For some, status was conferred by hosting an ale feast. Quoting the Gulating Law: “If a freedman wishes to control his marriage and his business affairs, he shall give a freedom ale…and let him invite his master in the hearing of witnesses…” The freedman offered his or her master a ransom fee of 6 oras, and if the payment was accepted, the freedom ale was complete and the freedman gained full legal status. Whether or not a male or female freedman had given their freedom ale factored in child custody, inheritance, and division of goods.
Ale parties figured prominently in inheritance law. “When a man is dead, his heir shall take his place in the highseat; and he shall notify the creditors all to be present at the seventh-day [ale], when all shall receive what is owing them according to the testimony of witnesses.”
According to the Gulating Law, being able to attend a drinking party was one proof of competence: “So long as a man has his wits, knows how to manage his household and his business, and is able to ride a horse and to join in an ale feast, he shall have control of his property…”
Far from being subservient bar maids, women had an authoritative role in providing ale. The epic poem Beowulf makes it clear that the lady of the house established the status of everyone in the room by the order in which she served the attendees.
In Viking times, brewing was a sacred duty performed by women. They stirred the ale or mead with a brewstick carefully preserved and passed down the generations. These sticks were inoculated with wild yeast and hung to dry in the brewhouse after each use, but never washed. When the yeast became active, it was said that the bryggjeman, the álfar of the brew, were chattering.
There were several different types of fermented drinks in the Viking Age, from the small beer that was drunk every day, even by children, to the stronger ales and meads.
Viking Age ale and beer were flavored very differently than what we drink now. Hops did not come into common usage until medieval times. In the Viking Age, juniper berries were a common additive. It is thought that in some cases hallucinogenics may have been added, such as cannabis or henbane, and that this might be the cause of berserkergang (going berserk), an altered state of consciousness for warriors. The völva’s trance is also thought to result from the consumption of hallucinogens.
So if you imbibe this holiday season, know that you are partaking of an ancient custom with both spiritual and legal origins.