The Mead-Hall: The Feasting Tradition in Anglo-Saxon England

by Stephen Pollington

Communal meals were an important part of Anglo-Saxon society. They were enjoyed by nobles and yeomen, warriors, farmers, churchmen and laity. Some of the feasts were informal communal gatherings (gebeorscipe) while others were formal ritual gatherings (symbel). Using the evidence of Old English texts - including the epic Beowulf and the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles - Stephen Pollington shows that the idea of feasting remained central to early English social traditions long after the physical reality had declined in importance. The words of the poets and saga-writers are supported by a wealth of archaeological data dealing with halls, settlement layouts and the magnificent feasting gear found in many early Anglo-Saxon graves. The volume includes three Hall-themes in Old English verse; Old English texts; The structure and origins of the warband.

Genres: History, Reference, Nonfiction, British Literature, Paganism, Food, Anglo Saxon

288 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2003

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive overview of anglo saxon England social life with the mead hall as the center focus and lense, Pollington brings a detailed book covering a wide range of topics from ideological, political, material (both furniture utensils as well as gifts in the hospitality sense) and food culture to up and including the warband and kinship systems. Various drawings are added to make things more easy to imagine as are many references and quotes to Beowulf and the Bayeux tapestry.

But I don't think it is a fun read, he tends to jump from subject to subject making connections as he goes making it hard to keep track of any narrative or even chapter subject/focus. As study material yes but not as casual reading.

[Alia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Muy interesante, lleno de datos curiosos y anécdotas y contado con agilidad.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

A big topic even if the evidence has to be pieced together from archaeological digs and literary remains. To be sure virtually every surviving piece of Anglo-Saxon literature does have some evidence about the matter.

It covers the feast itself, and who did what, from the seating of the guests to the lady's giving the drink. The social structure behind it -- kinship was counted on both sides, so there were not cohesive kinship groups. The great loyalty was to the lord. Accounts of fighting depicted warriors refusing to refrain from battle with their kin on the grounds that they were fighting for their lord. And wereguild could be paid for murder, but not for treachery.

And what the hall looked like. And what sort of metaphorical usages it had -- including religious, there are arguments about whether some passages are religious or not, but it was a central idiom.

Food and clothing and dishes. And what positions from the lord to the servants were instrumental in the hall. And what sorts of entertainment you could have from music and stories and riddles to board games.

Interesting stuff.

[Gunnar Runa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Mead hall is excellent,
Steven Pollington has written this book in such a way that anyone interested in this subject can gain an understanding of the importance of the mead hall in the Anglo Saxon age, You don't need to be a scholar or have a degree in anthropology to follow along,
as a practicing Heathen it really helps to understand the reasons and importance of holding a symbel feast, and how the ancients and Ancestors viewed it,
Pollington has shown me sound reasoning and expertise in this field of study, If you are interested in A.S. studies then this book is a must! If I could have given it 10 stars I would have happily done so,
This book is now a treasured part of my growing library!

[Ryan Kriste · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book and essential for anyone interested in Germanic culture, although it is a bit exhaustive for the casual reader. Being a good sized book on a subject with very little surviving historical descriptions, every possible angle is explored which makes it fascinating. It allows one to examine your own contemporary approaches to food, drink and socialising and how we can rediscover the attitudes of our illustrious ancestors. As my father-in-law says, "culture is eating"!

[Kathy Duffy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a ton of excellent information presented in this book and the author made the material easy to read while given a depth and breadth of information. The architecture of the mead-hall, the importance of gifting and even the vessels used at the table was discussed. The comparisons to various literary pieces from the middle ages and their importance in understanding the history of this time period was very well done. I gained a great deal of knowledge from this title.

[Heather Jones · Rating 4 out of 5]

This makes a nice companion volume to Ann Hagen’s work on Anglo-Saxon foodstuffs. Polligton’s book focuses more on the physical environment of A-S dining: the furniture, the arrangement of the hall, the social organization around eating.

[Sid Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete picture- the starting point for so many good things. Everyone who is focusing on Dark Ages reenactment needs to read this. Heathens need to read this. Pagans need to read this.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good archeology book about cooking and feasting in Anglo-Saxon times.

[Adam Gedge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another superb reference book, filled in depth information.