Sumbel: Sacred Toasting Ceremony

BY NICOLE LAU

Introduction to Sumbel

Sumbel (also spelled symbel, Old English symbel, Old Norse sumbl) is a sacred ritual drinking ceremony central to Norse and Anglo-Saxon Heathen practice. More than mere social drinking, sumbel is a powerful spiritual practice where words spoken over the horn weave wyrd (fate), create sacred bonds, and honor gods, ancestors, and heroes.

For modern Heathens, sumbel represents one of the most accessible yet profound ritual practices—a ceremony where community is built, oaths are sworn, boasts are made, and the threads of fate are woven through the power of spoken word and shared drink.

Historical Sumbel

In pre-Christian Germanic and Scandinavian cultures, the ritual drinking ceremony was a central social and religious practice:

Historical Context

• Held in the mead hall, the heart of community life
• Led by the chieftain or host
• Drinking horn passed in ritual order
• Toasts made to gods, ancestors, and the host
• Oaths and boasts spoken over the horn
• Words spoken were considered binding and fate-weaving

Literary Evidence

Sumbel appears throughout Old English and Norse literature:

• Beowulf - Multiple sumbel scenes in Heorot hall
• Prose Edda - Describes ritual toasting at Aegir's feast
• Saga literature - Numerous examples of formal drinking ceremonies

The Structure of Sumbel

While practices vary, most sumbel follow a traditional three-round structure:

Round One: The Gods

The first round honors the gods and goddesses:

• Participants toast specific deities
• Speak the god's name and deeds
• Ask for blessings or give thanks
• Common toasts: Odin, Thor, Freyr, Freyja

Round Two: The Ancestors and Heroes

The second round honors those who came before:

• Toast personal ancestors
• Honor cultural heroes and legendary figures
• Remember the honored dead
• Acknowledge those whose deeds inspire us

Round Three: Personal Oaths and Boasts

The third round is for personal declarations:

• Oaths - Sacred promises made before gods and community
• Boasts - Declarations of deeds accomplished or intended
• Toasts - Honoring living people or personal matters
• Gifts - Verbal gifts of praise or poetry

Additional Rounds

Many sumbel continue beyond three rounds:

• Open rounds where participants speak as moved
• Rounds dedicated to specific themes
• Rounds for storytelling or poetry
• Continues until the horn has made its rounds

The Sacred Horn

The drinking horn is the central ritual object of sumbel:

Symbolism

• Represents the Well of Wyrd from which fate is drawn
• Connects participants to ancestral practice
• Serves as conduit for sacred speech
• Embodies the gifting cycle as it passes hand to hand

Practical Considerations

• Traditional: Actual drinking horn (cattle, buffalo, etc.)
• Modern alternatives: Ceremonial cup, chalice, or bowl
• Should be dedicated to ritual use
• Passed sunwise (clockwise) around the circle
• Each person holds the horn while speaking

The Power of Words in Sumbel

In Norse cosmology, spoken words have tremendous power:

Wyrd-Weaving

Words spoken in sumbel are believed to weave wyrd (fate):

• Oaths create binding obligations
• Boasts set intentions that shape future
• Toasts strengthen or create relationships
• All words spoken become part of orlog (primal law)

Witnessed by Gods and Community

Sumbel words are not private but witnessed:

• The gods hear what is spoken
• The community holds you accountable
• Your reputation (Old Norse: orð) is shaped by your words
• Breaking sumbel oaths brings shame and consequences

The Weight of Speech

This creates a culture of careful, intentional speech:

• Don't make oaths you can't keep
• Don't boast of deeds you haven't done or won't do
• Speak truth, not empty words
• Your word is your bond

Types of Sumbel Speech

Toasts (Minni)

Minni ("memory" or "remembrance") are toasts honoring gods, ancestors, or others:

• "Hail Odin, Allfather, seeker of wisdom!"
• "To my grandmother, whose strength lives in me"
• "In memory of those who walked this path before us"

Oaths (Heitstrenging)

Heitstrenging are sacred oaths sworn before the gods and community:

• Must be specific and achievable
• Create binding obligation
• Breaking oath-breaking brings shame
• Examples: "I swear to complete my training by Midsummer" or "I oath to support my kindred through the coming year"

Boasts (Gilp)

Gilp are declarations of deeds done or intended:

• Past boasts: "I have completed my rune study"
• Future boasts: "I will run the marathon this spring"
• Not empty bragging but public commitment
• Community expects you to fulfill your boast

Gifts (Gifu)

Verbal gifts of praise, poetry, or blessing:

• Praising another's deeds
• Offering poetry or song
• Giving blessing or well-wishes
• Strengthening bonds through generous speech

Sumbel Etiquette and Protocol

The Thyle's Role

The thyle (ritual challenger) may be appointed to:

• Challenge inappropriate or false speech
• Ensure oaths are properly made
• Maintain the sacred nature of the ceremony
• Question boasts that seem empty or impossible

Proper Conduct

• Listen respectfully when others speak
• Don't interrupt the person holding the horn
• Speak clearly and with intention
• Don't make light of sacred matters
• Honor the gods and ancestors with reverence
• Keep oaths and boasts realistic
• Support others in their declarations

What Not to Do

• Don't make oaths while intoxicated
• Don't use sumbel for gossip or negativity
• Don't dishonor others in your speech
• Don't break the sacred nature with inappropriate humor
• Don't speak if you have nothing meaningful to say (passing is acceptable)

What to Drink

Traditional Choices

• Mead - The most traditional, associated with poetry and inspiration
• Ale or beer - Common and historically accurate
• Wine - Acceptable, though less traditional

Modern Adaptations

• Non-alcoholic mead or cider - For those who don't drink alcohol
• Juice or water - Perfectly acceptable; the ritual is what matters
• Coffee or tea - Some modern groups use these

Alcohol Considerations

• Sumbel can become lengthy; pace yourself
• The sacred nature matters more than intoxication
• Have non-alcoholic options available
• Never pressure anyone to drink alcohol
• Arrange safe transportation if needed

Solo Sumbel Practice

While traditionally communal, sumbel can be practiced alone:

Personal Sumbel Structure

• Set up sacred space with altar
• Pour drink into horn or cup
• Make toasts to gods, ancestors, personal matters
• Speak oaths or boasts aloud (words have power even alone)
• Pour libation after each round
• Close with thanks to those honored

Benefits of Solo Practice

• Regular devotional practice
• Privacy for personal oaths
• Flexibility in timing and focus
• Building relationship with gods and ancestors

Sumbel and Community Building

Sumbel is one of the most powerful community-building practices in Heathenry:

Creating Bonds

• Shared vulnerability in public oath-making
• Witnessing each other's commitments
• Supporting one another's goals
• Building trust through consistent practice

Establishing Frith

Frith (peace and right relationship) is strengthened through sumbel:

• Speaking well of one another
• Honoring shared values
• Creating mutual obligations
• Weaving the community's wyrd together

Seasonal and Occasional Sumbel

Holiday Sumbel

• Yule Sumbel - Honoring ancestors and the returning light
• Midsummer Sumbel - Celebrating the sun's power
• Winter Nights Sumbel - Remembering the dead and harvest

Life Event Sumbel

• Wedding Sumbel - Honoring the couple and their union
• Funeral Sumbel (Erfasumbel) - Remembering the deceased
• Name-giving Sumbel - Welcoming new members
• Coming of age Sumbel - Marking transitions

The Difference Between Sumbel and Blót

While both are central Heathen practices, they serve different purposes:

• Blót focuses on offerings to gods/spirits and receiving blessings
• Sumbel focuses on community bonding and wyrd-weaving through speech
• Blót is primarily about the divine-human relationship
• Sumbel is primarily about human-human relationships (witnessed by divine)
• Both can be combined in a single ceremony

Modern Variations

Themed Sumbel

• All rounds dedicated to one deity
• Ancestor-focused sumbel
• Poetry and storytelling sumbel
• Gratitude-focused rounds

Adapted Structures

• Four rounds instead of three
• Open format with no set rounds
• Silent rounds for meditation
• Combined with other rituals

Conclusion

Sumbel is a deceptively simple yet profoundly powerful practice. Through the ritual passing of the horn and the speaking of sacred words, we weave wyrd, build community, honor the gods and ancestors, and bind ourselves to our highest intentions.

In sumbel, we remember that words have power, that oaths are sacred, that community witnesses and supports our commitments, and that we are all connected in the web of wyrd. We speak, and the gods listen. We boast, and we are held accountable. We oath, and we are bound.

The horn is passed. The words are spoken. The wyrd is woven. This is sumbel—the sacred ceremony where speech becomes fate, where community becomes kindred, where the ancient practice lives again in modern voices.

Hail the gods! Hail the ancestors! Hail the community! Wassail!