18/12/2024, by aezcr

2. Christmas, a time for family… and killing

Given the number of festive passages in the saga, some only passing references to the time of year, we know that Christmas loomed large and punctuated the year. It was, as we have seen, a time for great lords to show generosity and to be seen showing that largess. In one passing reference to Christmas in chapter 61 we learn that the

‘following winter, as it approached Christmas, Jón prepared to leave home… and let it be known that he was making a visit to his mother’s father, Hárekr’.

We might be tempted to see this as a touching visit at Christmas to see his maternal grandfather. But Jón seems to have had other plans to go on and surprise two of his enemies Sǫlmundr and Kolr, not with presents, but to kill them.

If Christmas was a time for feasting, carousing and coming together, then it might also be a time to catch your enemies off guard.

Tune in tomorrow for episode 3! ‘. Christmas preparations, a time for family… and killing (the family)’.

Matthew Blake

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