Gæðaþáttum
**Gæðaþáttum** (Old Norse for "good deeds" or "virtuous actions") refers to the concept of performing acts of kindness, charity, and moral goodness in Norse and Viking culture. This idea was deeply embedded in the social and ethical frameworks of the Scandinavian societies during the Viking Age (roughly 8th to 11th centuries) and later influenced medieval Scandinavian values.
The practice of gæðaþáttum was not merely an individual act but often a communal or familial obligation.
Gæðaþáttum could take many forms, including providing food and shelter to travelers, aiding the poor, or offering
In modern interpretations, gæðaþáttum is often invoked as a reminder of the importance of altruism and ethical