sumbel

Sumbel, also spelled sumble or sumbl, is a ceremonial drinking gathering documented in Norse and other Germanic sources as a formal ritual for making toasts, uttering oaths, and reinforcing social bonds. The name derives from Old Norse sumbl, a term associated with ceremonial feasting and communal drinking. In historical accounts, sumbel was typically held in a mead hall and led by a chieftain or a respected member of the host group.

Historically, participants would drink from horns or cups in a set sequence, offering praise to the gods and to ancestors, heroes, or the community. To each toast, speakers might present a short memory, recount a deed, or declare vows to uphold kinship, laws, and obligations. The ritual could be combined with or followed by other rites, such as sacrifices or blót, and it functioned as a social and religious event that reinforced status, loyalty, and collective identity.

In modern practice, sumbel is kept alive in various Neopagan and Heathen communities, particularly among groups that follow revived Norse and Germanic traditions. Contemporary sumbel often retains the structure of staged toasts and vows, with participants calling on deities, ancestors, and community members, and sometimes including readings, music, or storytelling. While the form and emphasis vary among groups, sumbel generally serves as a formal occasion for ritual bonding, honoring lineage, and confirming commitments within the community.