| With no TV, radio or even newspapers and books | | | | many riddles. Some are obscure and some lewd and |
| (for the most part) here are some ways that the | | | | suggestive. This one is straighter forward. |
| Anglo Saxons had fun in the dark evenings. | | | | On the wave a miracle: water turned to bone. |
| Indoor entertainment and feasts | | | | What is the answer? See at the end of this section. |
| There was a high degree of ceremony connected | | | | Games: |
| with feasts. It would start outside the hall. A horn | | | | The Anglo-Saxons were fond of dice games. Dice |
| was blown to summon the guests to table and the | | | | were made from the knuckle bones of animals such |
| host would great them at the door where there | | | | as pigs. Boardgames were also popular and often |
| would be a hand washing ceremony at the door. The | | | | recalled battles in a symbolic way. An example is |
| doors were shut to keep gate crashers away! | | | | Tables which is played using stone pieces on a |
| Then the guests would enter and sit at benches lining | | | | carved wooden board. One player's pawns coming |
| long tables. The king's warriors or thegns could sit in | | | | from the corners of the board would attack the |
| his halls but only men of high rank would sit at the | | | | other side's kings and pawns which were positioned in |
| high table. Women of high rank would be cup bearers | | | | the centre. The player with the King would be trying |
| and pour drinks for the king and lords. In the Christian | | | | to get him off the board (to escape from the battle) |
| era bread was blessed and then broken in | | | | whilst the other player would try and trap him. These |
| remembrance of the Eucharist or holy communion/ | | | | un-even games - where the two sides were of |
| mass. | | | | different sizes and abilities - were very prevalent in |
| Feasts might go on all day and night: there were | | | | Anglo-Saxon and later Viking cultures. |
| even some 3 day feasts. | | | | Outdoor Sports: |
| It was considered a serious matter to commit an | | | | Horse racing was mentioned in Beowulf in 8th |
| offense or undertake violence at a feast | | | | century and by the writer Bede in 7th. There are |
| Entertainment at feasts: These might include playing | | | | records of dog racing, hunting, ice skating, swimming, |
| the harp, lyre, horn, trumpet, drums flute or cymbals. | | | | falconry, hawking, acrobatics wrestling and |
| There would be accompanying signing: often songs | | | | gymnastics. |
| recalling battles. | | | | Answer to the riddle: |
| They enjoyed dancing and juggling, poets and stories | | | | On the wave a miracle: water turned to bone. |
| and the asking of riddles. Here is a typical | | | | Ice or iceberg. |
| Anglo-Saxon riddle from the Exeter book which has | | | | |