Haustmánuðr 🍂🌿  9 "Haustmánuðr heitir inn næsti fyrir vetr." (Skaldskáparmál, Younger Edda) Haustmánuðr (literally "autumn month") is the last month of the summer half-year according to the Old Icelandic calendar. The month to make preparations for winter. Haustmánuður byrjast næst jafndægrum en sólin gengur um þann tíma í vigtarmerki. Líka var þessi mánuður kallaður garðlagsmánuður því þessi þótti hentugur tími að bæta túngarða, engigarða, haga- eða skjólgarða og grannagarða... Nú er tími að velta landi því, sem sáð skal í einhverju fræi að vori. Vatnsveitingaskurði á nú að stinga svo ekkert vatn geti staðið yfir landi á vetrum heldur að það súra vatn fái gott afrennsli. Jarðarávexti, sem menn vilja geyma niðurgrafna úti eða inni, skal nú upp taka og láta nokkuð þorrna, grafa þá síðan niður hvar frost má ei að þeim koma. Um þessa tíma fellir melur fræ, má nú safna því áður og sá strax í sendið land og breiða mold yfir, kemur upp næsta vor. Hvannafræi og kúmeni má nú líka sá þar sem menn vilja þær jurtir vaxi síðan. The text above is from the 1780 manuscript "Atli", by Björn Halldórsson in Sauðlauksdal. Halldórsson describes how this month was also called Garðlagsmánuður, garðlag meaning walls or fences made of turf or stone. This points to how it was a good month for repairing such enclosures around houses, fields or shelters—A great illustration of what I love about the old calendar; it's practical and descriptive nature, adapted to the Nordic climate of the time. It was described as the time to turn the soil that will be used for sowing next spring, and to create trenches or canals to prevent water from flooding the fields. Root vegetables that you wish to preserve inside or outside, should be harvested now, dried, and dug down in a place that will not freeze during winter. It's also the time to collect and sow seeds from e.g. melgresi/lime grass, hvönn/angelica, and kúmen/caraway. In the photo below you'll see redcurrant jelly, made from fresh berries from my parents' garden, preserved for winter. It's sweet and sour, and perfect as a spread on crackers or bread, with cheeses, or to be served with e.g. venison or other game. (The jars are decorated with leftover linen from previous sewing projects, such as the dress in the photo above.) ^^ I've also been spending my evenings needlebinding more Icelandic wool hats in various sizes, like these dark olive ones. If I keep this going it looks like I'll have enough to start selling some of these things at markets next year, which is something I've never done before! I am working in 120% positions and would only be doing this as a pastime now and then, and on a small scale, but it would be fun to take on the role as a vendor at a market or two. What do you think, would you have been interested if you stumbled upon these things at a historical market? :) Literature: Snorri Sturluson "Skáldskaparmál" Björn Halldórsson "Atli edr Raadagiørdir Yngismañs um Bwnad sinn" Music: Wardruna - Ehwar # Comments
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