5 things you may not know about Drinking Horns

5.  Drinking Horns were not only used by the vikings, but by ancient Greeks as well.

The early Greek drinking horns lacked ornate metal decorations and were made entirely of horn. Because they lacked a preservative in that time, they decayed without a trace.  There are literary references to their use in a number of works, including the writings of Julius Caesar.

4. Thor himself used a drinking horn.

The legend has it that Thor would drink from a horn that contained the all of the seas.  Though he was unaware, his drinking horn, and what he drank from it,  was thought to directly impact the mortals on earth.

3. In Medieval times, you needed to be “somebody” to drink from a horn.

It’s true, in medieval times, drinking horns were the ceremonial drinking vessel for those that were privileged and of high status.

2.  Fairies use drinking horns too

The famous Oldenburg Horn was supposedly gifted to Otto I of Oldenburg by a fairy in 980.  It was help in the family castle for over two centuries before being moved to a museum in Copenhagen.

1. If in Georgia, don’t drink beer out of your horn

In Georgia (the country) Ram or goat drinking horns remain an important accessory in the culture of ritual toasting.  During a formal dinner (supra) Georgians propose a toast, led by a toastmaster (tamada) who sets the topic of each round of toasting. Toasts are made with either wine or brandy, toasting with beer is considered an insult.


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5 things you may not know about Drinking Horns