So I am reading thru the latest issue of Spin-Off magazine last night and come across an article about Gutefar (there is a tiny circle above the a) Sheep of Gotland....a Swedish Island. The history of the sheep and how they were saved from extinction and about how to spin their wool. A bit of trivia at the end of the article states that in Scandinavian countries it was considered rude to bring food as a house gift as it implied the household did not have enough to feed you. But that a gift of threads, dyed lace or embroidery yarns were a real luxury. The threads were wrapped on red dyed lamb rib bones. The bones were dyed by being buried in sheep manure for 6-10 months then polished. The article writer got the info from Iceland, which I know is sometimes considered part of Scandinavia because of it's closely shared history and culture. But I was wondering if you, Biita and Droopy, had heard of this tradition? The bones are beautiful do either of you know of an online source.
It's so hit-or-miss whether the bookstore here carries spin-off, but sounds like this would be an interesting one to hunt down. Dusting off my spinning wheel is on my new-years-resolution list (again)... right after reteaching myself how to use Grandmas sewing machine. Could you tell what type of wool the Gutefar has? Is it more like the Icelandic or does it have a crimp to it? Ugh, I'm so out of touch with these things *scowl*
Toni, I've never heard of that tradition before, it might be very native to Gotland. As for the food thing I know that only a couple of generations ago it was customary to nearly empty the larder to offer guests as great a variety as possible. And then put most of it back afterwards. There's a limit to people's appetites after all. Fabrics and embroidery threads were well received gifts from the viking age onwards, but I'm not sure when that stopped being customary. The letter å sounds like the o in long, for instance. One of our special characters, along with æ and ø.
Intresting article. I asked KB an called his aunt about the bones. At the Viking museum they don't have the dyed bones used to hold the threads, but they do used a dyed bone as a thread knife. its what they used to weave the wool thru the loom. It is made in that manner, an when done like that becomes a very fast way of petrifying. so the bone becomes like stone, very smooth to run thru the strings. That came from Kolbjørn. The bringing of food to a house is still a no no, here on the island. when someone moves in a gift is brought to the house, now a days it could be anything, flowers, tablecloth, ect. Back then it was just as you said, wool, thread, lacy, but also a tool or a beautiful weapon for either the woman or man. But, when you are there, you always set up a time to have the newcommers come over to your house for sandwiches, cake and coffee. If they offer to bring food, you always say no. Never bring food when invited to a afternoon coffee or to a dinner, unless asked.(which is usually never) That came from Aunt Hedvig, who is 87 yrs. As far as online i haven't got that far yet,,lol. i been sick for a few days. so i get tired fast still. but i will try tomorrow to see what i can find or put KB on the hunt.
Thanks for the information. I had wondered about that since here it is customary to take food of some kind to new neighbors...cookies, cake or sometimes even a casserole to welcome them to the neighborhood. And when you are invited to a friend's house for dinner or a party, you ask if you can bring something, the answer is usually no but you are supposed to ask. Depending on the closeness of the friendship, the answer is sometimes yes if they know you make a special desert they like and that desert is chocolate :-D If the dinner or party is at the home of someone you are not very close too, like someone your spouse works with, a hostess gift can be a bottle of wine or a small bouquet of flowers but you never ask about bringing food. Biita, hope you are feeling better today.
